Persephone Palmer Steps Out

 Persephone Palmer Steps Out
Theater for the New City
June 20, 2025

Photo courtesy of Persephone Palmer Steps Out

Persephone Plamer Steps Out is a dark and mysterious depiction of a family’s dynamic, dominated by their cat, who creates the connections that both keep the family together and push them apart.  Playwright Caitlyn Waltermire skillfully embeds the myth of Persephone in the action of the play, creating a magical atmosphere that is full of strange surprises.  Director Natalie Thomas grounds the magical elements in realistic characters, guiding each actor in truthful portrayals of the relationships that drive the story. 

Connie Palmer (played by Zuhairah) spends most of her time at home alone with her cat, Persephone Palmer, aka Persie (played by Sophie Kelly-Hedrick).  When Connie’s husband, Herm (played by Guy Ventoliere) returns from work, they play with the cat, admiring her intelligence, then eat dinner together.  When their son, Joe (played by Alec Febbraro) comes home with his girlfriend, Stef (played by Jessalyn Charles), Persie scratches her, which angers Joe.  He disciplines her by spraying her with a water bottle.  Connie and Herm are permissive with Joe’s bringing Stef over, but when Joe introduces them to Paul (played by Diogo de Oliveira), they sense danger.  Percie, on the other hand, is very attracted to Paul, and openly shows her affection.  Paul lets himself into the apartment at night and connects with Percie on another level.  Percie begins to speak directly to him.  When Connie’s brother, Richard (played by Phil Oetiker) and his much younger wife, Lisa (played by Elizabeth Sherman) visit, Lisa feels a strange bond with Percie.  She unexpectedly returns a few nights later with Richard, after having too much to drink.  She tells about how she and Richard first met fifteen years earlier.  Strangely, Percie is fifteen years old.  In the final scene, Percie stands and puts on Connie’s coat.  She opens the door to leave the apartment.  Connie tries to stop her and admits she will not be able to survive without her. 

Guy Ventoliere, Sophie Kelly-Hedrick, & Zuhairah
Photo courtey of Persephone Palmer Steps Out

The cast is fully committed to their characters throughout the story, keeping the audience enthralled through the dark and magical unfolding of events.  In the world of this play, anything is possible.  The intelligence and personification of the cat, Percie, and her connection to the extended family are fully believable.  Their bonds are visceral, mythical, and hypnotically engaging. 

Sophie Kelly-Hedrick is mesmerizing as Persephone (Percie).  She is beguiling and bewitching.   The emergence of her human characteristics is gradual and excruciating.  She pushes the vocal expression from her cat-like physicality.  When her body slowly grows to a full standing position by the time she leaves the apartment, there is more ease in her physicality, as if she has achieved her full reality. 

Sophie Kelly-Hedrick & Diogo de Oliveira
Photo courtesy of Persephone Palmer Steps Out

Zuhairah and Guy Ventoliere create a truthful husband/wife relationship as Connie and Herm.  Connie suffers from anxiety, feeling trapped in the apartment, and Herm offers his support with humor and affection.  Their relationship is touching and genuine in this dark and mysterious world.  Alec Febbraro, Diogo de Oliveira, and Jessalyn Charles portray rebellious teens as Joe, Paul, and Stef.  Their angst is palpable.  Their urges are strong.  Their bond is genuine.  Elizabeth Sherman and Phil Oetiker deliver strong performances as Lisa and Richard.  You can tell right away that something is off in their relationship.  When the truth is revealed, it is disturbing and fathomable.  

Persephone Palmer Steps Out is playing at Theater for the New City until July 6.  It is a mystifying, mind-bending adventure.  

Domenick Danza