one4review | On 07, Aug 2013

***

In this adaptation of the tale of Pinocchio the setting is mid-west America in the 1950’s. Mr Geppetto is a lonely and reclusive widower whose wife and child were killed in a nuclear accident. Out of despair and in the middle of the night, Geppetto carves Pinocchio out of an old tree stump in a fit of frenzy with a chain saw.

Pinocchio comes alive and soon escapes, furious at the thought of going to school. He is not a likeable little boy at this stage. His adventures begin and he encounters a variety of fantastical creatures and individuals, including a monster talking cricket. There are clear references to the clunky sci-fi films and TV of the period, as well as parodies of TV adverts which pop up from time to time.

There is much ingenuity in the use of puppetry and set movement by the six performers to create different locations and illusions. What is less successful is the script. After a bright opening in the exchanges between Geppetto and his housekeeper, the humour tends to fall flat.

On several occasions Pinocchio seems about to meet his doom only to be rescued by a friendly creature in the nick of time, and, as is the case with children’s tales, there is a happy ending.

Reviewed by Ben

Pleasance Dome; 23

31 July to 26 August 2013

13.00 – 14.15

Fringe Programme Page Number: 308