"The Miracle Worker" Response

Overall "The Miracle Worker" was a great production put on by the UWSP Theatre and Dance Department. From the acting to the lighting, everything seemed really well put together. The story of Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan is truly amazing and unbelievable.

Picture from http://arcanegel.com/mayclaire/memoriam/abancroft/bancroftquotes.html

Helen was born as a seeing and hearing child. At almost 2 years old, she contracted an acute congestion of the stomach and brain which made her blind and deaf. Growing up, her parents took her to several doctors around the Alabama area to try to help her but nothing worked. Eventually, they hired Annie Sullivan to help Helen. Her parents were frustrated and did not agree to Sullivan's methods at first, but once they saw the progress she was making with Helen they allowed Sullivan to take her to the garden house to continue. For 2 weeks, Sullivan tried teaching Helen language and she taught her table manners. Once the 2 weeks were over Helen was reunited with her family. At dinner, Helen had a tantrum and her parents and family pitied her while Annie continuing to teach her. Annie brought Helen outside to refill the water she dumped out, and by doing this Helen learned her first word and understood language.

Through Annie Sullivan's determination and persistence, Helen was taught language and a whole new world. Because Annie was blind before, she had a better idea of what Helen was going through than her parents did. All her parents could do was pity her and try to make her comfortable. Her parents were unable to provide her what Annie provided her. Through this entire journey of Helen learning language, Annie never gave up on her. Even when it looked like there was no hope for Helen, Annie pushed through and was determined to give her what she deserved. 

In my opinion, this was a great play by the UWSP Theatre and Dance Department. It evoked so many emotions from sadness to frustration to hopefulness. The actors and actresses who played the characters in this play did a really good job at making the audience feel the emotions that they were feeling. Yes, I would recommend this play to others who want to experience an unbelievable story.