Michael A. Schwartz, a longtime friend who met Mr. Bragg when he participated in the National Theater of the Deaf’s summer school in 1976, said by email.

“When Bernard finished his act and exited the stage, the audience applauded, but the manager ran out on the stage and said, ‘Stop, stop applauding, it doesn’t matter, Bernard is deaf, he can’t hear your applause.’ When someone told Bernard, he ran back to the stage and mimed,

‘I am deaf, but with my eyes, I see your applause. Keep applauding.’ ”

Source: He Showed the Way for Deaf Actors

– Bernard Bragg, 1928–2018, actor, author

 

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