Emma Grabinsky
Margot Berner
Did you know that two young girls are alternating playing the role of Helen Keller in The Mirackle Worker? Margot Berner began acting at the age of five and is the middle child of a talented family. Emma Grabinsky loves to act in musical theatre and classical Shakespeare. She was recently seen in Gilpin School’s original opera The Recess Queen.
They are joined by Hamza Adam (Percy/Doctor), Ryan Beil (James Keller), Tom Butler (Captain Keller), Jennifer Clement (Kate Keller), Anna Cummer (Annie Sullivan), Marci T. House (Viney) and Bridget O’Sullivan (Aunt Ev). The Miracle Worker is directed by Meg Roe.
PHOTOS: David Cooper
15 Comments
I think the play was brilliant, and so well done. Everything came together perfectly with the props, costumes, lights and sounds. The energy that you brought really showed, and was very effective. I also thought that the actors became the characters, each person performed so well, and showed what their character wanted to achieve, like Annie so desperately wanted to get Helen to understand words, and when Helen finally did understand, the joy and excitement really showed. Another thing that was awesome was the sound; I could hear you guys ALL the time. Lastly I really think that the moving stage was a great idea because it made the transitions from each scene very smooth. You guys put on an AMAZING show and should be SO proud of your work and yourselves. Wonderful job!
-s.chohan, Tamanawis.
I thought the play was absolutely amazing. The way you all acted really drew me into the story, and made me realize that people with disabilities are just like you and me, and they have to go through a lot more in life than we do. Thank you everybody who was involved in The Miracle Worker for giving me this experience. I hope that one day,I can be half the actors you are. As i have said, this production was amazing, and i hope to see you all again in future productions!
Yours truly, Ryan Waechter- Tamanawis Secondary
WOW!! A true miracle!! Just wanna say that you all actors did a fantastic job, and you have touched all of our hearts, and got some people emotional, that really are not emotional. One of them is me. That was 2-3 hours well spent. Thanks for everything.
Yours Truly, Sunny Kahlon- A Proud Tamanawis Secondary School Student
MINDBLOWING! That is the first word that comes to my mind. Everyone was precise and honest to who they were playing. I unfortunately, was not able to see Emma Grabinsky’s performance, which I know must have been fantastic, however when I saw Margot Berner’s performance as Helen Keller, I was just lost for words(at the time). Now, that I have had time to think of those words, every move she made was amazing to watch, with the twitches and the scattered walking, she brought Helen back to life. Anna Cummer, The Miracle Worker, made this play become a miracle. She was dedicated, and strict, with the help of the cast of course, I could see her as the real Anne Sullivan. To the entire cast, you made the Keller family, your dialouge and choreography, made this real. That’s how basic I can put it. One thing I incredibly liked was that fact sign language also portrayed that as well. Mrs.Keller, Anne, and Helen all defined that with Helen, who didn’t have a care in the world, didn’t care to use sign language. Anne, like I said was dedicated, showed that dedication alot through sign language, and Mrs. Keller, who is full of compassion and a little bit of dedication herself, was shown through sign language.
Now on a technical note, I got to admit, the rotating stage was a fantastic idea. It kept the show fast paced with no distraction. The set truly defined Helen, with the blank backround and muffled sound. And the fighting, was intense, especially the dinner scene. One litte mistake I saw, but then again, millions of other productions have them. Finally, to the cast and crew. You guys are awesome, and you should be proud of what you’ve done, and I am proud of you guys for bringing, Helen’s and Anne’s story to life. GREAT JOB!
Thanks a Million,
M. Jones-Tamanawis Secondary
TO THE ” MIRACLE WORKER” CAST AND CREW:
This was a very thrilling performance. I am glad that we were able to get to see the play.
TO THE CAST:
You were all very spetacular in your roles. You played them very well. Especially Margot. I don’t mean to single anybody out but I think that Margot and Emma’s parts were the hardest to master. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to play somebody who is blind, deaf and mute. You’d always have to be in neutral. I never did get the chance to see Emma Grabinsky’s performance, but if it was as good as Margot’s performance, it would have gotten a standing ovation. To Anne Cummer, your performance was outstanding. You made me believe that you were an actual teacher. When you got frustrated with Helen, so did I. When you held Helen’s hand at the end of the play and said ” I love Helen. Forever and ever,” It almost made me cry. You and Helen are quite the pair. I hope that you continue your career of acting. Maybe one day I’ll see your name on television. Once again, I don’t mean to single anybody out, but I don’t have enough time to write something good about ALL of you. So for know, I’ll have to say that EVERYONE was great.
TO THE CREW:
Your work was outstanding. You brought everything to complete perfection. I saw that you had thought this all through. I loved what you did with the lighting. When you blacked out slowly at the end of the play, I thought it was sheer brilliance. All in all, this play deserved its STANDING OVATION!!!
Elizabeth Ababio. Grade 9 of Tamanawis Secondary School
Going into this play I wasn’t very excited (The Helen Keller story just didn’t interest me) But as soon as the lights went down, and the play started, I was instantly converted. The actors had me hooked! Margot did a brilliant, and respectible job as Helen, and filled the role with a lot of dignity. I had seen the Mirracle Worker 1963 movie, and I can honestly say that this was much better. The actors stopped being actors and characters, and started being Annie, Percy, Helen, Captain Keller, and everyone else!!
I learned so much just from watching you perform and I can’t begin to tell you how great of a job you all did!!
I thought the play was amazing, and im sure everyone who watched it agrees.
It kept my attention from start to finish, the energy was captivating.
