Broadway in Any Language

The Italian branch of the Mattucci family visits their New York relatives. Although the Italians speak no English, their non-Italian-speaking cousins take them to see a Broadway performance of the musical “Beauty and the Beast.” Their hosts assume the story is familiar and simple enough to overcome language barriers.

However, by the intermission, the Italian theatergoers are baffled. Attempting to explain the plot, the Americans pantomime “witch.” They flounder for the word in Italian. They say “witch” slowly and loudly. Nothing is successful. Finally, a man a few rows away exasperatedly shouts in Italian, “La Strega.”

The Mattuccis are typical of the 1.5 million international visitors who annually attend Broadway shows. They miss vital information because of language differences, but the nonprofit organization, National Institute for Special Needs Audiences, is changing that with a new invention. Called ShowTrans, it is an infrared audio system that transmits a multilingual scene synopsis through a listening device worn by the patron. It helps listeners understand the plot without distracting from the performance onstage. It is available in L.A. for $10 to Spanish, Japanese, French and Portuguese speakers attending “Phantom of the Opera” at the Pantages Theater.