New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

REVIEW: Hudson Theater Ensemble's "Elves and the Shoemaker"


By Adam F. Cohen

originally published: 06/14/2015


(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- It is a sad day when your nine-year-old child is largely resistant to the charms of well-produced and executed children’s theater.  But for the three to seven year olds who are impressed by cute songs, nuanced – not cloying performances by charming actors with solid comedic timing that doesn’t talk down, head over to Hudson Theater Ensemble’s Silly on Sixth production of the “Elves and the Shoemaker.”

Howard Richman’s production focuses on Matilda Cobblestone (Nannette M. Matos) and Lockhart (David Silberger) a giving, generous, considerate shoemaker who seeks to have more than just soup for dinner.  They owe money to the evil Sneerella Twerm (Florence Pape) who seeks nothing more than to evict them.  The determine shoemaker has scraps of leather left but he makes a beautiful pair of shoes which he promptly gives to an old lady (Wendy Eaton) with no shoes.  The Cobblestones are rewarded for their generosity by making additional shoes with the help of three elves played by Richard Dwyer, Leah Sayad, and Deborah Michels.  The shoes catch on and soon everyone wants a pair.  While the Cobblestones only want a factory that will employ everyone in their town and bring jobs and security to one and all.

The message is clear – pay it forward.  Pass along something you have to someone else and you will feel good for your generosity.  A nice message of teamwork and sticking with your dreams also comes through nicely.  There are bits of audience interaction between the elves and even a kindly fairy godmother.  The younger members of the audience were rapt with attention and fully engaged.  My daughter perked up when one of the songs was sung to a tune she knew. 

David Silberger brings a warm, welcome, goofy verve to his role of Lockhart.  Florence Pape brings non-threatening evil to her dual roles of Sneerella Twerm and fun as a running obsessed Mrs. Snootbottom.  The three elves have distinct personalities and win the audience over with their determination and desire to please.  Wendy Eaton and Nannette M. Matos are pleasant and not over the top in their roles.  Howard Richman’s Mayor is well played and he has a fine cast and firmly directed this charming entertaining fairy tale.

The gift of Silly on Sixth is that even if you are a hot, overly tired nine year old or a three year old seeing your first show or a parent looking to stay cool on a June day – you will be entertained, learn something, and be impressed by the professional love gifted to children of all ages.  Something in the script, an actor’s turn with a line, a song will gather your attention and draw you into the fairy tale – even if you are firmly at the age of disbelief and prefer the auto tuned laugh track of commercial children’s television.   This polished production is well produced, fast moving, and wholly pleasant.  Embrace the obvious magic of Silly on Sixth’s  “Elves & The Shoemaker.”  This production is a bargain with a wealth of benefits and morals compared to the more teenage oriented “entertainment” facing my daughter and I in the years to come.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



The production runs weekends through June 20th at The Hudson School Performance Space – 601 Park Ave, Hoboken.  Learn more at http://hudsontheatreensemble.com/silly_nowplay.html




FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Vivid

Vivid Summer Solos: Where is Everybody?

Wednesday, July 09, 2025 @ 6:30pm
Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ 07901
category: theatre

Click here for full event listing

 

Vivid

Vivid Summer Solos: Where is Everybody?

Wednesday, July 09, 2025 @ 6:30pm
Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
68 Elm Street, Summit, NJ 07901
category: theatre


Click here for full event listing

 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


Click here for full event listing

 

The

The MAC players at the Middletown Arts Center present "Hairspray"

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748
category: theatre


Click here for full event listing

 

A

A Broadway Tour of America

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


Click here for full event listing

 

More events

Event Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

LoMotion

LoMotion Live presents "The Diary of Anne Frank"

(BOONTON, NJ) -- LoMotion Live is proud to present The Diary of Anne Frank, a play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman, based on the book Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. The production runs from July 18-26, 2025 at The Parsippany Arts Center in Boonton.



Art

Art House Productions to present "Hamlet" directed by C. Rashee Stevenson in October

(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Art House Productions will present a mainstage production of Hamlet, directed by C. Rashee Stevenson, from October 9–26, 2025, at the Art House Theater in Jersey City. This bold reimagining of Shakespeare's classic tragedy fuses the original text with interpolated language from Les Nègres and Les Paravents by Jean Genet and works by Federico García Lorca—transforming the play into a cosmic crime thriller that plunges deep into grief, identity, and the metaphysical.



Original

Original 'RENT' Cast Member and Obie Award-winner Anthony Rapp to Teach Master Class at Gateway Playhouse

(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Somers Point's Gateway Playhouse is thrilled to announce that original Broadway cast member of the international hit, Jonathan Larson's "RENT," and Obie Award-winner, Anthony Rapp, will teach a master class to the all-teenage cast of "RENT: School Edition" on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, as part of the Gateway to the Arts program. The class runs from 9:00am to noon.



Two

Two River Theater Announces Lineup for Their 14th Annual Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) Festival

(RED BANK, NJ) -- Two River Theater's celebrated Crossing Borders (Cruzando Fronteras) Festival of new plays by Latine playwrights will take place from Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, August 3, 2025 in the Joan and Robert M. Rechnitz Theater. Now in its 14th year, this annual event joyfully showcases the richness, diversity, creativity, and talent of Latine theater artists. All festival events are open and free to the public.



Players

Players Guild of Leonia to Hold Auditions for "Where The Time Goes"

​​​​​​​(LEONIA, NJ) -- The Players Guild of Leonia will hold auditions for Where The Time Goes on Tuesday, July 15 and Wednesday, July 16, 2025 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm each night at their theater. This is a World Premiere musical featuring the iconic songs of The Baby Boomer Generation.