This will uplift the darkest of winter nights
You’d be forgiven for shivering at the prospect of outdoor theatre in winter, but The Globe’s musical version of Pinocchio will warm your heart. It is a magnificently magical and highly entertaining wintertime treat for all ages; a feast for the eyes and ears, writes Mary Bradshaw.
Under Sean Holmes’ inventive direction, it is reassuringly Globe-worthy, too, with a chorus of commedia dell’arte types in monochrome, one-dimensional wooden cut-outs forming the backdrop of what resembles a ginormous puppet theatre, and a healthy dose of jibes at the Globe’s stock audience.
Written by Charlie Josephine and Jim Fortune, tonight’s adaptation of an old morality tale is one about boyhood, fatherhood, and daring to love. It captures those strange and cheekily subversive undertones of the traditional fairy tales we know and love (get ready for child-snatching Coachman (Steven Webb), and slightly bonkers Fox and Cat (Kerry Frampton and Lucy McCormick)).
Pinocchio has more than his fair share of near misses and scrapes (he even ends up inside a whale at one point), but his infectious innocence, curiosity and warmth win out. These attributes aren’t chastised, but transform the adults around him. Hostility and bitterness in the small Italian town soften into tenderness and community (aided by pizza). Pinocchio’s unabashed love helps Geppetto (Nick Holder) transform from ‘maker’ to ‘father’, and sorts out Blue Fairy’s minor identity crisis (Lucy McCormick).
It is an absolute joy to watch the expertise of the three puppeteers as they deftly glide the delightful life-sized wooden Pinocchio across the stage. They are hypnotic. And who knew puppets could dance so well? Lee Braithwaite is excellent as Pinocchio’s boyish voice, too, full of wonder and worry.
A melange of swing, rock, blues and pop whisks this musical along. The harmonies are honey-sweet, and the lyrics catchy, funny, and crisp for the most part, but at times a little hard to catch.
This wonderful production by a slick, talented cast, will uplift the darkest of winter nights (just wear a coat).
Pinocchio runs at The Globe Theatre with matinee and evening performances until 4 January
Booking and full details: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/pinocchio/
