Step on a Crack

by Suzan Zeder

Play script. A gifted playwright brilliantly captures the contemporary theatrical fantasies of Ellie, a little girl, electrifying audiences of children and adults alike in both professional and amateur productions. Cast of 4 women, 2 men. A fragmentary unit set suggesting Ellie's room, a bowling alley, and the streets. Modern dress.

Ellie Murphy lived happily with her widowed father, Max, bowling, eating T.V. dinners and playing with junk. But now, suddenly, life is different. Max has remarried, and Ellie has a stepmother. Ellie and her imaginary friends, Lana and Frizbee, launch into a fantasy world as Ellie seeks to escape real life problems. They romp through "prison breaks," Cinderella, Snow White, and Ellie's own funeral where "Everyone is really sorry for all the mean things they did to you." Only by running away and discovering what it is really like to be alone does Ellie begin to come in terms with herself and her own need for a mother.

Genres: Plays, Theatre

50 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1976

Reviews

[Margaret aka serenityblue Jackson]

I like James Patterson but I'm wondering why he is co-authoring lately.
I watched Along came a spider with Antonio the other night and this prompted me to read this one. I like this author. This book was chilling. Militants arrange to murder a former President's wife by adding her allergy of peanuts to a meal she and her hubby celebrated every year at the same restaurant. Then many celebs attend the funeral and are held hostage. Some are killed without mercy even the vicar. The negotiator has a wife dying of cancer with a week to go and ten adopted children. He has to match wits with the leader by phone contact. These militants want the celebs to give all their financial info and have their money transferred to a Swiss bank account. Some of the celebs that revolt are murdered and thrown out of the Cathedral. Most of the 1000 plus hostages are let go with only about 34 meaninful ones to extort. I'm glad I wasn't watching this as a movie though terribly cruel and they almost get away with it well in fact they do for a while as they get cars and dress up all the victims and militants in monks robes so the Swat, FBi, etc can't tell who is who so can't take a chance of taking anyone out. I won't tell you exactly how they do eventually get caught but you would never guess in a million years and sadly enough Maeve, the negotiators wife dies on Christmas day. Oh on a happy note Enya just brought out a new CD:)

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly nuanced children's play with plenty of opportunities for clever and visually striking staging. Despite some dated references (most of which directors are encouraged to update to modern equivalents) Step on a Crack contains important messages for kids and adults that are just as, if not even moreso relevant today as they were when this play was written.

[Robert Fry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suzan Zeder does an outstanding job of legitimizing the feelings and turmoil that a little girl goes through in trying to deal with the emotions that come with a major life change, which is the play’s theme. Ellie is used to having her father all to herself and now feels like she is in competition for his love. By writing Ellie as a more rounded, three-dimensional character, instead of the stereotypical two-dimensional brat, Zeder effectively pulls the heartstrings of adults while she sneaks in a lesson for children. Lucille is portrayed in all of Ellie’s fantasies as the bad guy: first, as a horrible singer who can’t even sing scales on key and is upstaged by her opera singer persona, then as a prison guard transporting her to solitary confinement, then the evil stepmother in Cinderella. Making her inner voice a separate stage presence, we are able to see Ellie’s (mostly) negative thoughts personified, which I thought was very effective. In the end, Ellie learns that sometimes love is not lost, but rather gained, when it is divided by three instead of just two.

[Taylor Joan Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've actually performed in this play ( I played Voice) and being in it as well as reading it , was such a joy for me ! An incredible opportunity to say the least !