Spending an afternoon at Glen Echo’s puppet theatre is such a pleasure! Just walking around on the grounds where the theater is located brings back great memories of all the shows I have seen there. I have been seeing productions at Glen Echo since I was seven or eight years old and I am very happy to see that Glen Echo Park is still going strong.
The Puppet Co’s current show Cinderella is another version of the classic tale that stays true to the theme but has enough twists to keep the tale fresh and interesting. It is, of course, the story of a young girl who overcomes her wicked stepmother with the help of a fairy Godmother and marries her Prince Charming. Unlike many of the Cinderella variations I have seen and heard, this production was set in 17th Century France and done with phenomenal puppets!
Throughout the performance, children and adults alike gazed in awe, transfixed by the magic and exceptional puppeteering of Allan Stevens, Mayfield Piper, and Christopher Piper. Puppeteers as well as full out performers Allan Stevens, Mayfield Piper, and Christopher Piper, all brought an extraordinary human quality to all the puppets.
The sheer magic of this production was enjoyable for all ages (myself included).
This was my first time in their beautiful new venue at the park and I was very impressed. Children were invited to sit on the carpeted floor to watch the performance while parents had the option of joining their children or sitting on the cushioned benches surrounding the children’s area. The stage boasted a magnificent blue curtain that fell on the black puppet stage.
When the curtain rose, extraordinarily painted backdrops of the kitchen and the gardens gave the puppets’ environment an exceptionally human sense of quality and depth. The show began with an announcement from the writer and puppet designer, Christopher Piper, who explained the rules of the performance to the younger audience members through a short poem. What a great way for kids to have an introduction to “theater etiquette”!
One of my favorite parts of the production was the transformation of Cinderella’s dress, carriage, and footman. It was almost like magic! There was also a good lesson for children to see a Cinderella who stands ups for herself instead of having to be rescued. Cinderella is charming and entertaining! The performance is geared toward the younger audience members but is still extremely enjoyable and entertaining for adults. This was an excellent way to spend my day and enjoy the company of my mother. All of the performers in this production did a phenomenal job. If you want to spend time with your children ages K thru 7th Grade (maybe even older), this is a great way.
- Cinderella
- Script and puppets by Christopher Piper
- Directed by Allan Stevens
- Produced by The Puppet Co
- Reviewed by Hunter Kieserman
- Running Time: :45 with no intermission
- When: Thru May 29, 2008: Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM as well as Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 10:00 and 11:30 AM.
- Where: The Puppet Co in Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD 20812
- Tickets: $8 for everyone of all ages. Call the box office at 301-320-6668.
- Recommended for ages 4+.
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