The story is one known to almost everybody who grew up with Disney. Pinocchio is a young, impressionable boy who is just slightly different from everyone around him in the fact that he is made of wood. On his first day of school, a scheming fox (a most evil villain if ever there was one) leads Pinocchio away from his doting father Gepetto, promising to give him what he needs to become a real boy. By following The Fox, Pinocchio gets himself into desperate trouble. He is first sold to Stromboli's travelling Marionette Theatre and, after he escapes, is given to The Coachman who then takes him to Pleasure Island. His adventures end in a giant whale's stomach where he goes to rescue his father, although a Happy Ending is not amiss as Pinocchio does, eventually, turn into a real boy.
|
Staying true to the original film, songs such as When You Wish Upon A Star and I've Got No Strings play a major part in the musical, but they have been reworked by Martin Lowe to make new wonders. At the same time, the musical gets closer to the roots of the film - taking inspiration from the original story by Italian writer Carlo Collodi. Featuring Italian folk tunes, this musical brings an exciting new dimension to the original score. I have to confess though, a couple of the new songs were not exactly to my taste.
Puppets, of course, are integral to the overall performance. However, they are not as you would expect. Instead of Pinocchio being a puppet, it is the adults - Gepetto, the Coachman, Stromboli and the Blue Fairy. They are ingenious in their creation, just the torso and head of the character, controlled by four actors. They are worked masterfully, the four actors working in complete synchronicity, making the puppet come alive in a way that is impossible to imagine. Their body's shake when laughing, they lean on items of the set, interacting like real humans with their surrounding. It must require an insane deal of stamina to be holding the puppets up for the whole play.
The huge, looming puppets and giant set gives the audience Pinocchio's eyes, as we see everything in the same perspective that he does. |
Audrey Brisson is superb as Jiminy Cricket who is, in this production, a complete neurotic neat freak - she runs around after Pinocchio, cleaning and making sure everything is hygienic. A puppet as well, Jiminy is absolutely charming, energy oozing out of her the entire time.
For me, one of the most remarkable parts of the production were the illusions. Throughout the play there are constant moments of magic, all of which were greeted with gasps and squeals of delight from young members of the audience (and also old members mind!) I am still left wondering how darts were thrown into someone's bottom...and how a knife was thrown into Pinocchio's stomach...and how Pinocchio's nose grew...and a whole heap of other things!
|
There is always something exciting on stage, whether it be the puppets or the exquisite set and costumes. The story itself has smatterings of spookiness as well as all the energetic joy. It is a truly fascinating experience, and I would highly recommend it to people of all ages!
Under 18's go half price for to any performance, and for younger audience members, half of the programme is a brilliant activity book .