Theater Review - 'The Miracle Worker'

Theater Review - The Miracle Worker’ by Jeb Ladouceur - Produced by Theatre Three, Port Jefferson

Our history is peppered with uncounted instances of accomplishments that are so complex they sometimes boggle the mind. Occasionally, these phenomenal successes are all the more compelling because they stem from symbiotic relationships … that is to say they could not have been achieved without an interdependent bond between a pair of participants.

In this regard, one thinks immediately of the indomitable Wright Brothers, sibling Inventors who seemed able to peer into one another’s minds as they went about breaking the chains that theretofore had bound them to Earth. In Music, Gilbert and Sullivan, The Gershwin Brothers, and Rogers and Hammerstein were visionaries in their own discipline, each pair’s partner feeding off of his artistic counterpart in order to produce works that likely would have been impossible were it not for their collaboration.

We recognize the phenomenon in the field of Exploration too (Stanley and Livingston, as well as Lewis and Clark are examples) and in Literature … consider the unusual twosome of Truman Capote and Harper Lee. Indeed, few areas of interest to us as observers are without one or more of these famed sets of dual colleagues.

But perhaps the most unique team embodying synergetic interaction that we’ve encountered in our time is that of an 8-year-old child named Helen Keller who was blind and deaf, and the 20-year-old woman who became her teacher. The tutor’s name was Annie Sullivan, and her heroic story is as familiar as it was improbable.

To this day, incredulous observers ask themselves, “How does one teach a pupil to communicate when the prospective student has been deprived of three of her five senses since early childhood?” That was the challenge Annie Sullivan faced (and accepted) when in real life she agreed to instruct obstreperous Helen by ‘writing’ in the letters of the Manual Alphabet on the child’s palm … and then by insisting on her obedience.

Veteran Theatre Three director, Bradlee Bing, must have faced a stern and similar test when confronted with the prospect of finding a child young enough to play a convincing little Helen, while possessing the innate maturity to interpret such a demanding role effectively. But fortune smiled on Bing in the person of 11-year-old Cassandra LaRocco, a sixth grader with all the stage presence and instincts of an actress twice her age.

However casting Cassandra in ‘The Miracle Worker’ was only half of Bradlee Bing’s test. Now he had to find his title character … an early-twenty-year-old ‘Annie Sullivan’ who is a no-nonsense, second-generation Irish-American lass … with a touch of brogue, and the patience of Job. I have it on good authority that at her initial audition, Jessica Mae Murphy read five lines … and Director Bing announced that he had found his ‘Miracle Worker.’

This thrilling play by William Gibson premiered at Broadway’s Playhouse Theatre in 1959 with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke playing Annie and Helen respectively. Not only did ‘The Miracle Worker’ win four Tonys, the eventual film also produced Academy Awards for Bancroft and Duke in their leading roles. 

Interestingly, the play as it’s staged at Port Jefferson’s 160-year-old Theatre Three is not without its rare comic moments. This is largely because of Jessica Mae Murphy’s instinctive awareness of precisely when the audience is dying for a chance to laugh … even if only briefly. Murphy never overdoes it, mind you (she’s too much the consummate professional to commit such a gaffe) but by the same token the supremely talented woman never fails to respond appropriately when her patrons send their silent but unmistakable signal for comic relief. It’s grand to watch her work.

As the whole world knows, Annie Sullivan was ultimately successful in making Helen Keller the notable international celebrity that she became, but there’s a back story in this play, and Bradlee Bing makes sure it is properly presented. While little Helen is the primary focus of everyone’s concern, her father, Captain Keller (Michael Newman), has his own problem putting up with Helen’s disability. Annie quickly realizes that the doctrinaire Captain, too, needs her counseling … and she’s just the person to dish it out.

Susan Emory plays Helen’s sympathetic mother to perfection, and Eric J. Hughes (as brother James) provides a truly memorable culminating scene to balance his otherwise understated role. 

This fine production runs thru April 28th.

Award-winning writer, Jeb Ladouceur is the author of a dozen novels, and his theater and book reviews appear in several major L.I. publications. His recent hit, THE GHOSTWRITERS, explores the bizarre relationship between the late Harper Lee and Truman Capote. Ladouceur’s newly completed thriller, THE SOUTHWICK INCIDENT, was introduced at the Smithtown Library on May 21st. The book involves a radicalized Yale student and his CIA pursuers. Mr. Ladouceur’s revealing website is www.JebsBooks.com 

What's New In Smithtown Government? RAISES

By Jerry Cimisi

The Town of Smithtown has signed new contracts with the Smithtown Administrators Guild (SAG) and the Civil Service Employees of America (CSEA). The town’s employees, from board members to blue collar workers, will receive a pay raise retroactive from January 1, 2018. 

The new SAG contract run from Jan.1, 2018-Dec.31, 2020. The CSEA contract runs from Jan.1,Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim 2018, to Dec. 31, 2022.

Salaries of town council members’ salaries will increase from $65,000 to $72,316 in 2019, eventually reaching $75,000 by 2020.

