This program is sponsored by the Covley Foundation based in Los Angeles, California.

The Covley Foundation is dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of humanity.

I'm Alan Ulta and this is Clear and Vivid, conversations about connecting and communicating.

It was sort of a funny story. There was a lactation consultant in the room and she looked

at me sort of curiously while I was while I was nursing and she said, your eye looks

a little droopy. And I thought, well, that's kind of rude. And I think I made some joke

about my Irish ancestry and how when we drink too much, our eyes are droopy. And she

said, no, it's not that. Go look in the mirror. So I looked in the mirror and in fact, this

side of the face had completely fallen down. And then a neurologist was called, I call

my husband who's a doctor and he said, have the neurologist come, the neurologist was

worried about a stroke. And it turned out it was Bell's policy.

That's playwright Sarah Ruhl talking about the moment she lost her smile. At a time of

joy in her life with the opening of her new play on Broadway and the birth of twins,

her face fell down. Bell's policy robbed her of the ability not only to smile but also

to fully express herself. She's written a wonderful book about that experience called

Smile, the story of a face. And there's a good chance that our conversation about it will

make you smile. I'm really eager to talk with you Sarah because of all the stories

in your plays. This one from your life that's in your book ranks right up with there with

some of the most fascinating moments. And you were so kind to write so beautifully about

this. It came at a crucial moment in your life, didn't it? Your wonderful play in the

next room or the vibrator play was just opening on Broadway, right? Is that your first

play on Broadway?

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