Ruby & Charlie
Created by Jessica Simon & Co.; Directed by Jessica Simon; Musical Direction by Jordyn Davis
HERE Arts Center | 145 6th Ave, New York, NY 10013
February 17th - 21st 2026
Photo credit: Isaak Berliner
In theatre, we talk a great deal about ensembles and ensemble work. Most of the time, it refers to the individuals who bring their A-Game to the stage. It does not often enough refer to the performance being a team sport, but can you imagine a rowing a skull with one person phoning it in? Absolutely not! Each member of the crew is hyperfocused on their role and how they fit into the whole. That is the type of ensemble you see behind Ruby & Charlie. When I look at the artistry and skill behind this production by Jessica Simon & Co, it’s really the “company”, “the ensemble” that stands out.This is a true ensemble - a true team - no less refined and in sync than synchronized swimmers. It’s a fame of Twister generating art. Six puppeteers, (Victor Ayala, Tau Bennett, Maria Camia, Monica Lerch, Kayta Thomas, and Ashley Winkfield) and three musicians (Jordyn Davis, Jeremiah Flack, and Milton Suggs) take to the stage so in tune with one another it’s hard to tell one person’s limb from another. And it is from this marriage of artists that Ruby & Charlie are born.
Ruby and Charlie are young lovers brought together through music and dance. The pair a married before a large gathering of their dearly beloved and start down a road toward wedded bliss. But soon the road becomes monotonous, and Ruby feels stifled in the relationship and in her home. Arguments cannot be avoided, leading to heartbreak.
The music resonates with Ruby and Charlie, and us. The warm tones of Milton Suggs elicit joy and pain, sunshine and rain. We all have songs that bring us smiles or sorrow, memories carried to us on a tune. The two lovers are swept back in time, and there is hope these flashbacks will bring them back together.
This level of artistry is rare even in New York City, though perhaps less rare for Puppetopia 2026 which is definitely a cut above. Opening Night for Ruby & Charlie and Parched was just extraordinary, The work is precise without feeling stale. Technique and innovation meld together to create work that is intriguing, fascinating and emotionally raw. The performances remind us that puppets are for more than worn out socks and children’s parables. It is an artform that’s vital and well worth experiencing in the flesh. Ruby & Charlie only runs through the weekend - make sure not to miss out.
Review by Nicole Jesson.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on February 27th, 2026. All rights reserved.