THE COPPELIA PROJECT: A CLOWN BALLET is very engaging piece of physical theatre that is part dance, part mime and 100 % comedy. Dr. Coppelius speaks with his violin when he needs to communicate. He is also a perfectionist who dreams of making 'the perfect ballerina'. But each of his beautiful clown ballerinas turns out to be 'not quite right.' All the while, a young Delivery Boy is constantly under foot interfering with the good doctor's work. Eventually the eccentric Dr. learns a much needed lesson about the pursuit of perfection. The play touches on issues of inclusion and accessibility and its style has a beautiful balance of slapstick and bittersweet comedy.

Dr. Coppelius-Coppola is an inventor whose specialty is making life-sized mechanical dolls, in which he continually finds flaws. Wearing a red nose, a frock coat and shoes that squeak when he walks, Dr. Coppelus-Coppola communicates only by playing his violin. There is a also a character called "The Poet" who has a day job (delivering stuff) and who continually interferes with the various dolls created by the good doctor.

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This really is the story of an inventor who can't get it quite right and the rebellious and challenging mechanical dolls, who eventually make a break for freedom.

Ms. Stubblefield directs each of the three acts (one for each doll) with a delicate sense of balance. It's all served up in high style but often with an underlying gritty reality. This may be why the image of the three dolls finally leaving the workshop to claim their freedom by venturing out into the wide world is undeniably poignant.

The show is played with amazing energy and great humor as all of the actors give 110% in true European clowning tradition. This show is guaranteed to mesmerize audiences young and old alike.

Conceived by Heidi Stubblefield and developed with her close friend, Vaness Severo and the rest of the cast, THE COPPELIA PROJECT: A Clown Ballet in 3 Acts, is based on the comic ballet, COPPELIA, by Leo Delibes, which, in turn, was based on "The Sandman," a story by German writer, E.T.A. Hoffman.

Ms. Stubblefield, who was trained in non-verbal, physical theatre and is an accomplished clown in the European tradition, directed the production and has infused her show with everything she knows about performing without speaking. It underscores the power and hope of overcoming physical disabilities as well as those hidden in all of us.

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