The Miracle Worker
at Orange Lutheran High School

Reviewed on January 24, 2015

Megan McCarthy
University High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Orange Lutheran Teaches all with "The Miracle Worker"
for OC Register Varsity Arts
by Megan McCarthy, a senior at University High School

People often take for granted our ability to not only see and hear, but to communicate with others our thoughts and ideas. Orange Lutheran High School wonderful production of "The Miracle Worker" follows Annie Sullivan's journey to teach Helen Keller how to speak her mind and teaches the wonders of how our relationships can greatly affect others.

Mia Battaglia (Helen Keller) instantaneously embodies her character's disabilities with constant grasping out and cautious steps, never once dropping her physicalization. Battaglia and Kiersten Rummell (Annie Sullivan) establish strong contrasting characters, especially in the dinner scene. Battaglia's satisfied smile and exaggerated clapping only pushes a determined Rummell as she heavily sighs and resumes time after time to forcefully keep Battaglia in her chair, despite her struggle to get up. Both girls believably and skillfully maintain driven energy throughout the long struggle.

Helen's mother, Kate (Grace Underwood), as well keeping a strong accent throughout the show, has a calming soothing tone as she explains her way of upbringing for her daughter to Sullivan, showing her motherly nature. Carson Inouye (Jimmie Sullivan) also uses his voice to project his character. Although he is limited in movement since his character appears only in flashbacks, he uses a soft pleading tone, depicting his character's innocence that effectively contributes of Sullivan's sorrow.

Anthony Skillman (James) and Jack Whitaker (Captain Keller) strongly portray their character's confrontation near the end of the show. Skillman swings a chair to place between them and projects his voice in an argumentative tone to get his father to listen to him, as Whitaker stands tall but unmoving, being completely hit with son's point that he might be wrong in this matter.

Rummell's original song "She Knows" backtracks the final scene of the show, infusing modern singer-songwriter music with 19th century Alabama. The song's lyrics, which say, "You've been trying to grow in this knowledge, you now understand/We will do this hand in hand", and the soothing uplifting instrumental lines of the piano, oboe and flute exemplify the joy expressed in the characters when Helen finally understands how to communicate through Sullivan's guidance.

Orange Lutheran's "The Miracle Worker" is truly a delight as the cast hand in hand performs and teaches just how important communication is between everyone.

Melanie Miller
Aliso Niguel High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Orange Lutheran Creates a "Miracle"
for the OC Register Varsity Arts
by Melanie Miller, a junior at Aliso Niguel High School

Disabilities do not define a person. The brilliance inside them does. Annie Sullivan defies the prejudices of impaired students when she teaches Helen Keller, a blind, deaf, and mute six year old, the meaning of language. In an inspiring true story of accomplishing the impossible, Orange Lutheran draws light to "The Miracle Worker".

Kiersten Rummell carries the story as Annie Sullivan with her poised yet opinionated character. Her hand movements and stressed tone reveal an inner conflict she deals with on a daily basis. Rummell portrays Annie as an honest woman who may seem stubborn at times, but her passion and affection for the impaired drives her to success.

Given one of the most difficult characters to play, Mia Battaglia as Helen Keller nails the performance with commitment to her character and intense physicality. With her off-glance and prominent curiosity, Battaglia attracts attention and her perfectly memorized blocking highlights the struggles Helen battled. She remains in character every moment she is on stage, even through the blackouts and scene changes.

The most impressive aspect about Orange Lutheran's "The Miracle Worker" is the entire scene containing only stage directions. When Annie tries to teach Helen table manners, Helen throws a tantrum and refuses to be taught. Kiersten Rummell and Mia Battaglia wrestle with intricate and fast blocking that creates an organized havoc onstage.

The Keller family exemplifies the struggles of having contrasting opinions. Kate (Grace Underwood) displays an unconditional love for Helen and nurturing mother figure in the family. Meanwhile, Captain Keller (Jack Whitaker) portrays a contrast to Kates's love with his frustration. Helen's half brother, James (Anthony Skillman), transforms from an unconfident boy to a man who stands up for what he believes in. Adding some comic relief to the story, Martha's (Megan Kovats) well-timed sassy remarks fills the stage with a light-hearted ambiance.

A set with no doors, walls, or widows requires elaborate pantomiming, but the whole cast gives life to the set and pays attention to each detail, making the objects seem to contain real space. Kiersten Rummell composing of an original song, "She Knows" perfectly embodies the meaning of the show and adds to the mood and tone of the final moments of the play.

Orange Lutheran inspiring production of "The Miracle Worker" teaches that no disability should stop anyone from exploring the wonders of the world.

Claudia Mansoory
Tesoro High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Orange Lutheran's "Miracle Worker" Speaks Out
for OC Cappies Facebook
by Claudia Mansoory, a junior at Tesoro High School

Just as Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan tested the boundaries of human life and knowledge, Orange Lutheran High School tests the boundaries of theatre in their production of "The Miracle Worker".

This classic story unfolds in Tuscumbia, Alabama in none other than the Keller family's household. Set in the 1880's, "The Miracle Worker" is a real period piece that tells the tale of Annie Sullivan and her struggle to teach the blind, deaf, and mute young Helen Keller to understand language.

Orange Lutheran High School shares the powerful legacy of love and illuminates the stage with this fervent, heartfelt show.

Because of her youth and rough handling of Helen (Mia Battaglia), at the start of the show Helen's family is apprehensive of Annie's (Kiersten Rummell) approach to teaching. When Rummell forcefully grasps Battaglia by the arms and heaves her around the dining room in an attempt to curb Helen's tantrum, the family is stunned by her harsh treatment toward Helen. But it is this unyielding constitution that ultimately grants Helen understanding of the English language.

Mia Battaglia's portrayal of Helen Keller is particularly persuasive. Battaglia is always reaching out and waving her arms in an attempt to feel anything she can and, in the process of doing so, often knocks things over or onto the floor. Although unable to vocalize her feelings, Battaglia successfully conveys Helen's frustration and confusion by grunting and defeatedly plopping onto the ground with her arms crossed whenever she does not get what she wants.

During the climax of the show when Annie forces Helen to pump water and uses sign language to communicate the word water to her, Helen finally understands and connects the word to the object. As excitement breaks over the family, a song begins to play over their embraces. The original song, titled "She Knows" was written by Kiersten Rummell for the performance. Although the style of the song is evocative of a time period more modern than that of 1880, its smooth, slow beat and emotional lyrics wrap the story together beautifully.

Orange Lutheran High School brings to life the enduring story of love that is "The Miracle Worker".