The amazing life story of Helen Keller was in the spotlight Monday at the annual Derby Historical Society’s Silver Tea.
Sheryl Faye, a Massachusetts-based historical actress, portrayed the deafblind Keller.
About 180 people attended the 25th annual tea at Molto Bene Italian American Kitchen in Ansonia.
Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. Derby Historical Society member Barbara Jean Garofalo said when Keller was a child in the late 19th century she was referred to as “dumb,” because she was unable to speak.
Today, Garofalo said, the term mute is more often used to describe someone who cannot speak.
Faye set the scene with a dramatic entrance into the dining room. She was escorted by historical society member Rosalie Cota, which gave the audience the feeling she was indeed blind.
Faye used a variety of props, a taped recording of her life and old photos to enact scenes from Keller’s childhood and young adulthood.
“My mother tried to make life happy for me,” Faye said as Keller. “When I helped her, she would hold me and I could feel the smile on her face.”
With the help of Anne Sullivan, her teacher and constant companion, Keller learned sign language and Braille. At 24 she graduated from Radcliffe College.
Keller became a fiercely independent woman and later a prolific author.
Derby Historical Society deputy director Paula Norton thanked board members, staff, volunteers, sponsors, and patrons for their generous support of the event.
Norton said Faye “engaged the audience with a heartfelt story of (Keller’s) life from her earliest years through her college graduation. It was a very moving and powerful performance showing how Helen overcame her disabilities and lived her life far beyond anyone’s expectations.”
