Each year the artistic director, Karen Kain expands in her
expression of classic ballets we’ve all grown up knowing and loving. With Pinocchio we are treated to some of the most
stunning sets and costumes to date. Our star puppet, danced by Skylar Campbell had an actual expanding nose which
grew and shrunk as the story unfolded.
Wearing a costume depicting the grains of his wooden body, he transforms
into a real boy in seconds right before our eyes!
The theme adopted a Canadian inspiration, beginning with
lumberjacks felling the tree from which Pinocchio is born. Following this, many of the characters are woodland
creatures, each adopting the personality of animals found in Canadian forests, ie. the intellectual beaver,
or the mischievous raccoons.
The ballet had so much character, even the set seemed to have a
persona of its own. At times, a bit dark
the setting reminded me of Tim Burton’s Batman.
One of my favourite scenes is that of Pinocchio and Gepetto in the ocean. A transparent blue screen falls
at the front of the stage, with projections of waves. Behind which, we can see Pinocchio and his
father, suspended in the water. Such
creative visions brought to life!
The show is on for another two nights including tonight, if you
haven’t yet been then go see it. This is
one not to be missed!