The Magnificent Masked Hearing Aid

Ask Tess if the real guy is Superman or Clark Kent; she’ll say glasses make the man. But when she learns she’ll go deaf by age thirty, her confidence falls. How she feels about the Man of Steel, which art school to go to, whether to get a risky surgical implant to restore her hearing -- everything’s up in the air, unless Tess decides what defines her identity: her abilities, or how she masks them.

Ask Tess if the real guy is Superman or Clark Kent; she’ll say glasses make the man. But when she learns she’ll go deaf by age thirty, her confidence falls. How she feels about the Man of Steel, which art school to go to, whether to get a risky surgical implant to restore her hearing -- everything’s up in the air, unless Tess decides what defines her identity: her abilities, or how she masks them.

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The Magnificent Masked Hearing Aid

Recommended by

  • Perse Grammer: The Magnificent Masked Hearing Aid

    As someone who is hard of hearing, this play made me cry multiple times. Sarah Bowden did a brilliant job of capturing the emotional complexities surrounding hearing aids and implants, and the conflict that creates between hard of hearing children and their hearing parents.

    As someone who is hard of hearing, this play made me cry multiple times. Sarah Bowden did a brilliant job of capturing the emotional complexities surrounding hearing aids and implants, and the conflict that creates between hard of hearing children and their hearing parents.

  • Jeremy Sony: The Magnificent Masked Hearing Aid

    A play seemingly about a hearing aid, in actuality, a wonderful play about the expectations we place on our children as parents and as society, brought forth in witty-heartwrenching-geeky-clarity. Sarah's play about a young woman navigating the world and her own hearing loss is this touching father/daughter story about accepting or choosing what defines you. Pulling in some comic references keeps it light, but don't let the title or Superman references fool you --- this play is raw and emotional as it is light and witty. A great 3-hander that will connect with any audience.

    A play seemingly about a hearing aid, in actuality, a wonderful play about the expectations we place on our children as parents and as society, brought forth in witty-heartwrenching-geeky-clarity. Sarah's play about a young woman navigating the world and her own hearing loss is this touching father/daughter story about accepting or choosing what defines you. Pulling in some comic references keeps it light, but don't let the title or Superman references fool you --- this play is raw and emotional as it is light and witty. A great 3-hander that will connect with any audience.

  • Jacob Juntunen: The Magnificent Masked Hearing Aid

    There are few plays that honestly address the fact that many so-called disabilities have positive aspects to them while at the same time not denying the difficulties of those conditions. Sarah Bowden's The Magnificent Masked Hearing Aid walks this thin line, beautifully portraying why someone with a disability might fear losing aspects of one's self in a treatment that is equally desirable. All this in a play with humor, comic book references, and a lovely father/daughter relationship. A must read.

    There are few plays that honestly address the fact that many so-called disabilities have positive aspects to them while at the same time not denying the difficulties of those conditions. Sarah Bowden's The Magnificent Masked Hearing Aid walks this thin line, beautifully portraying why someone with a disability might fear losing aspects of one's self in a treatment that is equally desirable. All this in a play with humor, comic book references, and a lovely father/daughter relationship. A must read.

View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

Two female characters in this play are hard of hearing, so this is a great opportunity for hard of hearing or Deaf performers.
  • Henry Cooper
    An audiologist and father.
    Character Age
    45
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Cis male
  • Tess Cooper
    Henry's daughter and an aspiring comic book artist. Hard of hearing.
    Character Age
    18
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Cis female
  • Rachel Driscoll
    Tess' disability counselor and lifelong friend to her and Henry.
    Character Age
    31
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Cis female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Queens Theatre, Year 2021

Production History

  • Type University, Organization Ohio University School of Theater, Year 2012

Awards