Pinocchio

The opening of Over Players’ 'The Pantomime Adventures Of Pinocchio' written and directed for the society by Phil Norton suggested we were in for an evening billed as a fun-packed pantomime for all the family and, as far as the music and dancing was concerned, it lived up to its billing.  

Over Players certainly have a large number of fine singers and all the solos, chorus songs and well choreographed musical numbers were splendid.  

Full marks to the hard working chorus whose numerous costume changes were swift and appeared to go without a hitch.  The costume team should be commended as the costumes were excellent, all perfectly appropriate and colourful. 

This panto had a huge cast and unfortunately earlier in the run dialogue was a bit shaky and once or twice props or settings were not quite where intended.  The lighting and effects were very good and so was the excellent band under the musical direction of Mike Bernard.

There were several very good performances, Maria Marshall as Manifico was just that with an amazing voice.  A super pairing of baddies was Luke Northfield and Jane Bereford as Foxxie and Cat respectively, and Wendy Lowe made an excellent Blue Fairy.  Always to be relied on to get the audience going Matt Sweeney did a grand job as Jimmy Da Cricket and young Rose Bereford in the role of Pinocchio has much potential and is certainly one to watch.  The numerous toys all did a good job with their individual characterisations.  I was extremely impressed with the stillness maintained by Pinocchio and Raggedy Doll (Amy Shears) who must have laid in the wheelbarrow for all of ten minutes without moving.  In fact, all the toys did well to maintain their frozen stance.  

Less convincing was Gepetto the toymaker and Frankie his housekeeper who didn’t seem to me to be a very believable pairing.  I was particularly uncomfortable with the fact that Frankie, instead of being a dame’s role was played as a transvestite Freddie Mercury look alike.  That and the overt innuendo of Frankie’s dialogue caused me concern in what is after all a pantomime and, one assumes, a family show.  

As mentioned Matt Sweeney as Jimmy Da Cricket worked the audience well but I think they were  lost part way through the second half from the scene at the City of Catchfools Committee meeting on as that part of the show was very confusing and I for one had no idea what was going on.  

For me this was very much a “curate’s egg” production.  There was a great deal to commend it but some of the good was lost.  Personally I felt the script was overwritten in places and though there were lots of good comic ideas sometimes it is often better not to over-egg the pudding.  Always leave them wanting more as the old adage goes.

This production involved lots of hard work by a good many people and full marks to Over Players for going for an original script.

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