The Miracle Worker - Heartwarming story delivered with real intensity
The Miracle Worker. Performed at The Attic Theatre, Stratford upon Avon, running from 16 - 23 March. Review by Charles Essex.
The Kellers are a wealthy family in Alabama, who after the American Civil War have a child Helen (Emily Tietz), whose illness in infancy rendered her blind and deaf. Her parents Captain Keller (Rob Keeves) and mother (Catherine Prouse) were reluctant to put her in an institution, so they employed Annie O’Sullivan (Rosie Coles) to try to teach Helen.
Rosie portrayed Annie as salt-of-the-earth Irish, determined to help Helen. She delivered her script with its dry humour superbly. Even though Emily’s role was physical rather than verbal, with tantrums and seemingly violent outbursts, which were reflections of her frustration, she and Rosie and Emily interact perfectly. Both gave expert performances. Emily was entirely convincing as a child with severe special needs. Although her role had no verbal script she maintained her mannerisms throughout.
The Keller family were no less important to the story and the actors conveyed the alternating hope, despair and frustrations of a family in their position. The situation led to family tensions as Helen’s mother (Catherine Prout) and aunt (Abigail Drennan) argued with her father (Rob Keeves), who wanted to dispense with Annie’s services. Rob drolly portrayed a patriarchal figure who wilted when confronted by powerful women.
Director Andy Woolley was helped by not just a top-quality cast but by set designer Hattie Human, who created three distinct spaces representing different parts of the Keller house – a sitting room, a bedroom and a garden and summer house. This allowed parallel scenes to alternate. As the family dined and bickered in the house, and tensions rose, in the garden and summer house Annie relentlessly taught Helen.
Andy choreographed superbly the numerous scenes of Helen’s tantrums, reflecting her frustration as Annie tried to get her cooperation, which were almost wrestling matches, such was their intensity.
The play delivered a story of hope as Annie was able to demonstrate to her family that Helen had made progress as Helen learned to spell out words using a simple ‘finger spelling’ sign language.
A heartwarming story that was delivered with real intensity.
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