By Scott L. Miley
The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON, Ind. —
Ex-puppet Pinocchio is encountering the growing pains experienced by any young boy. He wants to break free of parental restrictions and live his own life. He certainly doesn’t want to follow in the toy-making footsteps of his “father,” Geppetto.
Fit to be tied, Geppetto wants the magical Blue Fairy to turn the boy back into a stick figure.
The Blue Fairy is considering the change but there’s a few strings attached.
And those moments of tender, usually witty, tension create the rewards in “Disney’s Geppetto and Son” at Anderson’s Mainstage Theatre.
Before getting into individual performances, “Geppetto” is a must-see treat for community-minded residents. The musical, with nearly 30 parts, welcomes 13 new actors to Mainstage. In at least two scenes, the audience is looking at much of the future of Mainstage, and the theater should be in good hands. While some may speak softly or miss a dance motion, the enthusiasm among this cast is infectious. Director Jayna Friend has put together an exciting view into things to come.
Among the top performers is Sam Morey, who plays the pie-eyed Pinocchio. He can switch easily from precocious to playful to being pitied in the span of a few seconds; watch Morey’s sorrowful expressions as Geppetto and a puppet master fight for him.
As Geppetto, Benjamin Herrald wisely downplays anger and focuses on the frustration of raising a young boy. Herrald’s characterization adds to Geppetto’s humanity.
On the other end, Patrick Cramer is a genuine joy as the schizophrenic, ominous puppet show owner Stromboli. Even in his solo moments, you’ll think there’s two people on stage.
The tensions are played for laughs by Anjie Martin as the Blue Fairy. Martin expands the role of narrator with a told-you-so whimsy.
An equal character in “Geppetto” is the 10-member orchestra directed by Deborah Andis. In a rehearsal Monday night, the band hit the right notes, most noticeably as a music box opens.
At only 95 minutes, the musical sets a tender and clever tone in the first act. The second act, however, is a bit surreal and rushed; you might need to be reminded that Geppetto goes in search of Pinocchio and ends up in Monstro the whale (creatively portrayed through a projected slide,) and that Pleasure Island is an evil place where young boys who make jackasses out of themselves actually turn into donkeys.
Though it has the Disney brand, “Geppetto and Son” is friendly for adults as well as kids. And while the play ultimately tugs at the heartstrings, the stronger ties are in watching our community theater veterans welcome their future counterparts.
Contact Scott L. Miley, 648-4230, scott.miley@heraldbulletin.com