The actors did amazing, they brought the characters to life.
I loved the voice overs of Annies past, her brother and her in the asylum.
They were so believable, sounded like real thoughts.
Great job!
Jaeyn Bartnik - Tamanawis Secondary
MINDBLASTING!!!! This play was absolutely brillant. The cast and crew did a great job on putting this whole play together it was worth every mintue of it. This play made me think alot about what anne had to do to help Helen understand what the sign language ment. After seeing this play I would surely come back and watch it again. My hats are off to the cast and crew and everyone else!!!!GREAT JOB
Brad.Einarson Tamanawis Seconday School.
The Vancouver Playhouse has, once again, out done themselves!
There have been times when I have been watching a professional production, and I am fully aware that I am watching actors on stage, and I am not engaged with the story at all. However, with “The Miracle Worker”, I was pulled into the story within the first few lines that were spoken. I felt at times as if I was sitting right next to the actors, eating dinner with them at the table, and struggling alongside Annie.
All of the actors had a fantastic performance, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching all of you perform. Margot Berner, your performance was one of the best I have seen, and you are only eleven! Not even for a second did I believe you could talk, hear, or see; absolutely amazing. Your ability to stay focused for the duration of the play astounds me.
Once again, the crew managed to blow my mind with some new way to create a set. The rotation of the stage was fantastic! It made everything transition so smoothly, and have a 360 degree look of the stage (The scene with the rotating bedroom was brilliant). The carpet layer on the surface of the stage was such a small, but powerful addition to the set. It further portrayed the illusion that Helen Keller was deaf, as no footsteps were heard through the duration of the show.
A stellar production; I wish you the best of luck over the next few weeks.
– Camden Filtness - Tamanawis Secondary –
Thank you to the cast and crew for putting on this play. I really enjoyed it, the fantastic stage work and all the different props made it seem so realistic. The amazing acting, (especially Helen Keller) got us instantly hooked. I also liked the way it flowed so smoothly, even the transitions from one scene to the next looked as if it were part os the story. all in all i think it was awsome and well done. Good Job!
Nicole Gimenez - Tamanawis Secondary.
WOW just WOW,
). In short the whole production was amazing from the technical aspects to the acting and every little detail in between. This play was definitely one of the BEST productions to humble my eyes. Keep doing what your doing Guys and Gals of the Playhouse because your sure doing it well :D.
the play house has put up an absolutely amazing show every time I’ve gone and The Miracle Worker was no exception! To start off the acting was brilliant, the amount of unflinching focus produced by the Actors of the playhouse was stunning. i was literally seated in my chair hanging on every word like they would hit my hears and drop into my lap as gold coins. (bonus points to the actor that played Helen Keller ’cause your acting at age 11 was at par or surpassing anyone 3 times your age with double the experience.) Next the stage setup was ingenious, i must say utilizing the rotating center piece was so… COOL. no other way to put it made the transition silky smooth and added a real sense of change between settings. (the fact that everyone looked like they were doing the moon walk was epic as well
-Kimit Tamanawis Secondary-
What a fantastic show!
The way everything was put together was so smoothly done; all scenes were so perfectly simple; in sets, lights, and costumes, it just gave the show an extra wow factor to appreciate. All actors made me feel like I was the only one watching, I felt so connected like I was watching a movie, but better. It was pure enjoyment, and the fact that I cried and was so engaged and attached to what was happening, it just proves how affecting the acting was; along with how flabbergasted probably a lot of other students and I, felt during and after the play.
I loved the ‘Miracle Worker’ in everyway, the play overall was supremely affective, touching, and inspirational.
I had Goosebumps run up my arms from the very first scene. I had moments of smiles, laughs, and tons of crying. I was engaged the whole way through, and wanted to see more!
Thank-you greatly for another fantastic show, the brilliant actors from this play, have inspired me as an actor, to improve myself.
With great appreciation for what you guys do…keep it up…. just fabulous work.
JK - Tamanawis Secondary
It was absolutely spectacular! More then I could of ever had imagined it. The performance was incredible; it was amazing how much was done in so little time. There were moments in there I felt I was actually watching the movie. It was just so well done, and I would love to tell people about this. My first thought, after seeing the movie was “wow how could people pull this off in a play”. And of course you guys out did yourself an astonishing performance. There was so much intenseness that it really made me think twice about the true story. The cast did remarkable job for being the characters, nevertheless I almost felt the frustration, sorrow ect. Because I just couldn’t help but not get right into the story. WELL DONE! Best play I’ve seen yet. There is nothing that could make this play better. Great job cast. =)
Tamanowis secondary.
It was absolutely spectacular! More then I could of ever had imagined it. The performance was incredible; it was amazing how much was done in so little time. There were moments in there I felt I was actually watching the movie. It was just so well done, and I would love to tell people about this. My first thought, after seeing the movie was “wow how could people pull this off in a play”. And of course you guys out did yourself an astonishing performance. There was so much intenseness that it really made me think twice about the true story. The cast did remarkable job for being the characters, nevertheless I almost felt the frustration, sorrow ect. Because I just couldn’t help but not get right into the story. WELL DONE! Best play I’ve seen yet. There is nothing that could make this play better. Great job cast. =)
Tamanowis secondary.
I found the play both informative and well done. I learned about Helen Keller while seeing her story played out with brilliant elements, including a revolving stage and Annie Sullivan’s torture at the hands of her memories. As well as that, the acting was simply amazing, and displays the high syandards of the playhouse theater.
Tamanawis Secondary