Reflections of The Miracle Worker

An Appreciation of Community Theater

–by Cara Russell-

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” -Helen Keller

Last night was closing night for Robert Hall’s ‘The Miracle Worker’ at the Orcas Center. The remarkable story of Helen Keller, made deaf, mute and blind by illness at a young age, and her dynamic teacher Annie Sullivan came to life again for Orcas audiences. Stormy Hildreth portrayed the wild and clever Helen, and Aaimee Johnson enacted the equally passionate and intelligent Annie.

When the house opened and the audience entered the black box, we found that our seats were placed on the floor on either side of the double thrust stage. It was an immediate connection. As the audience found their seats, many walked past the Keller family dining room table, and some reached out to touch the dish of potatoes, the silverware, and linen. It was like walking through a museum exhibit. Suspended from above and hung by wires was a minimal set that consisted of a window, gardening tools, and shirts on hangers, silverware, and two angled platforms below. This simple set turned into a complete world of suspension of disbelief.

The audience could see not only the faces of the actors, but each other. Children sat enthralled throughout. Little ones, still small enough to comfortably fit into the laps of their grandparents, frequently led the applause, and questioned out loud as Helen read faces with her hands and acquired sign language. They learned and grew, and we got to see that too. They will now grow up knowing at least one more amazing woman in American history, and one more teacher who lived to help her student grow into her potential.

Grown women sat with pursed lips, creased foreheads, and yes, men cried. Fortunately tears of happiness, which I would argue are the best tears to cry. Heads bobbed back and forth as though they were part of the ongoing, conflicting parenting discussions. Everyone beamed at the little victories throughout. And we all desperately wanted that miracle for Helen.

James (Kellen Comrie) was the frustrated and ignored son. While all the patience and love went to Helen (Stormy Hildreth), James was left dealing with the emotions that many siblings face when growing up in a family with a special needs child. He desperately reached out for attention and respect from his father Captain Keller (Tom Fiscus), which often ended in their butting of heads. Fiscus took on the role that someone must always play in a story; the (reluctant) antagonist. He and Annie Sullivan (Aaimee Johnson) literally played tug-of-war over what they thought was best for Helen.
Kate (Gillian Smith) was the troubled, tender and gentle mother, who, while she wanted to protect her daughter and give her love and safety, ultimately supported Annie’s unconventional approach to help Helen gain the liberating power of language.

School teacher Anagos (John Cunningham portrayed his pride and affection for his student, Annie Sullivan in a strong yet understated manner. Aunt Ev (Kat Gilliam) was lovely and always often a source of perceptive riposte and funny lines.
Aaimee Johnson was more than the glue that bound them all together – she was the soul of the play, teaching us all as Helen’s teacher and liberator, of the power of language, persistence and integrity.

There really is something about live theater that cannot be compared to watching a movie or even a live streaming of professional theater; because it is just not the same as being there. You felt Helen (Stormy Hildreth) desperately reach out into the unknown, even touching the audience, as she blindly searched for her mother and challenged her world to bring meaning to her. And you (literally) felt the splashing water from the pitcher, as it fell from her hands and tumbled to the ground at the very moment she finally broke the language barrier, and victoriously screamed out her word for water “Wa wa!” You cried when they cried, laughed when they laughed, and felt the air move when they raced down the aisle past your seat.

Director Robert Hall more than succeeded in making the audience part of the story. It was organic, and new every time it was performed. How can that much support and human emotions emitting from 70+ people in one room not affect what is happening before our eyes? We fed their hearts as much as they did ours.

And after the performance, we greeted the actors, praised their work, and received appreciative smiles and willing conversations. We may not have been as physically and emotionally worn out as they were, but the wonderful rollercoaster ride we just experienced was more than enough to leave us dazed, and reliving the story and performance for hours after.
A big thank you to Kari Lago, Lynda Sanders, Keith Light, Kiki Luna, Michael Armenia, and Stacy Romillah who all worked silently, dressed in black, and hid in the shadows.

Live local theater brings out not only those who love, live, and crave it; it also gifts us with the talented artists and performers living on Orcas Island. Tonight Hall, Smith, Fiscus, Hildreth, Gilliam, Comrie, Cunningham, and Johnson go back to their lives, serving the community, their friends, and their families. But we will long remember how their willingness to expose their hearts touched ours.