Stage North presents The Miracle Worker by William Gibson February 3, 4, 5, 6 at 7pm at the North Peace Cultural Centre in Fort St. John. A matinee on Saturday, February 6, will begin at 2pm.
The Miracle Worker is an astonishing story about Helen Keller, played by Kay-Leesa Fehr, who becomes deaf and blind due to sever disease at age two. Helen progressed no further than a like feral child until teacher Annie Sullivan, played by Stevi Eby, takes her into control and miraculously breaks through the darkness that has entrapped Helen since her illness. The story revolves around Helen’s family and their sadness and frustrations in trying to cope with Helen’s unruliness and the joy of small glimmers of hope for improvements in Helen’s behaviour. The break-through is surprising when we learn it is triggered by just one word.
Director Dave Eaton has been working with the cast of The Miracle Worker for three months. Eaton said, “ The script is very involved and emotionally demanding. The cast has learned to work with each other in creating the tensions and triumphs the story evokes.” Dave is quite proud of the accomplishments of the local cast: Mike Odowichuk plays Anagnos, Justin Saunders-James, Harold Goodwin- the Doctor, Krystal Roth-Kate, Mary Telford-Aunt Ev, Dawn Ljuden-Viney, Paul Swartz- Captain Keller, Korlynd Fehr- Percy and Anjali Spooner and Samantha Jorgensen as children.
The play calls for voice overs and Director Eaton called in the talents of Stage North sponsors to pre-record voices for the show. Voices of people you will not see in the show are Eli Smith, Ted Pimm, Jim Chapple, Dino Soucy, Jim Peltier and Nelson Stowe. Some of these voices are making their first presence on the Fort St. John stage without actually being on stage.
The Miracle Worker is the third production of Stage North for this season. We can look forward to “I Claudia” and “Toronto Mississippi”, both Canadian productions, in April and May.
Photo: Justin Saunders, Paul Swartz, Mary Telford, and Stevi Eby rehearse for their roles in Stage North’s production of The Miracle Worker.
