Pinocchio

Chipstead Players

Courtyard Theatre, Chipstead

Reviewed by Derrick Graham

With the professionals out of the way it was the turn of the amateur dramatic societies to bring on their pantomimes or musicals for children.

The Chipstead Players are fortunate in having a vast pool of talent with its junior section. It is interesting to see actors like Josh Morris, three years ago a child in a crowd, now taking a leading role, very effectively, as Lampwick, son of the village policeman, played by Roy Pearson.

Hope Elsdon has made this, her first appearance at Chipstead, an outstanding success as lead character Pinocchio.

Slim and exceedingly agile, she was completely believable as the puppet carved from a talking log by the village toymaker Old Gepetto. There was a very effective transformation scene which could perhaps have been better slowed down slightly to give the puppet maker a chance to pretend to start carving before the log disappeared and the puppet was revealed.

Bearded Warwick Beazley was brilliant as Gepetto and entirely convincing as an old man longing for a son. His wish is granted by Blue Fairy, played by Amy Pinder-Hales - an unbelievably confident 13-year-old but whose voice seemed strangely muffled, possibly by her costume.

Pinocchio's great friend is his conscience, Mr Cricket. Geoff Thorn, entirely made-up in green, was very impressive leaping about in grasshopper style and where the dialogue fitted, he gave a great impression of the late actor and comedian WC Fields.

Woven into the story somehow was the judge out of Trial by Jury for Piocchio's trial for stealing. Peter van Manen, a wonderful Benny Hill look-alike, brought the part to life, taking a bribe from Mr Fox (Lesley Parker) and her accomplice Mr Cat (Lewis Hayes). However, it was never clear why the puppet was on trial, not them.

There was a very clever setting for Gepetto in a sailing boat inside a whale, with Muppet-like fish swimming round him. He has set out to rescue Pinocchio from the clutches of the Coachman (Nick Gane) and the Ringmaster (Glyn Jones) in Funland where captured boys are turned into horses.

Great musical direction by Steve Humphrys, also on keyboard, and brilliant overall direction by Brian Hart.