Reviews
The Post & Courier
May 30, 2001"Rapunzel" familiar but fascinating
by Sandy KatzThe familiar tale "Rapunzel" gets the puppet treatment this year in Piccolo Spoleto's theatre series.
Tuesday afternoon's audience - mostly children - was spellbound, and the youngsters were thrilled when they were invited to get touchy-feely with the puppets. Pamella O'Connor has been involved in puppeteering for the past 15 years. She wrote the script, made the puppets and the small waist-high set.
She favors the storytelling technique and it worked very well as she maneuvered the unique Sicilian-style marionettes, found objects and stunning shadow puppets around the stage.
O'Connor might be remembered as part of Ping Chong's production of "Kwaidan" at Spoleto and her own production of "Vasalisa" at Piccolo, both during the 1999 festival. O'Connor shared the storytelling and puppeteering with Shea Davies, an aspiring actress with a beautiful voice.
Dressed in black to blend in with the black box theatre, O'Connor and Davies manipulated the puppets to advance the story line.
To refresh one's memory about the tale, Rapunzel is the name of a flowering plant grown in Europe, the leaves, stems and roots of which are eaten as salad greens. During her pregnancy, the mother became addicted to the greens and so named her daughter Rapunzel.
In order to get all the greens she needed, the mother had to hand over Rapunzel to the wicked witch. When Rapunzel reached her teens, she was placed up high in a tower with her long flowing golden hair awaiting her prince charming.
There are several morals to this tale which would be more fun finding out by attending the show. It's a production for children and those who want to hold on to their childhood. The hour whizzed by.
The production was enhanced by the music and lights that were operated by Derek Howard, who made the show run so smoothly.
O'Connor is obviously devoted to her craft and wants to share her joy of puppetry with her audience. What a stunning show.
"Rapunzel" will be repeated at 5pm Thursday through Monday and June 6-9 and at 10am Saturday and June 9 in Theatre 200 at the Simons Center for the Arts.
©2001
All information owned by
p.o'connor puppets