Pinocchio, which is directed by Omar F Okai, is a reimagining of the classic tale. With book by Trish Cooke and music by Robert Hyman (with both Cooke and Hyman contributing to the lyrics), the show takes on an entirely new tone. The show works well as a pantomime, delightfully vivid and exciting for younger audiences.
The show follows the kind hearted and poverty-stricken Geppetto, who makes free toys for children. After chancing upon a magic piece of wood, left behind by the Blue Rinse Fairy, Geppetto unintentionally creates Pinocchio; a walking, talking and energetic puppet. Geppetto soon adopts Pinocchio as his own son, and encourages him to go to school and be a good son, yet trouble strikes in the form of Sly Fox and Miss Kat. Pinocchio finds himself at odds, antagonised between his promise to Geppetto and the alluring villainous duo. With help from Krik Krak, Geppetto and the Blue Rinse Fairy, Pinocchio must find a way to listen to his head whilst following his heart and to do the right thing.
Dylan Collymore as the titular character does an impressive job, managing to catch the naivety of being young, along with the yearning to be a real boy. Collymore manages to capture the small mannerisms of being a wooden puppet, with limitless energy and enthusiasm. Tok Morakinyo as Geppetto plays the character with warmth, giving the audience a heart warming performance.
Rushand Chambers and Jhanaica Van Mook as Sly Fox and Miss Kat respectively, are amusingly goofy as the evil duo, guaranteeing laughter whenever on stage. Nicole Louise Lewis as Krik Krak bursts with energy and excitement. Lewis brings out the best of pantomime joy in Pinocchio, with her ever peppy performance and really engages with the audience.
The stand out performance was by Michael Bertenshaw as Blue Rinse Fairy, whose vast career includes 23 pantomimes at Stratford East. As a pantomime veteran of the highest order, Bertenshaw's ability to amuse both adults and children alike makes Pinocchio so highly enjoyable. Bertenshaw's performance as the aging trainee fairy are often the best moments in the show.
Pinocchio indulges the audience in pantomime classics such as a sing along, dance along, frequent audience interaction, puns and jokes, and much more, making the show a wonderful time for pantomime lovers. The colourful characters, and bright sets are guaranteed to elicit joy and laughter from young audiences. However, adults may not be as entertained by the show.
Pinocchio chooses to utilise the opportunity to encourage younger audiences to focus on education and listen to their parents, yet this feels quite preachy at moments, even alienating the children at times. The show is stuffed with twists and new obstacles, which makes for a fun and fast paced show, yet these obstacles are never satisfyingly solved, opting for convenient quick fixes that hinder character growth. This improves in the second half, with the obstacles having higher stakes, but the existence of these can be baffling and pointless at times. Perhaps given it's a pantomime, the story journey doesn't need to be as polished, but it would be more enjoyable for the adults watching, if it were.
The musical numbers help propel the story telling, providing plenty of opportunities for the audience to sing and dance along and providing much mirth to pantomime lovers. Whilst not entirely memorable, the songs are wonderfully enjoyable. Musical Direction is by Nick Barstow, who also plays the keys. Joining Barstow are Sara Farina on bass and Perry Melius on drums.
The show boasts an impressively coherent set design (Stewart J Charlesworth), with a colourful patchwork decorating the wings. Working alongside lighting designer Bretta Gerecke, movable figures made from lights help set the scene with impressive flair. Gareth Fry provides sound design for the show, which enhances the pantomime experience, yet adds a layer of starkness to the stormy sea scene. The costumes, particularly that of Pinocchio and Blue Rinse Fairy, are brilliant. Charlesworth takes on the daunting task of dressing Pinocchio with ease, providing a wooden headpiece for the hair and an extendable nose.
Pinocchio does a splendid job at being a fun and entertaining pantomime that will be beloved by young children, but does leave adults wishing for a little more.
Pinocchio is playing at the Stratford East Theatre until 4th January.
★★★☆☆ (3*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Craig Fuller