The Language of Miracles

Each of the leading actors in the Pierce College Theatre Department’s presentation of “The Miracle Worker” this weekend brings something special to his role, including the golden retriever who plays Belle, the dog of the young heroine Helen Keller.

Belle will be played by a trained seeing eye dog whose real name is Sierra. Keller will be played by Jonica Patella, a theater arts student who is working with the American Sign Language Department, part of the college’s acclaimed interpreter training program.

At the 2 p.m. Sunday matinee, the play will be translated in sign language by Tadd Encohen, a member of the Pierce staff who regularly provides interpreter services for hearing-impaired students on campus. He knows the play well, having previously performed the role of Keller’s father in an earlier production.

The director, veteran Pierce professor RoZsa Horvath, has also played the role of Helen’s mother in a previous production. Horvath said she chose to include the play this season because, “I was motivated by the story. It’s a true story, and these days it’s hard come by such an incredible story. It gets you in the heart. You see someone make it through horrible odds.”

Horvath believes the scene in which young Helen’s teacher, Annie Sullivan--who also was visually impaired--communicates to the child in sign language for the first time is one of the greatest moments in American dramatic literature.

The role of Sullivan will be played by Pierce dramatic arts student Courtney Waters, who previously performed the role as a student at Chaminade High School in Northridge.

“Annie grew up in a similar way to Helen,” Waters said. “She had to have nine operations just to restore partial vision. She knew what Helen was going through, closed off from the world.”

Onstage, Waters teaches Keller sign language. But offstage, she is learning sign language from the actress playing Keller. Patella has become quite adept, although she is in only her second semester of Pierce’s four-semester signing program.

“The irony is that I’m playing her teacher, but she’s taught me more,” Waters said.

BE THERE

“The Miracle Worker,” performed by the Los Angeles Pierce College Theatre Department today and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. (signed performance), Pierce College Theatre, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills. Call (818) 719-6488.