11/8/02

LC021108

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> AN L.A. COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER IS ABOUT TO FALL VICTIM TO THE BUDGET AX AND THIS ONE WILL NOT BE SAVED BY THE TAX INCREASE THAT COUNTY VOTERS APPROVED THIS WEEK.

GREG THOMPSON>> I FELT LIKE MY LIFE WAS OVER. I WAS TERRIFIED, YOU KNOW? I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE A CRIPPLE. RANCHO GAVE ME THE SKILLS THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, TO MAKE SOMETHING OF MYSELF.

VAL>> AN INSIDE LOOK AT CASTRO AT SEVENTY-SIX, THE CLOUD OF CUBAN-AMERICANS AND THE ELIAN GONZALEZ TRAGEDY. WE’LL GET A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON CUBA FROM AN AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST WHO SPENT TEN YEARS COVERING THE COMMUNIST ISLAND AND CUBAN POLITICS HERE IN AMERICA. NEITHER VIEW IS VERY FLATTERING.

JESS>> IT’S A BIG DEAL WHEN A LITTLE THEATER COMPANY TAKES OVER ONE OF THE CITY’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS STAGES.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> AND IT’S AN EVEN BIGGER DEAL WHEN THE COMPANY IS L.A.’S DEAF WEST THEATRE. THE CAST OF HEARING AND NON-HEARING ACTORS MAKES HISTORY WITH ITS PERFORMANCE AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM AND, TO TOP IT ALL OFF, IT IS A MUSICAL.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. TONIGHT THE FATAL PROGNOSIS FOR A HIGHLY-REGARDED LOCAL MEDICAL FACILITY. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT RANCHO LOS AMIGOS NATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER IN DOWNEY. SINCE THE DAYS OF AMERICA’S POLIO EPIDEMIC, THE HOSPITAL HAS BEEN GETTING CRITICALLY ILL AND INJURED PEOPLE BACK ON THEIR FEET.

VAL>> BUT NOW THE FACILITY ITSELF IS FACING A CRISIS THAT HAS NO APPARENT CURE. L.A. COUNTY SUPERVISORS SAY RANCHO LOS AMIGOS MUST CLOSE AS PART OF A DRASTIC EFFORT TO BALANCE THE COUNTY’S BUDGET. AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, THE QUESTION NOW IS WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL THE PATIENTS WHO NEED THE SPECIAL CARE THE FACILITY PROVIDES?

PHILIP BRUCE>> THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL ROMERO WAS STANDING IN A RELATIVE’S BACK YARD LAST JUNE WHEN A FAMILY DISPUTE TURNED INTO A TRAGEDY. TEMPERS FLARED, A GUN WAS PULLED AND ROMERO WAS SHOT IN THE NECK.

MICHAEL ROMERO>> GENERAL HOSPITAL SAID THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE ANY PART OF MY BODY. SO WHEN I CAME HERE, THEY STARTED THERAPY AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I STARTED MOVING MY HANDS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ROMERO’S LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY LED HIM HERE TO RANCHO LOS AMIGOS NATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER IN DOWNEY.

MICHAEL ROMERO>> THESE PEOPLE, I MEAN, ARE GREAT. THEY ENCOURAGE YOU. YOU KNOW, THERE WERE TIMES IN THE BEGINNING THAT I WISHED I WAS DEAD BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED.

PHILIP BRUCE>> INGLEWOOD RESIDENT, GEORGIA FRISON, IS A NURSE AND IS USED TO GIVING CARE, NOT RECEIVING IT. BUT FOR MONTHS, NEITHER SHE NOR DOCTORS COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING HER OVERWHELMING WEAKNESS AND LABORED BREATHING.

GEORGIA FRISON>> THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO RANCHO AND RANCHO FOUND OUT THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> RANCHO LOS AMIGOS HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED ONE OF THE NATION’S TOP REHABILITATION HOSPITALS, BUT NOW IT’S FIGHTING TO SURVIVE. THE LOS ANGELES BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS VOTED TO CLOSE THE FACILITY NEXT SUMMER AS A WAY OF ADDRESSING THE COUNTY’S ENORMOUS HEALTHCARE DEFICIT. BUT RANCHO OFFICIALS ARGUE THAT THE MOVE MAKES NO SENSE.

