The 'Miracle' of theater
Theater's ability to entertain or inspire always has been the source of its intriguing power.
On those occasions where it can do both, as William Gibson's drama "The Miracle Worker" has the capability of doing, the stage experience can rise to its zenith.
New Kensington Civic Theatre takes on that challenge tonight through Sunday in its dramatization of the story of Helen Keller and her early relationship with her teacher Anne Sullivan.
Blind, deaf and mute, as the result of a fever at the age of 2, Keller would have faced an uncertain future had she not come under the care of Sullivan, an Irish girl who herself had been born blind.
The emotional relationship between teacher and student again plays out at the Forum Theatre, on the Penn State New Kensington Campus in Upper Burrell.
Although it takes place shortly after the Civil War, it is a work that very much still speaks to audiences today, says director Colleen Sulava of New Kensington.
"There are lessons to be learned today. Upon seeing the huge obstacles that Helen, the pupil, and Sullivan, the teacher, must overcome, and seeing the triumph of both, anyone can learn that wonders can be accomplished through self-discipline and perseverance," she says.
It is very easy for people to play the victim when things do not go as planned, Sulava adds. "So many people look for others to blame for their own dissatisfaction or inadequacies. This play teaches that miracles don't just happen, but individuals can create them every day by having expectations and working to make those expectations realities," she says.
Sulava believes anyone will like this play, seeing it as inspiring, often surprisingly funny and powerful.
The actors are doing a superb job bringing the characters to life, she says.
Marley Rae Tasker, of Tarentum, who has just turned 9 and is portraying Keller, is enjoying that opportunity.
"Helen, who is 6, is something of a brat," Marley Rae says. "She throws tantrums and has no manners. She is like that because she has never had the chance to know better. She is blind and she can't hear. She can't talk. I have to stare into space while knowing what is going on and trying to be someone who has no idea what is going on."
She hopes people leave with more sensitivity about the challenges of relating to someone with disabilities.
Sulava is impressed with the young actress's talent. "She has been wonderful to work with, is quite bright, and she knows everyone's lines," she says. "Her mother, Rose, has worked hard as a teacher and coach."
The Civic Theatre board wanted to present a classic and also one that had appeal to children. The cast is comprised of 11 children and 7 adults.
Melissa Kowalski of Allegheny Township, who plays Sullivan, says children and adults will find something to take from the story.
Sulava says Kowalski's role also is quite demanding. "The character of Helen is untamed. Anne must motivate Helen for Helen's own good, using physical force that contemporary society has come to find repugnant," she explains.
Kowalski says this is an important story to retell. "Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan really paved the way for the education of disabled children and adults," she says. "To give the gift of language to someone is so powerful."
That communication is the key, Sulava suggests.
Sullivan understood there was a mind waiting to be rescued from the dark silence. That character is "The Miracle Worker," and it is through her teaching that Helen, who went on to become an accomplished author, comes to communicate, not only with her immediate family but the world, says Sulava, a former teacher of English and speech at Leechburg Area High School.
"I hope people realize the importance of communication and the role of a good teacher," she says.
The story of how a family is affected by the child's disabilities is extreme in the case of Helen, Sulava says, but any family has challenges with child rearing.
"Sullivan and family members must realize that the internal life of Helen is what must be released, and this is not done through just good table manners but through active growth through communication, not sentimental compassion," Sulava says.
At one point in the play, she says, the Kellers seem ready to accept Helen's good behavior as adequate in the learning process.
"Sullivan suggests that Helen should be more than a housebroken dog," Sulava adds, "that Helen has intellect, a soul. These are gifts not to be wasted. Like any child, Helen deserves a chance to learn and ultimately teach others." Additional Information:
'The Miracle Worker'
Presented by: New Kensington Civic Theatre
When: 8 p.m. today through Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Forum Theatre, Penn State New Kensington Campus, Upper Burrell.
Admission: $10; $8 for senior citizens and students with ID; $5 for age 11 and younger. Group rates available
Details: 724-224-5224 or www.nkct.org
