SASL Newsletter - Spring 2018 Issue Issue 9 - Spring 2018 | Page 7

Continued from page 1: Out of the Box Performance with Legendary Actor…
KSD. As he showed the postcard to Percy, its image appeared projected on a screen behind them. In
this way, the audience was able to follow along with their conversation. Patrick shared a story about his
older Deaf sisters leaving to go to KSD and how much he wished to go with them, even though he was
too young at the time.
Turning to his box again, Patrick pulled out an old VHS tape. As he and Percy watched a clip
from “The World According to Pat,” audience members watched along on the back screen. He told
Percy a richly detailed story about his residential school days at KSD. The play then fast-forwarded to
his Gallaudet years where the audience was treated to photos of Patrick’s many activities including his
theater productions. This was followed by selections from the National T heatre of the Deaf’s memorable
production of “My Third Eye.” During the play, a number of people stopped into the green room while
Patrick and Percy chatted. NTID actor Joseph Fox shared how he learned acting skills from Patrick as
well as a clip from “The Foreigner” production. Joseph Hamilton recalled Patrick’s traditional “Twas the
Night before Christmas” performance from every Christmas Holiday Show at NTID. Deirdre Schlehofer
focused on Patrick’s work as a poet, showing his ASL poem “Liberation” from the 1987 Poetry
Conference at NTID, which promoted Deaf poets who broke free from English and created in ASL.
Stacy Lawrence’s special memories of Patrick highlighted his method of translating scripts for the
stage. Matthew Moore’s first NTID play “Romeo and Juliet” directed by Patrick powerfully impacted his
life and career. In one of the final scenes, Aaron Kelstone, current NTID Performing Arts Program
Director, was entrusted with the box—so that these materials and treasures will be kept for historical
preservation. After Aaron left the green room, Patrick gathered his umbrella and slowly glanced at the
posters around the room. His gaze fell upon the poster for THE TEMPEST. He smiled and saluted the
poster with his umbrella. As he turned back to the audience, he became Prospero and performed the
final monologue like old times.
(3 ¼ minutes long)
(Continue on the next page)
The Power of ASL
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Spring 2018 – Issue 9