15 November – 5 January
With its beautiful wooden interior, The Watermill Theatre is a strikingly appropriate location for Pinocchio, a tale where something magical is conjured out of wood. Adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s story by Simon Reade, and co-directed by Indiana Lown-Collins and Elle While, this enchanting show has a set that features lantern-bedecked trees that seem to grow out of the building itself. Yoav Segal’s meticulously detailed design also features Old Geppetto’s workshop, where he will carve a puppet son from the branch of a storm-damaged cherry tree.
When we first meet Geppetto and his wife, Christopher Bianchi and Lottie Latham touchingly portray a fond couple making the very best of a relationship with a much-wanted missing ingredient. Geppetto is a dreamer full of good intentions, and Signora Geppetto consoles herself with the thought that though they do not have a child, they do have each other ‘and a lot of lampstands.’ Then Geppetto creates Pinocchio, and from that point onwards there is non-stop action delivered with breathless energy and unceasing inventiveness. There are catchy songs, dynamic dance sequences, and very clever sequences of puppetry, the latter seen especially in Fred Double’s amusing depiction of the Cricket, who acts as Pinocchio’s bright green and sharp-tongued conscience.
Jerome Yates is a splendid Pinocchio, initially clumsy and naïve, but eager to discover the world. Unaware of its dangers, he loses his feet by putting them too close to a fire. With a newly carved pair of feet Pinocchio sets off again, but he is vulnerable to temptation, as embodied by the wily Fox (Afia Abusham) and her dim-witted sidekick the Cat (Eddy Payne). After getting into lots of trouble he is locked up in prison by the stern Carabiniere (Jacoba Williams). Darker moments of the tale such as this are delivered with a lightly comic touch, and are unlikely to upset even the youngest in the audience.
However, event follows event at great pace – a lot happens! – and some youngsters may find the narrative hard to follow, not least because in addition to their seven main roles, the hugely energetic cast create a dazzling variety of other creatures. These include a snuffling boar, fluttering dragonflies, and terrified chickens attacked by very devious weasels. At one point Pinocchio’s extended nose is perched upon by a cheeky quartet of chattering woodpeckers. There is also of course a whale that swallows Pinocchio and Geppetto, though in the end all is well. With its colourful array of vividly depicted characters, a witty script and a multi-talented cast, this Pinocchio is excellent family entertainment. Highly recommended.
★★★★☆ Mike Whitton 21 November 2024
Photo credit: Mark Senior
