Pinocchio, May 16, 2019 ***1/2

THEATRE 

By Make A Scene, produced by La Mama 

At La Mama Courthouse, until May 26, 2019 

Reviewer: Kate Herbert 

Stars: ***1/2

 This review also published in Herald Sun online on Fri 17 May 2019 and in print on Tues 21 May. KH

Jasper Foley in Pinocchio picby Lisa Businovski

Pinocchio, a solo performance by Jasper Foley, delightfully blends direct-to-audience narration with hand-held puppets and the physical comedy and masked characters of the Italian Commedia dell’Arte.

In fact, Foley’s Pinocchio resembles the mischievous, impulsive and playful Arlecchino (Harlequin) from the Commedia stable of stock characters.

Created by Foley with Christian Bagin (director) and Rosa Campagnaro (assistant director), the play is based on Carlo Collodi’s original story of the wooden puppet that dreams of being a real boy.

Performing on a space empty except for a box-style puppet theatre in the style of Punch and Judy (design: Eloise Kent), Foley tumbles, prances and poses clownishly, incorporating slapstick routines known as ‘lazzi’ in the Commedia.

Using expressive, leather masks (by A. G. Newman), several puppets, and simple costume changes, Foley populates the stage with a parade of characters, transforming from cheeky, child-like Pinocchio, to ancient Geppetto, or the villainous Phineus Fox.

The exuberant audience of VCE students cheers and participates avidly when Foley invites individuals on stage to don a mask or a peaked cap to play characters in Pinocchio‘s fraught journey, or to create a soundscape for the dark forest.

A few slow scene changes could be tightened, and some narrative moments need clarification, but Foley’s joyful energy rebalances the show.

Although the production is often performed for primary school children, this version includes satirical, topical references to politics, popular music and even Pinocchio’s existential question, “Should I have done Maths Methods instead of Drama?’, a line that elicits a wild cheer from the full house of Drama students.

The sparkly-eyed Foley exudes warmth and charm as he addresses his audience directly and they, in turn, excitedly and willingly suspend their disbelief as Pinocchio’s quirky story unfolds and resolves with a surprise ending.

by Kate Herbert

Show created by Christian Bagin, Rose Capagnaro, Jasper Foley.

Directed by Christian Bagin

Performed by Jasper Foley

Masks AG Newman

Set Eloise Kent