The Miracle Worker

The Iberia Performing Arts League embarks upon a run of William Gibson's classic play about the deaf-blind Southern author, activist, and pioneer Helen Keller. Immortalized on stage and screen by Anne Bancroft and Patti Duke, the play dramatizes the volatile relationship between the half-blind Yankee teacher who through persistence, love, and sheer stubbornness rescues young Helen from a life of isolation and darkness. Trapped in a secret, silent world, unable to communicate, Helen is violent, spoiled, almost sub-human and is treated by her family as such. But Annie realizes that there is a mind and spirit waiting to be rescued from the dark, tortured silence. With scenes of intense physical and emotional dynamism, Annie's success with Helen finally comes with the utterance of a single glorious word: "Water."

Performances at 7:30 pm Thursdays–Saturdays; 2 pm Sunday October 16 and 1 pm Sunday October 23. $10. ipaltheater.com.