The role epitomised by Audrey Hepburn's Oscar nominated performance in the 1966 classic thriller Wait Until Dark, has been revived on stage at Circa Theatre in Wellington by actress Ban Abdul.

Susy is a recently blinded young woman who is home alone when three conmen try to retrieve drugs, which her husband has inadvertently brought home in a doll. Susy must regain her independence and confidence to outwit them.

It is a role Ban is familiar with, as the film was a family favourite rerun, but she was unfamiliar with the life of a blind woman and enlisted the help of a Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind consultant to help create a realistic portrayal.The role epitomised by Audrey Hepburn's Oscar nominated performance in the 1966 classic thriller Wait Until Dark, has been revived on stage at Circa Theatre in Wellington by actress Ban Abdul.

Susy is a recently blinded young woman who is home alone when three conmen try to retrieve drugs, which her husband has inadvertently brought home in a doll. Susy must regain her independence and confidence to outwit them.

It is a role Ban is familiar with, as the film was a family favourite rerun, but she was unfamiliar with the life of a blind woman and enlisted the help of a Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind consultant to help create a realistic portrayal.As a Middle Eastern woman it was also a role she wasn't sure she would be cast for - a reality for her career as one of the few Arab actors in New Zealand.

Her ethnic background is one she brings up freely and explains it as a 'mold' that can be a bonus or minus in casting. She recently played a young Iraqi belly dancer in Dean Parker's Baghdad Baby. She has performed in Disco Pigs and Escape and her TV/film credits include Jane and the Dragon, Avatar and Eagle vs Shark.

It was refreshing for Ban to be offered the role of Susy on the basis of her performance and skill. She was hesitant about going for the role, originally a stage play by Frederick Knott and traditionally performed by a European woman, but became sick of 'thinking and talking about it' and decided she didn't mind making waves.

But once cast in the role, Ban says she felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility to accurately play a blind woman on stage whilst making it a seamless part of Susy's character.

Ban and director Peter Hambleton met with RNZFB Braille consultant Lisette Wesseling and Olivia Godfrey, a 25-year-old lawyer, who taught herself Braille at the age of five. Both Lisette and Olivia have been blind since birth.

Ban said the ongoing meetings, catch-ups and chats were priceless. They talked about everything from domesticity to socialising - including dating, drinking and dancing.

Ms Wesseling says while she respected a level of 'dramatic licence', she was pleased that Circa Theatre and Ban wanted to portray a blind person in an accurate light - "rather than showing someone groping around crying, when most blind people actually have a huge amount of confidence."

"We need everyone's help to raise awareness whether it is through more serious campaigns or drama and entertainment."

Ms Wesseling says they discussed how the character would be coping and adjusting, as the play is set a year after an accident that leaves Susy blind, although in real life it is rare to go totally blind and age and eye-conditions are the most common cause.

"Her character is still adjusting to her sight loss so her memory and sense of vulnerability is still fragile but as a young woman she is more resilient to the changes than an older person would be."

Ms Wesseling also explained how blind people can 'hear the walls' by the echoes and soundwaves that bounce off objects. She said it is a skill anyone can develop if they close their eyes for long enough.

Ban says she became keenly aware of her senses in the months leading up to her stage performance. At home she practiced navigating familiar surroundings by finding her way to the bathroom at night. For rehearsals the set design was transported to a warehouse and Ban could become familiar with her character's space.

"People who have adapted well to blindness have an excellent memory and create mental maps to find their way around."

She discoverd familiar surroundings can be easily navigated but a space can become foreign when new elements, including strangers, disrupt logical memories of where objects belong.

When Susy bumps into foreign objects, Ban had to make it appear natural and accidental - even though her eyes are open. Ban studied NLP to help her communicate thoughts, flicking her eyes in different directions to indicate different thoughts or levels of recognition.

She also discovered how blind people can sense if someone is staring at them by a change in movement or direction of their voice.

"I'm aware the audience is watching me as an actor and as a blind person, so it's a challenge. But I don't do anything by halves and really enjoyed immersing myself in this role."

Ban says she wanted to achieve the presence of a blind woman on stage so she was free to explore Susy's character.

"Susy is a person with her own personality and background who has become blind."

Susy is a young, stylish, beautiful, modern, independent woman of the 1960s whose life changes when she loses her sight in a car crash a year prior to the play. Susy also loses some of her confidence, self esteem and independence but her pride and stubbornness won't allow her to 'wallow' in it.

"However what she may see as 'wallowing' may simply be just allowing herself to grieve that loss properly and healthily. Instead, she constantly battles between taking it on the chin, and just 'going on' - to prove herself to her husband Sam, as well as to herself, and perhaps just wanting to break down some days."

Ban says her journey of discovery, exploration and creation for her character may not be over until the closing night on November 8. But her heightened senses and awareness of how a blind person lives is something that will stay with her.

At Circa Theatre
Circa One, Wellington
Until 8 Nov 2008
Tues & Wed 6.30pm, Thu - Sat 8.00pm, Sun 4.00pm
Bookings: 801 7992 or Online

Featuring
Paul McLaughlin - Mike
Toby Leach - Croker
Tim Gordon - Roat
Ban Abdul - Susy Henderson
Robert Tripe - Sam Henderson

Rebekah Smyth and Holly McDonald - alternate as Gloria.
Edward Watson and Matt Clayton - Policemen

Set Design by John Hodgkins
Lighting Design by Jennifer Lal
Costume Design by Gillie Coxill

Publicity by Paul McLaughlin & Kate McGill Publicity
Stage Manager - Deb McGuire

Produced by Peter Hambleton, Paul McLaughlin and T.A.C.T for Circa Theatre.

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See The Difference You Make on Blind Week

Blind Week 2008 is on from 28 October to 3 November.

Volunteers in fluorescent orange vests with Blind Week collection buckets will be out on the streets from Friday 31 October to Sunday 2 November.

People can also text BLIND to 469 to donate $3, or phone 0900 4 BLIND (0900 425 463) to make an automatic $20 donation.

During Blind Week, the RNZFB wants you to 'See The Difference You Make' to the lives of blind, deafblind and vision-impaired Kiwis when you donate.

29/10/08