by Jeremy Tow

Two documentary films were made of Helen Keller's life. They were both box office failures; whereas, The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson, has been an unmitigated success. Mr. Gibson chose to use the truth to inspire drama rather than be a slave to detail and legend. It is one of those rare biopics, not unlike Peter Shaffer's Amadeus, that makes art out of history. And as you enter with us into Helen's world today, remember that although you may know the outcome of the story...Helen, Annie, Arthur, Kate, James and Aunt Ev do not. They will be caught in a seemingly impossible situation in which some have hope, some fatalism, some faith, and one...sheer determination. It's one hundred and twenty years ago in a remote and rural town of Alabama. We are about to go to the frontier...and NOT a plantation ...where people are still recovering from a devastating war and financial difficulties. Helen cannot hear, see or communicate, and a first time teacher who has struggled with blindness and was raised in unimaginable circumstances in an institution for the mentally challenged thinks that she can awaken Helen's mind. Is it possible?

Erase what you expect.

Forget what you know.

Join us on our perilous journey.

"Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."
Helen Keller
The Open Door, 1957

Biography

Jeremy has had the honour of leading the Chemainus Theatre Festival as Artistic Director for the past 10 seasons. Recent credits include South Pacific here at CTF, La Bohème for the Vancouver Opera (assistant director), A Man for All Seasons for Pacific Theatre (director), and the title character in Hamlet for The Globe Theatre of the Great Southwest. Favourite shows for CTF: Driving Miss Daisy, The Heiress, A Streetcar Named Desire, and My Fair Lady. Jeremy has recently been appointed as the new Artistic Director of Western Canada Theatre, and will be moving with his family to Kamloops in June of 2009.