Pennington Players present the heartfelt and powerful story of Helen Keller’s triumph over seemingly insurmountable obstacles in William Gibson’s play “The Miracle Worker” at Kelsey Theater on weekends from Friday, February 1 to Sunday, February 10. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on February 1.
Set in Alabama, circa the 1880s, the play opens with Keller as a toddler who contracted an illness rendering her blind and deaf. Without the ability to communicate she became an undisciplined, raging child by the age of six. Her parents reluctantly hired Annie Sullivan to serve as a governess and teacher for their young daughter. Sullivan, determined to reach into the young girl’s world, requested two weeks alone with the child.
“The Miracle Worker” premiered on Broadway in 1959 starring Patty Duke as Helen Keller and Anne Bancroft as Annie Sullivan. It was later adapted into the film, in which Duke and Bancroft reprised their roles. “This play is a journey from darkness to light on many levels, and not just for Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan, but also for the entire cast and the audience,” says director Judi Parrish.
Featured actors include Justin Saintil of West Windsor as Percy and Scott Karlin of Plainsboro in a dual role as the Doctor and Mr. Anagnos. Students at the Perkins School for the Blind include Marissa Marciano of Plainsboro and Julia Weingaertner of Princeton Junction. Voiceover roles are being performed by Scott Karlin and his wife, Rosie Karlin, also of Plainsboro. Costume design is by Kathy Slothower of Plainsboro.
The role of Annie Sullivan will be played by Jennifer Nasta Zefutie of Cranbury, with 11-year-old Isabel Kinney, also of Cranbury, as Helen. Both have spent many hours learning American Sign Language (ASL) to prepare for their parts. In keeping with the theme and subject matter of the play, an ASL-interpreted performance will be presents on Saturday, February 9, at 8 p.m. Select seating is available upon request for those who wish to be closest to the ASL interpreters.
The Miracle Worker, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Weekends, Friday, February 1, to Sunday, February 10. $16. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.net.