SAG employees—board members, highway superintendent and the like—will receive a 2 percent retroactive raise for 2018, and a 1.5 percent increase for each of the following two years. There is a retroactive cost of living increase for 2018 and for 2019-’20. SAG members will receive a cost of living increase in July. That cost of living increase will be determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The CSEA agreement calls for a two percent retroactive pay raise for 2018; in the years 2019-2022, a 1.5 percent raise will be given on Jan. 1 and July 1 of each year. 

The raise puts town council members more on par with council members of neighboring towns. Brookhaven council members are paid 72,316; Huntington will be at $76,841 in 2020, Islip is $77,200.

Smithtown Public Information Officer Nicole Garguilo, said that in keeping town council members’ salaries “comparable with other towns, we will also attract younger people for government service. Traditionally many board members are older, often retired, and town council was more or less a part time position. We are trying to change that, have candidates look at these positions as a career. It seems younger people have become more involved in politics now. There is more information out there, digital media is playing a bigger role in politics. There are more younger elected officials.”

Supervisor Edward Wehrheim added, “We have to offer competitive salaries for elected officials. Our board members are now working at least 30-35 hours a week.”

Garguilo is the town’s very first public information officer. She received $74,206 in 2018; in March of this year she was given a $5,000 raise.

Supervisor Wherheim has given Town Councilman Thomas Lohmann a new position, in addition to his duties and salary as councilman: he is a part-time executive assistant to the supervisor at $30,000 per year. 

Wehrheim’s salary will be raised from $112,000 to $115,000. Brookhaven’s supervisor is salaried at $119,132; the Huntington supervisor is at $140,000, Islip supervisor at $102,500.

A native of Kings Park, Wehrheim has been working for the Town of Smithtown since 1971. He worked for the Department of Parks, Buildings and Grounds, became its director in 1989, retired from that department in 2003 and became a town council member. He was elected for his first term as supervisor in 2017.

(Wehrheim’s predecessor, Patrick Vecchio*, served for forty years as town supervisor. Wehrheim defeated him in the Republican primary for the nomination.)

In addition to signing new contracts for its employees, the town has also undertaken extensive renovations, at town hall, specifically to the town board room.

Wehrheim said, “It was a complete renovation, from the ceiling to the floor, the heating and air conditioning. The last time work had been there was in the 1950s, so it really needed it. We look at that room as the people’s room. The renovation was just completed and we had our first meeting there after the renovation on March 21. The public was very appreciative of what was done.”

The town spent $80,000 on the renovations, which included an update of its live streaming equipment. The town live streams its work sessions, on FIOS and Optimum. 

Wherheim said that $60,000 of the monies for the renovations came from the parks budget, with the other $20,000 funding from cablevision. By law, cable companies must carry local government meetings on its public access channels.

When asked what he would like to see improved in the town, the supervisor said he would be focused on downtown revitalization for the three business districts in the township: Smithtown, Kings Park and St. James. His administration intends to make use of the monies the state has designated $40 million to sewer Smithtown and Kings Park at $20 million for each.

The town has also secured $3.9 million in DASNY (Dormitory Authority of the State of New York) funds from State Senator John Flanagan and bonded approximately $4 million for sewers on Lake Avenue in St. James.

The supervisor said this would enable the town to increase its water usage capacity to host larger restaurants “and with apartments above them, meeting the standards of the Board of Health.” The sewer project for Kings Park will begin in spring 2020; sewers for downtown Smithtown and St. James are not yet scheduled.

Wehrheim added, “We are actively improving our parks and recreation areas. In 2018 we renovated three parks, two in St. James and one in Nesconsett, as well as the golf course and catering facilities at the town’s Landing Country Club.

“We are also beginning this year to restore the Flynn Memorial Park, which is a four-ballfield complex. In the mid-1980s the USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association), which features adult softball, had its seven-day tournament there; but apparently it was not kept up to their liking, and they’ve been having the tournament in New Jersey now for many years. We’ve been having discussions with the USSSA to get them back here. It would be a major financial boost to the town, with not just the players coming out, but their families—a boost to our hotels, restaurants, delis. We hope to have that restoration completed in 2020.”

See Town Adopted Budget

* Edit for name correction. Patrick Vecchio was mentioned as Ed Vecchio.

40 Year Smithtown Supervisor Patrick R Vecchio Sept. 1930 - April 2019

Smithtown Supervisor Patrick R Vecchio has died at the age of 88. Supervisor Vecchio served in his position for a record forty years. First elected in 1977 he took office in 1978 and held it until he was defeated in a Republican primary by Edward Wehrheim in 2017.

Forty years in office earned Patrick Vecchio a reputation as a strong fiscal conservative who increased Smithtown’s reputation as one of the best places to live in Suffolk County. Recognizing his place in Smithtown’s history the Smithtown Town Board named Town Hall the Patrick R Vecchio Town Hall Building in 2015.

Patrick Vecchio died Saturday, April 6th at St. Catherine of Sienna Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Smithtown.

Update on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 3:48PM by .

