NFLT presents The Miracle Worker

Carol Belanger | Oct 14, 2015

At the end of November, North Frontenac Little Theatre will present the Samuel French production of William Gibson's “The Miracle Worker”.

In researching this play, certain aspects of Helen Keller's life stood out. Firstly, she keenly appreciated nature and described it with exquisite attention to detail. She also took great pleasure and comfort in simple, daily tasks and in learning about life. These enjoyments were expressed much later when she wrote several books. Her early years however were marked by much struggle.

Because she could not speak or hear but she could think and reason, she was terribly frustrated and expected much from herself. She put her hands on others' lips to feel them speak for example, and wondered how to make her own mouth work. She had a tendency toward terrible outbursts.

The play The Miracle Worker is a vivid portrayal of Helen's family life and their struggles. We get a good picture of her mother's fierce love and anguish, of her father's frustration, and of her brother's resignation. We see their family dynamics not centred on Helen, but greatly influenced by her.

We learn of key people in their lives, including Dr. Alexander Graham Bell who suggested that Helen could be taught, and Bell's son-in-law Mr. Anagnos of the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston who sent a young teacher, Miss Annie Sullivan, to Alabama to live with the family.

Annie struggled with her own levels of blindness and had a fierce stubborn streak that left an indelible mark on her existence. When Helen and Annie met they clashed greatly. There are several scenes of their conflicts in the play. Yet Annie's perseverance and Helen's determination come to a pivotal moment, when together they create the poignant connection in Helen's communication between words, objects and letters.

This is an award-winning play that has some timeless qualities including the families’ personal evolution in overcoming hardship, their colourful family dynamics, and their struggles in finding breakthroughs in understanding and communication.

The cast and crew are working hard at creating a memorable performance. Mark your calendar to see this NFLT production. Performance dates include Friday, November 20 & Saturday, November 21 at 7pm; Saturday, November 28 at 7pm and Sunday, the 29th at 2pm. You won't want to miss it!