The Miracle Worker - Stirling Players

The Miracle Worker is a dramatic recreation of Helen Keller’s journey toward the learning of language. Currently being performed by a talented and committed group of young actors, this is an engaging and entertaining piece of theatre.

The play depicts some significant deviations from truth as told by Keller herself, in her biography “The Story of my life” which was published when she was just 22. Perhaps the most glaring difference is that Keller was not born deaf and blind as implied in the script. She was struck down with an illness (which in 1880 was perhaps scarlet fever or meningitis) when she was just a year old which left her without those senses. She had already begun to say a few words, including wah-wah (water). Her mother alludes to this in the dialogue, which sets the audience up for the pivotal and emotional climax.

In writing the play, William Gibson also drew on letters that were written by Keller’s governess and companion Annie Sullivan, the formerly sight impaired 20- year old who changed Keller’s existence.  The program actually lists a timeline with the factual events between when Keller was born in 1880 and 1968 when she passed away after a lifetime of education, activism and achievement.

The Stirling Players production of The Miracle Worker begins with the birth of the child and then skips forward 6 years to just before Keller’s desperate parents send for help.  The action then centres around Annie’s struggle to undo the primal ways to which Helen had become accustomed and finally to infiltrate her mind, opening it up to learning and understanding.

In the title role, and without a word of dialogue, Kaitlin Shawcross was sensitive, mature and enthralling. Like a caged animal, frustrated at a lack of understanding, her character lashed out when communication failed her time and time again. Shawcross was diligent in her consistent eye gaze, cautious stance and movement through space. There wasn’t a second in the play when I saw through the character to the actor underneath; she is certainly a talent to watch out for in the years to come.

Rachael Maher portrayed Annie Sullivan, the young Irish governess with enough strength and conviction to drive the action. With Sullivan saddled with the weight of regret from the past, Maher depicts her vicious battle to housebreak and educate the wild Helen Keller, alongside her own journey toward perceived redemption.

Amanda Watson, Tony Clarke and Mathew Young as the Keller family, all performed well and the rest of the cast completed the ensemble of supported roles quite convincingly.

Director, Simon James created a sense of realism with his combination of staging, background effects, sound and lighting design.  Although the set was slightly abstract, it provided scenery that was user friendly for the cast and, being open and layered, was viewer friendly for the audience.

Stirling Players can be congratulated on the high standard of this production and I wish them all the best for the remainder of the season.

Stirling Theatre, Morris Pace, Innaloo

14th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 21st May 2011.

All shows begin at 8pm, except Sunday matinees at 2pm.

Bookings can be made through Morris News on 9446 9120.

Tickets are $18 full, $16 concession and $12 member, with discounted group bookings available through Morris News.

For more information visit the Stirling Players website at www.stirlingplayers.com.au.