Today, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) issued the following statement on the passing of former Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio: “Having served the Town of Smithtown for a record tenure of 40 years following a career as a NYPD officer and Army veteran, there’s no doubt that Pat was a dedicated public servant, committed to the community he loved. His breadth of experience was unparalleled and his passing leaves a huge loss in the heart of our community.”

FYI - Lee Zeldin Issued Statement Supporting Release Of Mueller Report

Rep. Zeldin: Release It All…Start to Finish: The Mueller Report, Docs re Clinton Probe Ending, Trump-Russia Probe Launching, Page FISA Applications & More

By: Lee Zeldin 
Date: March 28, 2019 
Location: Washington, DC 

WASHINGTON - Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) just issued the following statement:

Congressman Lee Zeldin“The American people deserve the truth, the opportunity to review all relevant information and to make their own conclusions. Release it all…start to finish. This includes the Mueller report, documents related to the Clinton probe ending, the Trump-Russia probe launching, the Page FISA applications and more. The public deserves to know the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth. Sunlight & accountability!”

Rep. Zeldin also issued the following tweet here

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP - LIPA Approves Food Scraps-To-Energy Plant

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

 The recent approval by the trustees of Long Island Power Authority for a food scraps-to-energy plant to be built in Yaphank links back to an original purpose of LIPA—to develop safe, alternative means of power.

LIPA was created by the Long Island Power Act of 1985 primarily to prevent the Shoreham nuclear power plant from going into operation and to further instead safe energy technologies. In its three decades, LIPA has emphasized solar and wind power to generate electricity. The food scraps-to-energy OK marks a move to another form of safe energy.

The LIPA trustees voted unanimously on March 20 for an $84 million 20-year contract to buy energy from a facility to be built by American Organic Energy that would convert 180,000 tons of food scraps a year into bio-gas to fuel a six megawatt power plant as well as vehicles and equipment. 

Underlying this is the huge problem of food waste in the United States. Some 40 percent of food produced in the nation is wasted, studies have found.  One way to deal with this was featured on the Today show a day before LIPA acted, in a segment titled “Cooking With Trash.” It featured Cameron Macleish who has a YouTube channel with that name. He came with seemingly fresh food retrieved from a dumpster, and with his mother, Ellen, a chef. 

Dumpster-dumping for food is “like opening a treasure chest…There is so much good food thrown out on a daily basis,” he stated, his interviewers somewhat taken aback.

This is one way to reduce food waste. Another way is a movement today involving restaurants pledging to generate “zero waste” with a variety of recipes using produce that otherwise would end up in the trash. 

There are other strategies. Governor Andrew Cuomo has been seeking to require “organizations that produce large amounts of excess food a year to donate edible items to food banks and recycle the rest.” He heralded the new “groundbreaking…clean energy project.”

No matter how much the reduction in wasted food, there still would be inedible scraps. Charles Vigliotti, co-founder of American Organic Energy, said that “on Long Island, the notion that we would put virtually all our commercial food waste onto trucks and carry it to Ohio and North Carolina is just insane.”

The main safe alternative energy technologies—solar and wind—are an energy bonanza. With 38 solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of our house for 10 years, I still marvel at seeing the electric meter going backwards—the panels are harvesting more electricity than we are using. We saved much in installing them with a LIPA rebate. That rebate no longer exists, but over the decade the price of solar panels has halved and their output significantly increased. Houses and commercial and government buildings throughout Long Island should have solar panels on their roofs.

Coupled with this, we had an “energy audit” done of leaks and other issues and took simple steps to make our more than century-old saltbox house energy efficient. 

We also have two rooftop solar panels that produce hot water.

LIPA has been deeply involved in the major state initiative underway to place wind turbines well off our shores.

Yet in addition to the sun which on most days shines on us and the winds that blow mightily off our coasts, there are other available energy sources. Take wave and tidal power long advocated here by Sarah Meyland, a professor in the Department of Environmental Technology and Sustainability at New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury. As Dr. Meyland has stated: “One thing Long Island has that no one else in the state has is wave energy. We have it 24 hours a day. The sun doesn’t have to shine, the wind doesn’t have to blow. Tides rise and fall on a regular basis, day in and day out.” Countries especially in Scandinavia, have “deployed tide-generated plants that are completely submerged and generate a lot of electricity. It’s absolutely clean, and if we could support enough of these, we would solve a lot of our downstate energy problems.”

Indeed, next to Roosevelt Island in the East River, off Long Island’s west end, Verdant Power has had a demonstration project with six turbines spinning with the river’s motion. Verdant now seeks to install 30 turbines to generate electricity. 

There are opportunities to use tidal power to Long Island’s east—with Plum Gut off Orient Point ideal. Natural Currents Energy Services has been considering it.  We’ve been in Plum Gut in our sailboat when the tide is changing—and, wow, what power waits to be tapped! As for the waves hitting Long Island’s ocean beaches, the energy that can be gotten from them is also endless—and other nations are harnessing wave-power. 

Considering its founding mission, it’s a natural for LIPA to be a safe energy leader.

Karl Grossman is a veteran investigative reporter and columnist, the winner of numerous awards for his work and a member of the L.I. Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a professor of journalism at SUNY/College at Old Westbury and the author of six books.