The New 42nd Street
Presents:
New Victory Scottish Festival
At The New Victory Theater
(New Victory Website)
229 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036

Shona Reppe Puppets:
Cinderella
(Shona Reppe Website)

Conceived and Designed by Shona Reppe
Directed by Ian Cameron and Gil Robertson
Performed by Shona Reppe
Set Designer and Puppet Maker: Shona Reppe
Costume Designer: Katie Hill
Production Manager: Tamlin Wiltshire
Sound Designer: John Williamson
Set Builders: Paul Wright, Collumcile Centre
Press: Allison Mui, Public Relations Manager
The New Victory Theater, a project of The New 42nd Street

Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
September 20, 2009

As part of the New Victory Scottish Festival at The New 42nd Street, one of the loveliest performers I’ve seen for children’s programs (and I am a former school administrator and curriculum designer) has created her own Cinderella puppet from what might be called found collage materials. In the dimness of the stage, Ms. Reppe captivates children and adults alike throughout her one-act performance. This is a familiar story, but it’s presented in an unfamiliar, original, and child-appropriate way. The two stepsisters come to life through Ms. Reppe’s fingers and rhinestoned, colorful gloves. The glass slippers shone ever so brightly during and after the Ball. Much of Ms. Reppe’s theatricality is created from sounds of footsteps (the father), jazzy music (the Ball), and the two Cinderella Puppets (before and during the Ball). There is pathos, as Cinderella is tipped upside down by her stepsisters, into a water pail, mocked and taunted and abused.

There is romance, and there is quintessential imagination, with the maximizing of higher order thinking skills, as children focus on ideas and dramatic development, without cartoonish simplicity and pop music. This is a classy production, with an antique-styled lamp, that Cinderella climbs to turn on, and understated, uncluttered dialogue. In fact, at times, Ms. Reppe hums or exhales loudly to capture the emotion or action of the moment. I saw adults at this matinee, without children, and they seemed drawn into the show. I can vouch for my six year-old niece, who accompanied me with my brother, that she loved this unusual puppet show. When the gloves were wrestling as two step-sisters, I whispered what was happening, and my little niece said, “I know!” There is the litmus test of excellence, that the concept was successful. Kudos to Shona Reppe for such a delightful experience.

SHONA REPPE
AND HER CINDERELLA
Courtesy of DOUGLAS MCBRIDE

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SHONA REPPE
AND HER CINDERELLA
Courtesy of DOUGLAS MCBRIDE

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SHONA REPPE
AND HER CINDERELLA
Courtesy of DOUGLAS MCBRIDE

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For more information, contact Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower at zlokower@bestweb.net