The production began with a comedic scene of the actors greeting the audience on a stage under construction, and then “remembering that they came for a show.” The cast members took turns starting the story before we were brought into the main storyline of the classic “Pinocchio” tale.
An old toymaker named Geppetto longs for a child of his own. He uses his talent to create a lifelike wooden puppet that he affectionately calls Pinocchio. By some magic Pinocchio comes to life. However, he longs to become a real boy.
Many adventures ensue as Pinocchio makes his way to school. While he is distracted by puppet shows and Playland, Geppetto gets swallowed by a whale. It is up to Pinocchio to prove that his love for his papa is as real as he wants to be and save Geppetto from his fate.
This beautiful production was performed by 11 actors who started the show from scratch. “The process started with a lot of movement and improvisation and a lot of imaginative creative sessions trying to come up with unique ways to tell the story,” said Jeremiah Price, the director of Pinocchio.
All of the actors had a say in rehearsals and the designers worked together to explore the ideas. “I, as the director, had a great time coordinating all of those elements and trying to bring it into a cohesive play,” said Price.
All of the aspects of the production meshed well to create a masterpiece of a show. The production was quite interactive with the audience. It was refreshing to experience, since most theater productions try to avoid breaking the fourth wall.
“I loved watching this production. The chemistry between the actors was perfect and the story really came to life!” said one audience member.
If you missed opening weekend, don’t worry! There will be three more performances: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 4.
Sierra Rode can be reached at [email protected]