PINOCCHIO. To 10 January.

Cardiff

PINOCCHIO
by Carlo Collodi adapted by Mike Kenny

Sherman Theatre Venue 2 To 10 January 2004
29-30 December,2-3,10 January 11am & 2pm
31 December 11am
6-9 January 10-30am & 1.30pm
Runs 1hr 5min No interval

TICKETS: 029 2064 6900
Minicom 029 2064 6909
Review: Timothy Ramsden 27 December

Fun can be had by all: but is that all there is to be had in this piece?This is a surprise from Mike Kenny. His young people's plays especially earlier ones written, like this, as Christmas scripts for 3-6s in the Sherman's smaller space have a gentle poetic quality sometimes visible here, but more often swallowed in the merry-go-round of panto callings and simplified characterisation.

No reason a writer shouldn't change, but for someone of Kenny's experience and skill in young people's theatre, it seems a step back into the ordinary. Yet, from many writers this would seem good work, colourfully produced. Carlo Collodi's moral stories of the puppet who wants to become a real boy but goes the wrong way about it or, rather, the wrong ways, following temptations that lead many children astray is simply told, but as a single act, with a cast of 3 (even one as versatile and capable as the Sherman's) covering so many individual story-threads, simplicity has to go along with simplification.

Fox's companion-in-crime the Cat becomes a mute glove-puppet on Rhian Green's arm; if you didn't know the story you could wonder what its doing there. And while the rotating showman's wagon that's the useful and ornamental centrepiece to Guy O' Donnell's set conveys both the idea of journeying and of false fronts in the world Pinocchio encounters, its gauze transparency of the puppet falling through water is picturesque rather than picking up much of a vital narrative thread.

Mass audience blowings to release Geppeto and Pinocchio from the shark's belly are fun but there's been little of the preceding adventure of the two finding then losing each other to make much sense of the visual and participatory effects.

The skilful performers work hard. Clare Hingott captures a youthful naivety in Pinocchio and Green contrasts well her honest craftsman and swaggering animal villain. On high in the wagon Dan Lawrence has a sinister edge as a puppeteer, also making a major musical contribution.

But their material remains a curious mix of cut-down story, songs to entertain and participatory activities. All perfectly innocent and pleasant just strangely anonymous for a young people's writer of Kenny's range and experience.

Pinocchio: Clare Hingott
Geppeto/Fox: Rhian Green
Puppet Master/Lampwick: Dan Lawrence

Director: Stephen Fisher
Designer: Guy O' Donnell
Lighting: Chris Illingworth
Musical Director: James Williams

2003-12-31 02:45:55