Everyone who’s taken Mr. Hershey’s Honors English class knows exactly what a catharsis is. That moment in a dramatic play when the characters are wailing, the lights are dim, and the audience is reaching for a box of tissues. That’s just what “The Miracle Worker” was: a true display of raw emotion brought to life onstage.

When I first heard that the Southern Lehigh Theater Department was performing “The Miracle Worker,” I was a bit surprised. An avid theater attendee, I had been expecting to be delighted and and amused due to performances such as the comical “Noises Off” and the heartwarming, “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

“The Miracle Worker” was just the opposite. It was rich and serious, filled with complex characters and difficult situations that seemed impossible to surpass. It was also an intensely emotional piece that left myself, as well as other members of the audience, in tears.

“I think the audience most enjoyed that there wasn’t as much fluff built around it as a musical,” junior Giuliana Augello said. “It was raw and hard core and I don’t think the people were expecting that from the cast because in the past we’ve done more lighthearted pieces.”

The play featured freshman Mary Felix, who played the role of Helen Keller. Felix’s role was unique, as she only spoke one line. Because her emotions were not delivered through words, Felix’s delivery was highly physical and expressive, ranging from feral, childlike crawling on the floor, screaming and punching during tantrums, and looks of relief when she was held by her mother. Felix’s acting was so strong that she was able to make the audience understand what it would be like to live the dark and silent life that Helen Keller lived.

“I have truly grown as an actress from performing in this show,” Felix said. “I have learned to act more with my body and facial expressions. I have also learned other acting tips from the upperclassmen as well.”

Giuliana Augello portrayed Anne Sullivan, the young girl who was recruited to teach Helen how to behave like a normal child and, ultimately, to teach her to understand language. Augello’s performance was raw and intense, stern and steady, but very, very human. Her serious demeanor allowed her to translate Sullivan’s haunted past to her present actions in a way that was both surreal and intense for the audience.

“I’m definitely tougher, physically and mentally [after playing Sullivan],” Augello said. “Mentally because memorizing 90 pages of dialogue is challenging, especially when it’s not broken up by songs, which are easier to memorize. Also physically, everyone thought I was beating up Mary every night. [Due to the depth of the piece] it was a lot to think about at once and I think that definitely helped me grow as an actress.”

Junior Lexi Brown and senior Chris Smith played Helen’s parents. Brown’s gentle and sympathetic portrayal of Kate Keller served as a gateway from the audience to the characters, allowing the audience to connect with Helen and Sullivan and feel compassion for the situation at hand. Smith seemed to reprise his role from “The Sound of Music” as the “stern military father” in his role of Captain Keller. He once again did an excellent job, and his anxious and tense demeanor really intensified and enhanced the conflict and the overall vibe onstage.  

Because “The Miracle Worker” was such a different play it required a lot of adjustment from the cast as they delved into an entirely different genre.

“I don’t think there was anything easy about ‘The Miracle Worker,’” theater director and chorus teacher Mr. Matt Wehr said. “It’s often associated with middle-school or junior high literature but it’s a very challenging piece of literature. I thought they handled it really well.”

Now that the fall play has run its course, the theater department is preparing for its spring musical, “Carousel,” another serious and heavy piece.

”There are some very big scenes to create, some very deep characters, and some very complex actions and emotions,” Mr. Wehr said. “‘Carousel’ deals with abuse, suicide, and second chances. It’s still a musical, but there’s some very deep provocative spots in that show and I think “The Miracle Worker’ was a step towards that.”