>> OKAY, NOW, TAKE A STEP WITH YOUR LEFT.

DR. ROBERT WATERS>> THE PATIENTS THAT COME TO RANCHO HAVE CATASTROPHIC DISABILITIES, SPINAL CORD INJURIES, BRAIN INJURIES, SEVERE STROKES. WITHOUT COMING HERE, THEY DON’T HAVE A CHANCE TO GET RESTORED TO THEIR FULL FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITY, TO WALK OR USE A WHEELCHAIR IF THEY’RE GOING TO BE PERMANENTLY PARALYZED, TO BE ABLE TO RETURN HOME AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE PATIENTS WILL JUST SIT THERE IN BED AND BE WAREHOUSED WITHOUT ANY PLACE TO GO, AND THIS WAS THE STATE OF CARE IN LOS ANGELES FORTY OR FIFTY YEARS AGO.

GREG THOMPSON>> I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHAT HAPPENED TO GREG THOMPSON WAS A WATER SKIING ACCIDENT THAT LEFT HIM WITH A BROKEN NECK. THAT WAS IN 1977 WHEN HE WAS TWENTY-TWO YEARS OLD.

GREG THOMPSON>> I FELT LIKE MY LIFE WAS OVER. I WAS TERRIFIED, YOU KNOW? I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE A CRIPPLE, SOMEBODY THAT WAS GOING TO BE A DRAIN ON SOCIETY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> TODAY THE MARRIED FATHER OF THREE IS RANCHO’S DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WORK.

GREG THOMPSON>> RANCHO GAVE ME THE SKILLS THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY GAVE ME THE EMOTIONAL STRENGTH TO KNOW THAT I COULD RETURN TO SOCIETY, TO BE PRODUCTIVE, TO MAKE SOMETHING OF MYSELF.

DR. IRENE GILGOFF>> WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IN THERAPY?

MICHAEL SALAZAR>> JUST WORKING ON MY BALANCING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> PEDIATRICIAN, IRENE GILGOFF, SAYS RANCHO’S PROGRAM SHOULD HELP SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL SALAZAR MAKE SOMETHING OF HIMSELF. SALAZAR WAS SHOT IN THE BACK IN SEPTEMBER IN WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE GANG-RELATED ATTACK. OVER THE YEARS, GILGOFF HAS SEEN MANY OF THESE YOUNG GUNSHOT VICTIMS.

DR. IRENE GILGOFF>> THEY GO THROUGH A LOT OF STAGES IN REHABILITATION EMOTIONALLY. THAT’S WHY A PLACE LIKE RANCHO GIVES THEM A PLACE WHERE THEY’RE SAFE FOR A WHILE, TO START DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> GILGOFF SAYS CHILDREN OFTEN NEED SPECIALIZED TREATMENT.

DR. IRENE GILGOFF>> FOR A BRAIN INJURY, FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OF THEIR LEARNING SKILLS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. YOU NEED A TEAM THAT KNOWS HOW TO NOT JUST TAKE CARE OF THEM FOR TODAY, BUT FOR THE FUTURE SO THEY CAN SUCCEED.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IT’S A MESSAGE MEANT FOR YOUNG PATIENTS SUCH AS THREE-YEAR-OLD DAVID SAUCEDO. LAST SEPTEMBER, THE BOY FELL FROM SOME BLEACHERS AND LANDED ON HIS HEAD WHILE WATCHING HIS BROTHER’S FOOTBALL GAME.

MARIO SAUCEDO>> HE HAD NO FUNCTION IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS BODY, COULDN’T MOVE HIS RIGHT ARM OR HIS LEG, CAN’T TALK. HE STILL CAN’T TALK. HE’S GETTING A LITTLE BETTER, BUT HE’S NOT FLUENT LIKE HE USED TO BE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> DAVID HAS MADE BIG STRIDES PHYSICALLY, BUT GILGOFF SAYS HE MAY HAVE SOME SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS THE REST OF HIS LIFE AND THAT’S SOMETHING RANCHO IS ABLE TO HELP WITH.

