“Plently of playful choreography… messages for kids”

“Designer Joanna Yu has kept the set simple and the costumes elaborate, including some charming masks and a neat transparent outfit for Pinocchio that simulates wood grain. There's a bright, bouncy sound from music director David Terriault, leading a keyboard-wind-percussion trio, and plenty of playful choreography by Julie Tomaino.

You might think that Pinocchio is the perfect fairy tale for the Trump era. In fact, Hill and Bartram de-emphasize the young hero's falsehoods and instead focus on his choices and their consequences. He also learns that empathy is the key to being human. Not bad messages for kids to take away from the theatre, maybe even better than hummable tunes.”

MARTIN MORROW