Pinocchio

Most people know the famous tale of this puppet. In this version, Gepetto - a strong performance this by Dick Gibson, making a kindly, bewhiskered toymaker, also had a daughter, Maria. Now his neighbour, Mama Macaroni, happened to have a son called Antonio, and so the plot was set to get the romantic couple in this pantomime! The young couple was Ceryz Fitzgerald and Heather Berg and each brought their youthful talent to the proceedings. Mama Macaroni was outrageously performed by Susan Crabb, who was abetted in the comedy stakes by a bouncy Kim Samson as the idiotic Lampwick. The most important character is, of course, Pinoccio himself, and a youthful and assured Corey Cheape did not put a foot wrong throughout the show. This could be put down to the fact that Pinocchio had a “conscience” in the shape of Jiminy Cricket guiding his every move, and David Cheape turned in a great performance as his green-faced protector. Despite this fact, someone always nasty turns up and so arrived Stromboli, the evil puppet master who got booed and jeered from the young audience. This was a superb characterization from Jamie Robertson who had to suffer the idiotic antics from his two stupid henchmen, Mini and Maxi (Kelly Griffis / Nikki Doig), making two fine knockabouts! A fantastic moment came when, brilliantly executed by UV lights, Monstro the giant whale swallowed the ship carrying all the people and all ended up in his stomach! Keeping order throughout, and moving the story on as required, was Joanna Fitzgerald as the delightful Fairy with the magic touch to bring Pinocchio to life!

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