DR. IRENE GILGOFF>> THE KEY IS PREVENTION OF COMPLICATIONS. THE KEY IS TO NOT LET HIM GET FRUSTRATED IN SCHOOL. THE KEY IS TO KNOW HOW TO TRAIN HIM AND TO TEACH HIM AND IT’S A NEUROPSYCH LAB THAT WILL ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

PHILIP BRUCE>> EVEN AFTER THEY’RE RELEASED FROM RANCHO, PATIENTS ARE STILL AT HIGH RISK OF FUTURE COMPLICATIONS. THE HOSPITAL’S REHAB PROGRAM TEACHES THOSE PATIENTS HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

>> I’M GOING TO LISTEN TO YOUR HEART.

>> OKAY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND THEN THERE ARE THE OUTPATIENT CLINICS THAT OFFER SPECIALIZED CARE FOR PATIENTS’ OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS.

ART PHELPS>> I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING THE SAME CARE AT ANOTHER DOCTOR, EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT BE A REALLY GOOD DOCTOR. A LOT OF THINGS COME UP FOR A SPINAL INJURY PATIENT AND MOST DOCTORS AREN’T FAMILIAR WITH THOSE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> CARDIOLOGIST, YAGA SLATJEK, SAYS PATIENTS ARE DEVASTATED BY THE NEWS OF THE HOSPITAL’S CLOSING.

DR. YAGA SLATJEK>> PATIENTS ARE VERY UPSET. THEY ARE AT LOSS, ASKING WHERE CAN WE GO? WHAT CAN WE DO? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO IF SOMETHING REALLY HAPPENS?

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT RANCHO’S CEO, CONSUELO DIAZ, IS READY TO FIGHT THE COUNTY TO KEEP RANCHO OPEN. SHE ARGUES THAT, UNLESS SOMEONE CAN FIND A WAY TO PREVENT SPINAL AND BRAIN INJURY AND STROKE, THESE PATIENTS WILL STILL BE SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM.

CONSUELO DIAZ>> THEY ARE GOING TO BE AN EXPENSE TO THE SYSTEM AND PROBABLY A BIGGER EXPENSE BECAUSE SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN IN REHAB IS NOT ONLY GOING TO TAKE A LONGER TIME TO EVER GET TO A POINT OF INDEPENDENT FUNCTIONING, THEY MAY NEVER DO THAT. THEY’VE BECOME THEN A DRAIN ON ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTY WHICH IS THE WELFARE SYSTEM, SO THERE IS NO END TO IT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> RANCHO’S PATIENTS SAY THEY CAN’T IMAGINE WHERE THEY’D BE WITHOUT THE CARE THEY’VE GOTTEN HERE.

GEORGIA FRISON>> I DON’T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE IF THIS HOSPITAL WASN’T HERE.

MICHAEL SALAZAR>> IF I DIDN’T COME HERE, I WOULDN’T KNOW THAT MUCH STUFF TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, TO TAKE CARE OF MY BODY, TO HAVE A LONGER LIFESPAN DUE TO THE FACT THAT I’M PARALYZED. IT’S KIND OF SCARY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY SAID THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE, THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH US. I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE HERE ARE TRAINED.

>> NOW LET’S MOVE THE WALKER.

JESS>> THE VOTE TO CLOSE RANCHO LOS AMIGOS CAME AS A SURPRISE TO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE. THEY THOUGHT THE COUNTY WAS LOOKING AT WAYS TO PRIVATIZE THE CENTER. AN INDEPENDENT ANALYST IS SIZING UP WHETHER THE REHAB CENTER COULD COMPETE IN THE OPEN MARKET AND WE’RE TOLD THERE IS STILL A SLIM CHANCE THE SUPERVISORS MIGHT CHANGE THEIR MINDS ABOUT RANCHO LOS AMIGOS.

VAL>> MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, A NEW LEG OF L.A.’S LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM IS ON TRACK, BUT WILL THE GOLD LINE TRULY GLITTER ONCE IT’S RUNNING?

>> I THINK THAT THERE IS A SIZABLE POPULATION THAT LOOKS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE AUTO-DRIVEN CULTURE THAT WE HAVE AND WANTS TO LIVE NEXT TO TRANSIT AND NEXT TO A PEDESTRIAN-ORIENTED NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO USE THE TRAIN TO COMMUTE TO WORK AND FOR THEIR OTHER TRIPS.

