[NEohioPAL] Review of "The Miracle Worker" at GLTG

[Tom Sr.]

--- On Fri, 2/18/11, Angela Velotta <angelavelotta at yahoo.com> wrote:






We all know in "art" you can not please everyone.  I have made choices as a director and an actor that people questioned and criticized.  And for a moment it stings.  But in the end, in life you take risks.  And that is what we all enjoy about theatre and art.  We can express ourselves and putting yourself out there is a risk. 
 
One point to look at is, this show only ran 38 performances on Broadway...that alone says it is a tough show to pull off.  I agree, we could have all chosen to take the "safe" route and auditioned for a "safe classic", but we all are artist, and have passion.  Everyone of us knew from the beginning this was going to be an awesome challenge and we were thrilled. That is what it is about.  
 
Lisa-Marie, I am proud of your direction and your vision.  I am extremely proud of the set design and the production team.  
 
We all worked hard together to portray the emotion that this production has inside of it.  And our house has felt that.  Bob really saw the emotion in the fantastic way that our Helen expresses her struggles and achievements.  And honestly that is what this play is about, Helen and Annie.  Both women were given the compliments they well deserve, by Bob and our audience, and most important by the deaf community.  
 
So Bob didn't think Annie should "Balcony" announce her tenacity, but understand, your patrons are not actors...how are they to feel that without announcing it to them....Lisa-Marie, you brought all of the above out in them, and don't forget that.  That is what a directors dream is....I admire that you were able to take your passion, your understanding of these characters, and cast the perfect fit.  Wow, you deserve the standing ovation for that alone. 
 
Helen and Annie, made this play come alive.  And even though Bob felt some things took away from the intensity of their character's, those two woman made that audience including Bob, feel it.  That is amazing for a 6-8-10 week rehearsal.  We all connected and we all become family.  And we all believe in our portrayal of this intense drama.  This show has brought even us to tears.  And this is why we all felt this sting, because we are all so attached. 
 
Geauga Theatre deserves the patronage and ovations this production is being as well.  For their risk, for their belief in Lisa-Marie and in us.  For their advertising and all of their hard work and efforts gone into this.  Our tech crew went over and beyond with their lighting and their building and their clean up and their cooking, because they believed and all of this shows to our house.  People have walked out sobbing.  
 
Bob is also a performer, he understands that being on stage with your back to the audience is a no no, and set pieces put in front of actors is a no no too.  As everyone of us know....But what he missed was Lisa-Marie made those choices for a reason, to show continual living, to show real life not staged.....it wasn't poor direction, it was a vision, a family living and working together to help someone they love overcome obstacles.  It is deeper than a "staged" situation, it is life.  
 
That is a challenge to all work together and not knowing each other but when the curtain opened we show that over this time we did become a family.  Bob missed the connection of the ensemble coming out in the end, he missed that yes, the story is about Helen and Annie, but that all these other people their lives and their miracles effected.  And by GLTG having the HeArd there this shows communities coming together with a love and respect and understanding of all of our obstacles.  I am sorry for Bob that he could not look past the obvious things and see the deeper picture.  Or at least acknowledge the fact that in a short period we found this.  We also created a Miracle...and for that we should be proud. 
 
I love each and everyone of you.  And I will never forget this production, and for that I thank each of you.


      
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