We are PHAMALY 2003
Distributed by Fanlight Productions, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Phamaly & Just Media
Director n/a
VHS, color, 19 min.
College - Adult
Drama, Theater, Psychology
Date Entered: 07/27/2004
Reviewed by Carolyn Walden, Mervyn H. Sterne Library, University of Alabama at BirminghamThis short film introduces the world of PHAMALY (Physically Handicapped Amateur Musical Actors League), an amateur drama troupe of persons with physical disabilities. In his introductory comments, Stephen Hahn, a man born with Spina Bifida who also wears leg braces, but still an active member of the amateur drama troupe says: “I hope some day that people won’t see the Physically Handicapped Amateur Musical Actors League. They’ll just see a really good company of actors who are giving everything they’ve got right on stage.” The film highlights the preparation of the musical Once Upon a Mattress with three performers, Troy Willis who is legally blind, Tara Cowan in a wheel chair after a spinal injury, and Stephen Hahn. Viewers see the auditions, casting, actual rehearsal, and some excerpts of opening night of the musical. The performers share their views of life with a disability and the importance of the drama troupe.
The film provides another perspective for participation of persons with physical disabilities and gives insight into the therapeutic use of drama and the arts. Editing is excellent - shifting between various aspects of the production and the personal comments of the performers and directing team. Color is good with sound quality appropriate for a drama production. Recommended for drama and theater collections and for psychology collections emphasizing social psychology and people with disabilities.