JESS>> FOR MORE THAN FORTY YEARS, CUBA HAS BEEN OFF-LIMITS TO MOST AMERICANS. NOW A SANTA BARBARA WRITER IS RAISING SOME PROVOCATIVE NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT CUBA THAT ONLY ADD TO THE MYSTERY. WHY IS CASTRO ON A MACROBIOTIC DIET? IF ELIAN GONZALEZ WERE BLACK, WOULD HE HAVE BEEN TOSSED INTO THE SEA? AND WHY HAS PRESIDENT BUSH APPOINTED MORE CUBAN HARDLINERS THAN ANY PREVIOUS PRESIDENT?

VAL>> THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ALL PART OF THE NEW BOOK CALLED “CUBA CONFIDENTIAL: LOVE AND VENGEANCE IN MIAMI AND HAVANA” AND ITS AUTHOR IS AN AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST FOR VANITY FAIR AND THE NEW YORK TIMES, ANN LOUISE BARDACH. SHE IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE TOP WRITERS ON CUBA TODAY AND SHE JOINS US NOW WITH A FEW STORIES TO TELL, NO DOUBT.

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

JESS>> WE GENERALLY SAY FIDEL CASTRO IS ALIVE AND WELL IN CUBA. IS HE WELL?

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> I THINK HE’S PRETTY WELL FOR SEVENTY-SIX YEARS OLD. HE’S ACTUALLY EXCELLENT AND PERHAPS YOU AND I SHOULD HAVE HIS HEALTH, THE HEALTH HE ENJOYS, BUT IT’S NOT BY ACCIDENT.

VAL>> I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR HE WAS A HYPOCHONDRIAC.

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> YES. ONE OF HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS WHO SEES HIM ON A REGULAR BASIS DESCRIBES HIM TO ME AS SORT OF AN OBSESSIVE HYPOCHONDRIAC. I THINK THAT FIDEL CASTRO REALLY IS KIND OF, SHALL WE SAY, DETERMINED TO BE THE MAXIMUM LEADER IN PERPETUITY (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> IT’S FOR LIFE, SO HE WANTS HIS LIFE TO BE AS LONG AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE.

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. AS WELL, HE HAS QUITE A GOOD DNA HISTORY, YOU KNOW, JUDGING FROM THE LONGEVITY OF HIS PARENTS. HIS FATHER WHO TOILED CEASELESSLY AT THEIR FAMILY RANCH WAS FELLED BY KIND OF A QUIRKY HERNIA AND PROBABLY COULD HAVE LIVED MANY, MANY MORE DECADES.

JESS>> IF THERE WERE A TRULY FREE ELECTION IN CUBA TODAY, FIDEL CASTRO WOULD WIN IT, WOULD HE NOT?

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> I’M NOT SURE HE WOULD WIN, BUT HE WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE VOTE. IT’S REALLY HARD TO READ THAT. HIS POPULARITY HAS BEEN ERODING OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS ONCE THE RUSSIANS PULLED OUT AND THE CUBANS GOT TO EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND SOME REAL PRIVATIONS. IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW POLLING BECAUSE, OF COURSE, IT’S A STATE-SPONSORED NEWS AND YOU HAVE SORT OF A LOW-LEVEL, AND AT TIMES HIGH-LEVEL, REPRESSION GOING ON IN CUBA AT ALL TIMES. BUT, YES, SURE, HE IS THE MAXIMUM LEADER. HE IS WHAT I CALL THE MOVIE STAR DICTATOR. A LOT OF CUBANS WHO DETEST HIM ACTUALLY HAVE A LOVE-HATE THING WHERE HE MADE THEM FAMOUS. HE PUT THEM ON THE INTERNATIONAL MAP. HE MADE CUBA AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER.

VAL>> AND YOU ALSO HAVE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEM. ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT CASTRO IS THAT HE WAS SECRETLY MARRIED?

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> WELL, YES. HE’S FASTIDIOUSLY PRIVATE ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE.

VAL>> OH, THIS LOOKS LIKE A RATHER CANDID --

JESS>> -- THAT WOMAN IN THE BACKGROUND IS THE SECRET WIFE?

