Most of us can’t imagine what it might be like to go through life unable to see or hear, completely cut off from our surroundings. Olney Theatre Center’s production of The Miracle Worker attempts to bring us into the experience of that struggle, while sharing one woman’s dedication to helping another overcome seemingly insurmountable circumstances.
The show marks the grand opening of Olney’s new mainstage, which is an impressive sight to behold with its thrust stage and effective acoustics. The Miracle Worker isn’t a set-dependent play, and some of the show’s staging, such as the abstract, geometic-shaped glass panes used to divide scenes, is a bit disjointed. But the space is beautiful and should serve the company well for future productions.
The Miracle Worker tells the story of how teacher Annie Sullivan came to the Keller home to teach young Helen to communicate, despite her blindness and deafness. Just as Sullivan must rely on nearly-infinite patience when working with stubborn Helen and her interfering family, the play requires some patience as well. Some scenes, such as when Helen learns to eat with silverware at the table, are long and intentionally protracted, and the action in general progresses very slowly throughout the production. But audience members are rewarded in the end with an extremely moving climax and finale, when Sullivan finally breaks through to her charge.
MaryBeth Wise is a steely, stubborn presence as Sullivan. The play gives Sullivan an unresolved backstory about her childhood that is communicated through voice-overs and strange, almost-chanting older women; fortunately, Wise is a strong actress and brings depth to her character without relying exclusively on this somewhat vague history. Carolyn Pasquantonio is not given the luxury of words and must rely almost entirely on body language to inhabit Helen, and accomplishes this admirably. Helen Hedman and James Slaughter are appropriately frustrating as Helen’s parents; Max Rosenak is a fine James Keller, though the character himself is a bit of an anomaly.
The Miracle Worker runs from Aug. 10-Sept. 11. Olney Theatre Center is located at 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., Olney, MD. Tickets are $29-39 with student discounts available.
