Pinocchio review – frightening delight in a post puppet world
over 5 years in The guardian
Tramway, GlasgowTreating Carlo Collodi’s allegory with the seriousness it deserves, this sincere and playful production draws a vulnerable boy into the tale’s darkest corners
Don’t be taken in by the opening song. The audience’s donkey noises and swaying arms are just a ruse. They’re as deceptive as Irene Allan’s glamorous Florenzina while she lures poor wooden Pinocchio with a promise of year-round play.
No, Dominic Hill’s superb staging for his exiled Citizens theatre is concerned only about drawing us into the darkest corners of Carlo Collodi’s allegory. Without wickedness and temptation there can be no road to maturity. The director and his multitasking ensemble treat the tale with the seriousness it deserves. Continue reading...