Front porch finger spell at Ivy Green in Tuscumbia with Olivia Fulmore as Helen Keller.

By Lynne Long

Special to the News-Aegis

If you’re looking for a play that inspires in these turbulent times, look no further than ACTA (Arts Council of the Trussville Area) Theater’s “The Miracle Worker.”  This moving adaptation of Alabama’s own Helen Keller and her relationship with her teacher, Annie Sullivan will leave you teary-eyed, but with new hope in your heart.

“The roles of Helen and Annie are not only mentally challenging but also physically as well; and the actors have bruises to prove it.  Emily Lunsford plays Annie and Olivia Fulmore takes on the role of Helen. Both deliver flawless performances with grace and power. The eight-minute kitchen scene in which Helen and Annie depict a battle of wills over Helen’s ‘table manners’ is worth the price of the ticket alone. The rest of Helen’s family round out the main characters nicely, with Ed Potts as the pompous Captain Keller, and Margarita Lunsford as Kate Keller, Helen’s all too tender-hearted mother. Newcomer Tom Pearson is wonderful as James, Helen’s stepbrother, and Erica Egan shines as Helen’s uppity Aunt Ev.  Local favorite Ron Landry plays Annie’s school principal with sensitivity and confidence. Other cast members portraying the household servants and the blind girls from Annie’s school all serve the story well, and the eerie flashback people fill us in on the details of her nightmarish past.  And last, but certainly not least, Drover Nichols cameos as the Keller family dog. He does, however, need to work on panning the audience — that sweet mug almost stole the show. Director, Michael R. Bridges has given us another excellent production suitable and memorable for the whole family. So, come and see the incredible story of a little girl from Tuscumbia who challenges us all to never give up.

There will be two sign interpreters (Patty Sransky and Alice Moss) present for the Saturday, Feb. 19 performance. The play closes this weekend with performances on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and a Sunday matinee on Feb. 20 at 2:30 p.m.   Tickets are paid for at the door by check or cash. Call the Theatre at 205-655-3902 to place your order for reserved seats. You will receive a confirmation call. Tickets are $10; $8 for senior adults, (55 +) and $6 for children and students (through college).   The theater is located at 225 Parkway Drive in Trussville.  See  www.ACTATheater.com for directions. Refreshments are available at a nominal fee and the theatre is handicap friendly.