Writer: Carlo Collodi
“Ruined” by: Michael Harrison, Danny Adams and Clive Webb
Director: Michael Harrison
For the eighteenth consecutive year, Newcastle’s Theatre Royal has shown the good sense to secure the talents of Danny Adams and Clive Webb to front their pantomime. Now almost as much of a Geordie institution as Greggs or The Bigg Market, every Christmas this father and son duo has become a massive draw for crowds from miles around. It is testament to their appeal and the excellent reputation of Theatre Royal’s seasonal shows that even a relatively obscure tale like Pinocchio can officially boast at being the fastest selling pantomime in the country, and deservedly so.
Rarely seen in pantomime form, Pinocchio is still familiar to many thanks to Disney’s animated classic. However this doesn’t really matter here as the plot doesn’t so much take a back seat, as stands at the side of the road watching as the show speeds off without it. Living puppet Pinocchio’s origins are glossed over with a quick prologue, although he is still tricked by a fox and a cat to be the unpaid star of Stromboli’s puppet show, and Geppetto still gets lost at sea and swallowed by a whale searching for him. However, these story beats are rushed through to get back to the often completely irrelevant routines – but what great routines they are! Staples like the ‘slop scene’, the tongue twisting song with an array of props, and the dreaded audience participation are all present and correct and only go to reinforce just how talented the cast (and in particular Adams) is. Meanwhile the script is overflowing with hilarious jokes, many of which are aimed squarely at the adults while they fly over younger heads.
As Pinocchio Danny Adams is a real star. He visibly works extremely hard at his craft, and he is a master of physical comedy, timing and audience engagement. Clive Webb brilliantly supports Adams, knowing when to stand back and let him loose, and although Webb seems to give himself less to do these days, it is still obvious that he is a seasoned performer with a magic touch when it comes to comedy. Chris Hayward doesn’t have an awful lot to do as Pinocchio’s school teacher Dame Rita Rigatoni who tags along for the adventures for some reason. However he delivers his usual charming and engaging performance in a number of songs while parading around in an assortment of brilliantly designed dresses.
As Jiminy Cricket, Joe McElderry shows how good a sport he is by being the butt of many of Adams’s jibes (think along the lines of Morecambe and Wise’s treatment of Des O’Connor) but he takes it in good spirits and delivers some wonderful vocals. A highlight of the show is McElderry attempting to sing Titanic’s My Heart Will Go On while Adams creates a violently raging storm around him. Amelia Walker has a lovely presence and singing voice as The Blue Faerie, and Wayne Smith is suitably hiss-able as Stromboli, aided by Kylie Ann Ford as Kitty the Cat and Christina Berriman Dawson as Phyllis the Fox. There is a show-stopping, jaw-dropping fire act from Spark Fire Dance’s Dave Knox and Grace Billings, and also on hand to steal the entire show without ever uttering a word is goggle-eyed Mick Potts, real life brother of Adams who also appears alongside him in CBBC’s popular Danny & Mick.
As well as the amazingly talented cast that is assembled every year, Theatre Royal is also famed for the lavishness of their pantomimes. Danny may joke several times about the high price of the tickets, but every penny is evident on the stage thanks to eye-popping special effects and pyrotechnics, gorgeous costumes (including the finale that features more feathers than an ostrich farm) and the very latest in lighting and sound design that magically envelopes the audience right into the action. It isn’t often that a pantomime gets a standing ovation, but this one did – and on press night too!
It’s as hard to imagine that there is better pantomime playing anywhere this year as it is difficult to sum up just how ridiculously entertaining and gorgeous The Adventures of Pinocchio is. It’s probably easier just to urge you to go and buy a ticket as soon as possible. You would have to have a head full of sawdust to miss it.
Runs until 14th January 2024
The Reviews Hub Score
Pure Puppet Perfection
