IN 1880, a famous (and frequently censored) Italian political satirist, Carlo Collodi, created a story about a poor woodcarver who made a wooden boy puppet as a companion for his old age. That puppet, Pinocchio, wanted to be a real boy, but he had to contend with a nose that grew every time he told a lie. Collodi (born Carlo Lorenzini), named his most famous creation from the Tuscan dialect word for pine nut. He went on to be the star of one of Walt Disney’s most renowned films, and he used to feature in frequent pantomimes.
This season Forest Forge and Bumblefly theatre companies have got together again to create a new touring show based on his ever-relevant story, packed full of adventure and love, but carrying powerful messages about the way human beings treat each other in this “season of goodwill.”
Collodi’s original story has been sifted and rewritten for a 21st century audience by company co-founder Clive Holland, and once again the other founder, Dom Phillips, leads the Travelling Players on the journey round villages in Dorset, Hampshire and beyond. This year’s performers are George Attwill and Jessie-May Clarke, and together they bring the characters to vibrant life for children and their adults.
The colourful show brings puppets to life, introduces not only the very green cricket, the sly fox and the crafty cat. but also observant birds, creatures from the deep sea, rotten robbers, ancient fisherwomen, brilliant cooks, charlatan showmen, silly boys and voluble trees. It is a magical confection, and one that delivers its messages with a light but insistent touch. And there’s lots of chances for the audience to join in with the story-telling, the singing, the booing and hissing and the gasps of relief when it all comes right in the end.
The packed village hall at Alderholt provided a delightful pre-Christmas afternoon’s entertainment. The show continues its progress to Mottisfont and West Tytherley before Christmas, and to Gussage All Saints, Awbridge, Totton, New Milton, Winchester, Fawley, Downton, Fareham and Ringwood between 2nd and 11th January.
GP-W