-Brenda Hillegas
photo by Wide Eyed Studios
If you have kids, you probably know that iconic phrase…”I’m bored.” And you’ll probably be hearing it a lot this summer. The good news is that Pinocchio at Arden Theatre has been extended through June 9th and if you can take your kids to see this creative retelling of the classic story, they’ll see just how much they can do with their own imagination and the objects already in your house.
Based on the tale written by Carlo Collodi in 1881 and adapted by award-winning playwright Greg Banks, Pinocchio is an entertaining 90 minute tale (plus intermission) at Arden’s intimate Arcadia Stage. When audiences arrive, they’ll meet four painters who are working on the walls of an empty theatre. Once the painters find out they’re expected to tell us the story of Pinocchio, they scramble to come up with a way to bring the characters to life by using only what they have in their workspace- paint brushes, mops, ladders, tables, tools. And audience, you’ll be asked to help too!
The cast features Philadelphia-based actors, Reese Castaldi, Izzy Sazak, Nathan Alford-Tate (he/him), Anthony Martinez-Briggs, all playing a dozen characters throughout the show. Director Rebecca Wright says the production “playfully asks us all to consider what it means to be human.” She calls it “pillow-fort magic”, which is really the best way I can think of to describe this show.
Pinocchio is theatre magic. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to witness some performances at home with your kids this summer too. Grab a blanket, a couple props, and see what happens.
Tickets here.
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