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Just months after Penobscot Theatre Company narrowly escaped a permanent shut-down due to financial trouble, the Bangor play troupe continues its strong season with its newest play: William Gibson’s “The Miracle Worker,” directed by Don Jordan.
In conjunction with the Warner Center for Communication and Learning, PTC’s admirable rendition of the play depicts part of the early life of Helen Keller who, despite being left blind and deaf by scarlet fever, learns how to use language thanks to the tireless efforts of her teacher, Annie Sullivan.
The story of Helen Keller is always inspiring, and this on-stage production is no exception. Gibson’s script was originally a 1962 television drama that was adapted into a play and a film starring Anne Bancroft as Annie Sullivan and Patty Duke as Helen Keller, who both won Oscars for their performances. Since then, the story has been adapted into two made-for-TV movies: once in 1979, again starring Patty Duke, but this time as Annie Sullivan, and again in 2000.
Set in the 1880s in Tuscumbia, Ala., “The Miracle Worker” faces many challenges as a production. In an art medium such as theater, which relies heavily on speech, the play’s lead character must communicate to the audience in other ways in order to be effective. Elizabeth Lutz, a junior at John Bapst Memorial High School, does an expert job at portraying the exasperating Helen Keller who, because of the coddling of her parents, is prone to temper tantrums and physical violence. Her frustrated parents, Captain Keller and his wife Kate, played by Alex Cherington and Pamela Rogers, consider placing their daughter in an asylum – a last resort option they would rather avoid.
Enter Annie Sullivan, played by Kae Cooney, a young, “not in her teens,” governess who has been sent to do the impossible: communicate with Helen. To everyone other than herself, Annie’s task seems insurmountable. Her mentor, Dr. Anagnos, played by Adam K�ykendall tells her, “Nobody expects you to work miracles.”
But a miracle is exactly what Helen needs, and thanks to the determination of her teacher, she learns sign language, and eventually finds her voice.
Cooney’s and Lutz’s performances are commendable. Their dynamic on stage is thrilling to watch, especially since all of it is done in complete silence. The most memorable scene is one in which Annie and Helen have a virtual shouting match and not once are any words spoken. For nearly 15 minutes, Annie locks herself and Helen into the dining room, and tries to teach her pupil some table manners. The struggle that ensues is the loudest silence of the play. Helen kicks, slaps her teacher, throws things and tears the room apart, refusing to “listen” to Annie. By the end of the scene, the room is a wreck but Annie has claimed a small victory, because Helen has folded her dinner napkin.
Through the play, the audience is given glimpses into Annie’s past. Though born blind, Annie underwent corrective surgery and gained almost complete vision in her eyes. At the age of 9, she went to study at the Perkin’s Institute for the Blind, leaving behind her younger brother Jimmy, a cripple who depends on her for everything. A shrouded, grim reaper-like character gives periodic narration’s during the play, and a green light is cast into the darkness as Annie remembers her younger brother and the guilt she feels for leaving him. The technique is melodramatic and not as effective as it is intended. A simple scene between two young children would have worked better in this case.
Although the play catalogues only a short period in Helen’s life, she later went on to learn to read multiple languages in Braille (including French, German and Latin), graduate from Radcliff University, earn honorary post-doctoral degrees from Temple University and Harvard University, and be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Through the marvelous performances of its lead actresses, Penobscot Theatre Company does justice to Helen Keller’s extraordinary life.
“The Miracle Worker” runs through Nov. 23 at the Bangor Opera House, located on 183 Main St. For information on show times and ticket prices, call the box office at 942-3333.
Bangor Daily News