Company of ‘Pinocchio’, Photo by Soren Meisner

Carlo Collodi’s perennial tale of a puppet who want’s to be a real boy has such a firm core it can withstand quite radical reinvention. Teater Patrasket’s production of Pinocchio, presented by Harbourfront Centre as part of their JUNIOR Festival, is full of dark whimsy. The aesthetic of director Alex Byrne’s production is a richly textured and foreboding blend of Big Top and Vaudeville. An evocative patina of grime and a sickly atmosphere pervades everything; this is a world of torn, stained clothing, beady eyes and tiny exposed ribs. Continue Reading