Standing ovation for magical Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio at The Watermill
‘This is a fantastic show – one of the best Christmas productions I’ve seen for many years. Michael Morpurgo was there on press night and gave it a standing ovation. Five stars!’
Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio
at The Watermill, Bagnor
until January 5
Review by ROBIN STRAPP
The Watermill’s festive production is the delightful Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio, adapted by Simon Reade with music and lyrics by Chris Larner and it’s an absolute magical Christmas treat.
Yoav Segal’s woodland set is stunning and the attention to detail in Geppetto’s workshop is impressive, enhanced by Jonathan Chan’s atmospheric beautiful lighting design.
Geppetto (Christopher Bianchi) and his loving wife (Lottie Latham) are happily married but one thing that is missing in their lives is a child. Following a storm Geppetto finds a piece of cherry wood and meticulously carves it creating the boy they have both longed for.
Jerome Yates is outstanding as the naïve youngster Pinocchio, eager to explore his new world and go on adventures. Some of them are hazardous. He burns his wooden feet by putting them too close to a fire and needs Geppetto to replace them.
He meets a friendly cricket (Fred Double) who acts as his conscience, a travelling circus and a one-person Punch and Judy show which is boisterous, although they can no longer use the slapstick, a good touch of political correctness.
He encounters a cunning, ruthless fox (Afia Abusham) and her farcical quirky partner the cat, played by Eddy Payne, who steal Pinocchio’s money. He eventually is arrested by the carabiniere (Jacoba Williams) and lands in jail.
Marc Parrett has created some incredibly wonderful puppets, including a boar built from a watering can, colourful butterflies and scheming weasels who chase the panic-stricken chickens. All cleverly brought to life by the cast.
As Pinocchio’s nose grows when he tells an untruth, it becomes a resting post for woodpeckers, who eat it away. He ends up being swallowed by a whale in a fascinating underwater scene.
Inventively co-directed by Elle While and Indiana Lown-Collins, this heartwarming production, filled with energetic dance, is so much fun and performed with flair by a multi-talented company. It does have a happy ending and is the ideal family entertainment .
It’s amazing.
Do go!