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> NO, NO, NO. THAT IS CELIA SANCHEZ IN THE BACKGROUND WHO WAS HIS REALLY CLOSEST AIDE AND CONFIDANTE AND REALLY WAS THE FIRST LADY OF CUBA UNTIL HER DEATH IN 1980 FROM LUNG CANCER. TYING THE SASH AROUND HIM IS CONCHITA FERNANDEZ WHO WAS HIS SECRETARY. BOTH WOMEN WERE COMPLETELY DEVOTED TO HIM. CELIA WAS PROBABLY HIS LOVER.

HE MARRIED IN 1948 TO MIRTA DIAZ-BALART WHO, IRONICALLY, THE SON OF MIRTA AND FIDEL CASTRO, THAT’S FIDELITO CASTRO DIAS-BALART, AND SOME OF YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THAT NAME BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE ARE TWO DIAS-BALARTS IN THE U.S. CONGRESS, MARIO AND LINCOLN. THE IRONY OF CUBA IS THAT THE DIAS-BALARTS WHO ARE CONGRESSMEN FROM MIAMI ARE THE FIERCEST FOES OF FIDEL CASTRO AND THEY ARE HIS NEPHEWS BY MARRIAGE. SO ON ONE LEVEL, WITHOUT ANY DIMINISHMENT INTENDED, THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF A FAMILY FEUD GOING ON HERE.

VAL>> YOU ALSO HAVE SOME FASCINATING PICTURES OF CASTRO WHEN HE WAS YOUNG, I GUESS, FROM HIS YEARBOOK.

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> THAT’S RIGHT.

VAL>> HE WAS QUITE AN ATHLETE.

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> FIDEL CASTRO WAS A GREAT ATHLETE. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WOULD TELL YOU, MY GOD, WHY DIDN’T HE GET RECRUITED TO THE MAJORS? HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUES AND HE DIDN’T QUITE MAKE THAT --

VAL>> -- TOO BAD. WE SHOULD HAVE --

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> -- YEAH, A LOT OF EXILES FEEL THAT WAY.

JESS>> HE’S ONE CUBAN BASEBALL PLAYER WHO DID NOT DEFECT (LAUGHTER).

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> HE’S ONE OF THE FEW AND, GOD KNOWS, I THINK HE TRIED. BUT HE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY, ACCORDING TO HIS TEACHERS, HIS ENEMIES, HIS CRITICS, EVERYBODY AGREES, AN ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL BASKETBALL PLAYER, BASEBALL PLAYER, TENNIS PLAYER, RUNNER. ONE OF THE PRIESTS I INTERVIEWED TALKED ABOUT HOW HE STAYED UP ALL NIGHT THROUGH THE NIGHT JUST PRACTICING HOOPS ON THE STREETS OF HAVANA. THIS IS A VERY DEDICATED, FOCUSED, COMMITTED, ULTRA-DISCIPLINED MAN.

JESS>> ONE OF THE ISSUES BETWEEN THIS NATION AND CUBA, OF COURSE, IS THE EMBARGO.

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> THAT’S RIGHT.

JESS>> THERE HAS BEEN AN EROSION OF THE EMBARGO AND, EVEN IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, THERE’S BEEN AN EROSION OF SUPPORT FOR THE EMBARGO.

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> THAT’S RIGHT.

JESS>> WHAT’S YOUR JUDGMENT? SHOULD WE DROP IT?

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> IT’S FUNNY YOU ASK ME. I’LL ACTUALLY TELL YOU, I WAS IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK. I’LL JUST SAY A VERY HIGH-LEVEL WHITE HOUSE COUNSELOR APPROACHED ME AT A BOOK PARTY THERE AND SAID, “ALL RIGHT, TELL ME WHAT I TELL THE WHITE HOUSE ABOUT HOW TO GET OUT OF THIS TURKEY.” THAT’S AN EXACT QUOTE. I SAID, WELL, IF I WERE ADVISING THIS WHITE HOUSE, I WOULD SAY, WELL, GET YOUR BROTHER ELECTED DOWN THERE IN FLORIDA, DO WHATEVER YOU CAN, BUT GET RID OF THIS EMBARGO BEFORE 2004 BECAUSE YOU’RE JUST HEMORRHAGING. YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY YOU’RE LOSING SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY AMONG REPUBLICANS. THE FREE-TRADERS, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PEOPLE, THE FARMERS, THEY DO NOT WANT THIS. THEY’RE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH TO CUBA, YOU KNOW, CUEING UP AND WINING AND DINING WITH FIDEL CASTRO. THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE A VETO OVERRIDE SOON, THOSE NUMBERS.

