THE MELON'S CRY To Be Performed At Philly Fringe

The Kammerspiel has announced the world premiere of The Melon’s Cry, an original play written and directed by Effie Kammer, as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. The engagement opens Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Rutabaga at the Falls Center in East Falls, with five performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (evening and afternoon).

The Melon’s Cry is a retelling of the famous Victorian poem, Goblin Market (1862) by Christina Rossetti, about two sisters put under a trance by the fruits of goblin men, which cause an insatiable appetite for sensual experience: “Morning and evening / Maids heard the goblins cry: / ‘Come buy our orchard fruits, / Come buy, come buy.’”

Set in the halls of a private high school in New York City on the eve of September 11, 2001, The Melon’s Cry traces the day after day shared lives of Laura and Lizzie. Their experiences run parallel while diverging amidst a surge of sexual activity, intellectual discovery, and decisive historical and personal events. 

“The play explores how we can move deeper into our understanding of ourselves, deeper into our connection with others, and into the richness of experience, while simultaneously being courted by or succumbing to persistent and inexplicable destructive powers. It is a play about duality,” says Effie Kammer.

This production will take place at the landmark Falls Center in East Falls in a former lecture hall of the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. The venue is at the Crawford Street entrance of the campus. The set design in chalk by muralist Joshua Grace embraces the simplicity and ephemerality of childhood, while Kammer’s staging and Deborah Crocker’s choreography tap into a font of sparkling teenage enthusiasm.  Paul Pirozzi's lighting and sound design play up the humdrum sterility of the immersive school environment, and rely on analog technology to bring warmth and the feeling of the times into the unique space.  

The production features Sylvie Schuetz, Brynn Smith, Lawrence Neil, Tom Schmitt, Jordan Eck, Jack Degan, Kevin Esmond, and  Shel Griffin.

The Production Team features Director: Effie Kammer,  Stage Manager: Bill McDevitt, Set Designer: Joshua Grace, Choreographer: Deborah Crocker, Sound and Lighting Designer: Paul Pirozzi, Production Assistants: Stephen Rustvold, Maleekah Wiltbanks and Photographer: Jake Rhoda.

Performance Schedule (September 10-13): Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 7:00 PM - OPENING NIGHT,  Friday, September 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM,  Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM,  Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM - matinee and  Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM.

Performances will take place at Rutabaga at the Falls Center located at 3301 Scotts Lane (at Crawford Street) Philadelphia, PA 19129. Tickets are $25 general admission. Now on sale at https://phillyfringe.org/events/the-melons-cry/.