Tale conveys message of resilience
Actions speak louder than words in Eden High School’s performance of “The Miracle Worker.” A captivating tale that made the audience both crack up and break down, Eden students should be proud of their moving production.
Set in the 1880s, “The Miracle Worker” tells the tale of Helen Keller (Elizabeth Chernyak), a young girl who became deaf and blind when she was just 19 months old, and her teacher, Annie Sullivan (Maria Mudassir), a former student at the Perkins Institute for the Blind.
Annie, just 20 years old, is asked to help the young Helen learn to behave and cope with her disability. Annie tries tirelessly to teach Helen the ways of the world as if she had no restrictions at all. A heartwarming tale of perseverance and independence, “The Miracle Worker” inspires all people to never give up no matter how high the odds are stacked against them.
Standout performances from Maria Mudassir and Elizabeth Chernyak, as Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller respectively, were the highlight of the play. Mudassir commanded attention with her sharp witted tongue and her unwavering confident attitude. As a first time actress, Mudassir was brilliant and showed much promise for future endeavours. Chernyak, despite having few lines, had an immense presence on stage. Her ability to convey emotions through facial expressions and exaggerated movements could not have been an easy feat.
Other notable actors included Jesse Klassen as Captain Keller and Natasha Chernishenko as Kate Keller. This duo made up the kindly but somewhat incompetent parents of Chernyak’s Helen. Klassen provided small moments of humour with his ever changing opinions. Chernishenko was able to convey motherly love through doting expressions and caring mannerisms.
The Miracle Worker was able to add another element through flashbacks created by dramatic lighting, courtesy of Leah Godwin and eerie voiceovers provided by an accomplished team of actors and editors. These excellent effects created insight into Annie's troubled past and made the audience more invested in her character. The time period was effectively shown through impeccable hair and make up, as well as costumes and set design.
Although there were some minor line missteps, the actors were able to continue with the flow of the play.
Eden students should be commended for their ability to be humorous without being insensitive and for their capacity to convey the message of resilience. The Miracle Worker opened the eyes of the audience and made the viewers reflect.
We can never give up on achieving a miracle because, with determination, it is apparent that nothing is out of reach.