Their story would change the course of history for every blind and deaf person in the world.

The South Whidbey High School Drama Department presents the emotional story of two young women on the margins of society who dramatize an extraordinary transformation in a play by William Gibson. “The Miracle Worker” opens Friday, March 5 in the high school’s auditorium theater.

“The Miracle Worker” is an American play about Helen Keller, who became blind, deaf and mute as a young child and later became awakened to the wider world through the efforts of Annie Sullivan, a young teacher who is haunted by her horrible past. The story is one of metamorphosis, not just for Helen, but for all of the play’s principal characters.

South Whidbey High School’s visual and performing arts teacher Don Wodjenski directs the play. He said that in choosing the play, he was looking for a story that was familiar to a wide audience and featured inspiring characters who contained both the humor and pathos of families struggling with life’s challenges.

“In short, I was looking for a big play with a relatively small but potent cast,” the director said.

The play’s leading role of Helen Keller is played by a Langley Middle School eighth-grader Katrina Layton, who Wodjenski said brings the right physical size and acting vitality to her portrayal.

High school junior Hayley Hanna plays Annie Sullivan. Wodjenski said Hanna has been working hard to find the core of her character while trying to master the difficult task of connecting with Helen on a fundamental level.

“Katrina and Hayley have enormous intellectual and physical challenges to convincingly portray these well-known characters and are making every effort to be as authentic as possible,” Wodjenski said.

“Thankfully, they are devoted actors supported by fellow cast members Kacee Bailey, Ethan Berkley, Blake Bailey, Tabitha Helland and Birdie Sam, equally dedicated to the retelling of this story,” the director added.

Readers may remember the classic onstage and screen performances of the piece played by Anne Bancroft as Annie and Patty Duke as Helen.

In the story, Helen’s parents are terrified by their inability to deal with their deaf and mute child, and their helplessness pushes the pair to seek out assistance at the Perkins School for the Blind. The school sends Annie, a former student, to the Keller home to tutor the child.

“The Miracle Worker” proceeds to dramatize the volatile relationship between the lonely teacher and her student.

Helen, trapped in her secret world, is violent, spoiled, almost sub-human, and treated by her family as such. Only Annie realizes that there is a mind and spirit waiting to be rescued from Helen’s dark, tortured silence. What ensues is a battle of wills as Annie breaks down Helen’s walls of silence and darkness through persistence, love and sheer stubbornness.

Following scenes of intense physical and emotional dynamism after teaching the child the practice of finger spelling, Annie’s

success with Helen finally comes with the utterance of a single word: “water.”

Wodjenski gave credit to the technical team, as well, for the challenges with which they must contend.

“The play’s integral technical requirements are far more complicated than last year’s production of the ‘Odd Couple,’ and I am counting on the experience and skills of Mr. Jeff Greene and our stage, sound and light crews to augment the talents of the cast,” Wodjenski said.

Noting the excellent work that has come from the collaborative efforts of the cast, crew and production team, Wodjenski said he was confident that the production will be first-rate, and that it will resonate with audiences of all ages.

Other cast members include Cameron Baldwin, Lauren Johnson, Savannah Odle, Brenna Parrick, Chelby Thomas, Amelia Weeks and Wodjenski.

The play is directed by Wodjenski; Tessa Odle is the assistant director; co-producers are Jennifer Hagerman, Kathleen Landel and Jean Shaw; costumes are designed by Julie Cunha; set design and construction is by Lon Peterman; and the technical director is Jeff Greene.

Tickets cost $5 and are available at the door. Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturdays, March 5-13 with one matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 7, which is “family day” with free admission for everybody.