BWW Reviews: Media Theater's THE MIRACLE WORKER

The Miracle Worker, William Gibson's classic play which focuses on the stormy relationship between Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan. The original production opened on Broadway in 1959 and bringing praise to its two crowning stars, Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft, who respectively played the deaf-mute Helen Keller and her devoted governess-teacher Annie Sullivan. Both actresses recreated their roles in the 1962 film.

"She is like a little safe, locked, that no one can open. Perhaps there is a treasure inside," says Helen's forlorn mother. To which Helen's determined teacher replies to Helen, "One word and I can put the world in your hand."

On the heels of their highly acclamied production of Les Miserables, Media theater's Artistic Director Jesse Cline has put together another bare bones set, exceptionally talented cast to create a most impressive production.

The talented Jennie Eisenhower portrays the combative, outspoken 20-year-old Ann Sullivan with a touch of the New England spinster. She's the self-restraint and self-denial of a girl who grew up amid misery and tragedy haunted by the voice of her brother and their own tortured childhood in an asylum. You really believe that Annie's drive is powered by her own experiences, and that helps Jennie anchor both her tenderness and her toughness with little display of affectation towards her pupil. The physical and emotional battles between Annie and Helen remain the play's most compelling sequences.

The just 12 year old Lexi Gwynn is glowing and utterly convincing as the troubled blind, deaf and speechless Helen, who never for a moment let's you forget that there is a real person desperately in need of the key to open her soul. Her performance is riveting and you never stop rooting for her to find her way.

The rest of this solid mostly Equity principle cast, while seemingly the backdrop of attention, gives the story its guts and the reality of living with a special needs family member and the struggles of their everyday life.

Andrew Criss (Captain Keller), channels the well intended yet frustrated father of Helen, and Hillary Parker attempts to pull the family together despite proper misplaced warmth as Helen's mother. Maria Wolf seems equally irritated and opinionated as her Aunt Ev. Helen's older and somewhat unruly half-brother James (Alex Kryger) struggles to accept, understand, and communicate with his own father while dealing with his own angst.

Ann works tirelessly each day to reach Helen as she goes from deep resentment to her teacher to total dependency and isolated from a family who are barely coping with their situation and fighting to keep Helen from being institutionalized. Her biggest battle is to teach Helen to be obedient and comply in a reasonable manner. Ann is given only 2 weeks to make progress. She works endlessly teaching Helen letters that spell words into the palm of her hands. "She knows all the letters but doesn't know what the words mean", laments Ann. Compassion is truly earned by a production that delivers a full array of emotions and an exhausting display of stellar acting on the part of Jennie & Lexi.

As the story progresses toward the ending scene at the water well how can you not become moved knowing that this breakthrough moment will lead to one of the most astonishing and admirable careers in American history?

All performances in February assist Overbrook School for the Blind (second week of run) or Royer-Greaves School (third week of run) with $2 from each ticket sold being donated.

The Miracle Worker plays at the Media Theater 104 E. State Street, Media, Pa through Feb-15.th for tickets and more information Call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org for more information.

Photos: Jennie Eisenhower (Annie Sullivan) and Lexi Gwynn ( Helen Keller)

Photo Credits: Maura McConnell and Pati Buehler

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