VAL>> AND, OF COURSE, WE CAN’T HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT CASTRO’S OUT, TALKING ABOUT ELIAN GONZALEZ.

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> THAT’S RIGHT.

VAL>> IN YOUR MATERIAL, IT MENTIONS SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT IF ELIAN HAD BEEN BLACK. WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> WELL, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SHOT AROUND ON MIAMI RADIO, WHICH IS VERY MUCH, YOU KNOW, THE MEDIA THAT TOLD --

VAL>> -- TALK RADIO?

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> I DON’T WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT TALK RADIO IN MIAMI. BOY, IT’S AT A WHOLE OTHER PITCH LEVEL. IT’S SORT OF LIKE A CEASELESS KIND OF CATHARTIC, THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT.

JESS>> SOUNDS LIKE HOME TO ME (LAUGHTER).

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> (LAUGHTER) BUT, ANYWAY, SOMEBODY ON THE TALK RADIO WAS TALKING ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF HE WERE BLACK, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD HAVE THROWN HIM BACK IN THE SEA. THE REASON IS, OBVIOUSLY, ELIAN GONZALEZ LOOKS VERY MUCH THE WAY OLD CUBANS LOOKED IN THE 50’S AND EARLY 60’S. WHAT’S HAPPENED IN CUBA IS THE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHIC HAS DRAMATICALLY SWITCHED. IN 1959, SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT OF ALL CUBANS WERE WHITE TO SEVENTY PERCENT. NOW IT’S EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE AND SIXTY-FIVE TO SEVENTY PERCENT OF ALL CUBANS ARE MOSTLY BLACK. YOU HAVE MUCH LOWER MIGRATION FIGURES AND THE MIAMI EXILE LEADERSHIP, I’M SORRY TO SAY, IS ENTIRELY WHITE. SO WHEN CUBANS AND CUBA LOOK IN MIAMI, ONE ELEMENT THAT’S NEVER TALKED ABOUT IS THIS SUBCONSCIOUS RACIAL FACTOR. WILL WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES, WILL WE HAVE BETTER REDRESS OF OUR PROBLEMS, ETC.

VAL>> AND REAL QUICKLY, JUST FIFTEEN SECONDS, BUSH HAS APPOINTED A RECORD NUMBER OF CUBAN HARDLINERS TO HIS ADMINISTRATION?

ANN LOUISE BARDACH>> THAT’S RIGHT. UNDER THE DEMOCRATS, HE COULD NOT GET OTTO REICH, HIS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE ON LATIN AMERICA, CONFIRMED, SO HE GAVE HIM A RECESS APPOINTMENT. OTTO REICH IS VERY, VERY CONTROVERSIAL. HE’S A REAL CUBAN HARDLINER. THEY WANT TO GO TO THE VERY END WITH THE EMBARGO AND, OBVIOUSLY, IT’S UPHILL SLEDDING WITH THAT.

VAL>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANN LOUISE BARDACH. AGAIN, THE BOOK IS CALLED “CUBA CONFIDENTIAL: LOVE AND VENGEANCE IN MIAMI AND HAVANA”.

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JESS>> IT’S THE FIRST TIME L.A.’S PREMIER THEATER HAS EMBRACED A PRODUCTION FROM A SMALL LOCAL COMPANY. THE MARK TAPER FORUM IS PUTTING ON A SHOW THAT LAST PLAYED TO AUDIENCES NO LARGER THAN SEVENTY AND THAT WAS A FULL HOUSE. AND WHAT PRODUCTION HAS CAPTURED THEIR ATTENTION? “BIG RIVER” BY DEAF WEST THEATRE.

VAL>> DEAF WEST THEATRE IS JUST OVER A DECADE OLD, BUT DURING ITS SHORT LIFE, THIS AWARD-WINNING TROUPE HAS BECOME THE VANGUARD OF SIGN LANGUAGE THEATER BY CREATING NEW WAYS TO MARRY MOVEMENT WITH SOUND. AS VICKY CURRY TELLS US, THEY’RE HOPING THEIR DEBUT ON THE TAPER’S MAIN STAGE IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF BIGGER THINGS TO COME.

[FILM CLIP]

VICKY CURRY>> “BIG RIVER”. IT’S AN OLD-FASHIONED SHOW BASED ON THE CLASSIC AMERICAN TALES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN. BUT LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER. THE CHOREOGRAPHY ISN’T SO MUCH DANCE AS IT IS GESTURES AND POSTURES. THAT’S BECAUSE HALF THE PERFORMERS IN THIS PRODUCTION ARE DEAF.

[FILM CLIP]

ED WATERSTREET>> DEAF PEOPLE -- I THINK THAT THE DEAF COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN LOVE WITH THEATER AND THE EXPRESSION THAT’S INVOLVED. ALL THEIR LIVES, THEY’VE DEPENDED ON THEIR ACTING ABILITY A LITTLE BIT TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. SO I JUST THINK THERE’S JUST A NATURAL LOVE FOR THEATER IN THE WAY THAT WE EXPRESS TO EACH OTHER.

VICKY CURRY>> DEAF WEST THEATRE WAS FOUNDED IN LOS ANGELES IN 1991. IT’S ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF THEATERS IN THE COUNTRY THAT FEATURE ACTORS WHO CANNOT HEAR, BUT WHEN ED WATERSTREET FOUNDED DEAF WEST, HE SET OUT TO PRESENT SIGN LANGUAGE TO BOTH DEAF AND HEARING AUDIENCES.

ED WATERSTREET>> WE DO FEEL THAT IT’S A VERY COLLABORATIVE THING THAT WE DO WITH SIGNING AND VOICE. IT’S NOT A SEPARATE THING. IT’S VERY MUCH -- I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT WE ARE BRINGING THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER AND WE’RE ABLE TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER’S CULTURES AND THERE’S A LOT OF GIVE AND TAKE IN THE PRODUCTIONS THAT WE DO. THAT’S JUST, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT WE DO BUSINESS.

VICKY CURRY>> TRADITIONALLY, DEAF THEATRE HAS FOCUSED ON SHOWCASING SIGN LANGUAGE USING CONVENTIONS LIKE SHADOWING WHERE A HEARING ACTOR ACTS ONLY AS THE VOICE FOR A DEAF ACTOR.

>> “THERE’S JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR EVERYONE’S DREAMS TO BREATH IN AN INFINITE UNIVERSE.”

VICKY CURRY>> DEAF WEST HAS USED VARIOUS THEATRICAL DEVICES TO EQUALLY COMBINE SPEAKING AND SIGNING, DEVICES SUCH AS CREATING A CHARACTER TO NARRATE THE STORY.

[FILM CLIP]

VICKY CURRY>> OR HAVING TWO ACTORS PLAY ONE ROLE.

JEFF CALHOUN>> I DON’T WANT AT ANY TIME TO FAVOR ONE CULTURE OVER THE OTHER, SO I’M STILL TRYING TO INVENT DIFFERENT WAYS TO COMMUNICATE FOR THE DEAF ACTORS.

VICKY CURRY>> JEFF CALHOUN, THE DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER, HAS PUT ON BIG BROADWAY REVIVALS, SUCH AS “GREASE” AND “ANNIE GET YOUR GUN”. JOINING DEAF WEST MEANT LEAVING THE THEATER HUB IN NEW YORK, BUT FOR CALHOUN, IT WAS AN EASY CHOICE.

JEFF CALHOUN>> THE WHOLE DEAF COMMUNITY RISES TO THE OCCASION OF COMMUNICATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO USE THEIR WHOLE BODY TO COMMUNICATE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT’S A BALLET. THE WHOLE SHOW LOOKS LIKE A BALLET BECAUSE THERE’S NEVER A MOMENT WHERE THERE ISN’T SOME VISUAL INTEREST.

[FILM CLIP]

VICKY CURRY>> DEAF WEST HAS MADE A NAME FOR ITSELF BY CAREFULLY CHOOSING PLAYS THAT TRANSLATE WELL INTO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

JEFF CALHOUN>> THEY TRANSLATE ALL THE WORDS INTO ANOTHER LANGUAGE. I JUST THOUGHT THEY SIGNED THE LANGUAGE AS WE SPOKE IT. YOU KNOW, “I AM WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO SHINE”, BUT IT’S NOT THAT WAY. IT’S “SHINE WAITING LIGHT I”. IT’S LIKE LEARNING FRENCH OR SOMETHING.

VICKY CURRY>> THE TRANSLATION TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION SUCH THINGS AS THE TIME PERIOD OF THE STORY, THE DIFFERENCES IN THE CHARACTERS’ SPEAKING STYLES AND THE TONE OF THE WRITING.

BILL O’BRIAN>> AND PEOPLE HAVE REALLY STUDIED ASL AS A LANGUAGE IN ITS OWN AND WHAT IT’S CAPABLE OF DOING. A LOT OF TIME, NO MATTER WHAT OUR PROJECT IS, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN TRANSLATION.

VICKY CURRY>> DEAF WEST IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A NEW CHALLENGE, SO WHEN THE TIME CAME TO PUSH ITS ARTISTIC BOUNDARIES EVEN FURTHER, THE COMPANY DECIDED TO STAGE A SIGN LANGUAGE MUSICAL.

[FILM CLIP]

ED WATERSTREET>> I ALWAYS JUST WANTED TO SEE SIGN LANGUAGE AND VOICE COME TOGETHER AND CREATE A NEW ART FORM. I THINK IT’S EXCITING. I CAN SEE PEOPLE ENJOYING IT. I’M CERTAINLY ENJOYING THE MUSIC AND THE IDEA OF THE SOUND COMING ACROSS VISUALLY.

[FILM CLIP]

JEFF CALHOUN>> HOW ARE THEY ALL STAYING TOGETHER? HOW CAN HE DO THAT? HE CAN’T HEAR. HOW IS HE SIGNING TO THE MUSIC? I DON’T WANT TO TELL YOU ALL THAT, BUT THE JOY FOR ME IS FINDING OUT HOW EVERY EIGHT COUNTS IS A VISUAL QUEUE THAT THE ACTOR IS LOOKING AT UNBEKNOWNST TO THE AUDIENCE. IN EVERY EIGHT COUNTS, YOU CHANGE THAT BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT THEM TO CATCH ON.

[FILM CLIP]

TROY KOTSUR>> THAT’S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR ME TO LEARN THE SONGS. WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME? BECAUSE I’M DEAF. I’M USED TO USING SIGN LANGUAGE NOW, BUT I CAN’T HEAR. MUSIC? I THOUGHT, OH MAN. I HAD BUTTERFLIES.

[FILM CLIP]

ED WATERSTREET>> THEY ALL NEED TO GET THE FEELING OF THE RHYTHM IN THE SIGNING AND BE ABLE TO OWN IT AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY TRUST WHAT THAT IS AND LET IT BECOME PART OF THEIR MOVEMENT AND THEIR STAGING.

VICKY CURRY>> CRITICS HAVE RAVED ABOUT THE PRODUCTIONS AND DEAF WEST IS NOW SHARING THIS NEW ART FORM WITH NEW AUDIENCES, BOTH IN AND OUT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

BILL O’BRIEN>> I THINK THE MUSIC THEATER INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW IS READY FOR SOMETHING NEW. THEY’RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW BECAUSE THEY’VE NEVER SEEN DEAF ACTORS IN MUSICALS. IT’S ALREADY HEIGHTENED BECAUSE OF THE MUSIC AND NOW YOU ADD ON TOP OF THAT THE BEAUTY OF THE SIGN LANGUAGE AND THE PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION AND IT’S REALLY A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> THE DEAF WEST THEATRE PRODUCTION OF “BIG RIVER” IS PLAYING AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM THROUGH DECEMBER 29. REDUCED PRICE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DEAF PATRONS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBERS ON YOUR SCREEN OR CHECK THE COMPANY’S WEBSITE AT WWW.DEAFWEST.ORG.

[213-628-2772]
[TTY: 213-680-4017]

VAL>> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. IF YOU’D LIKE TO CHECK OUT SOMETHING YOU’VE MISSED, WE NOW HAVE A WEEK’S WORTH OF LIFE AND TIMES SHOWS AVAILABLE ON STREAMING AUDIO. THAT’S THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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