THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO
Music and Lyrics by Neil Bartram | Book by Brian Hill
SynopsisBased on Carlo Collodi's classic tale, this family musical illuminates the bond between parents and children in a magical performance that is sure to enchant audiences of all ages!In a forest, Italian woodcarver Geppetto carves a heart into a pine tree, expressing his secret love for a woman named Leona. Years later, Geppetto finds the remains of the tree and carves a marionette out of it, naming him Pinocchio. Due to the heart's magic, Pinocchio comes to life. Pinocchio meets a pair of thieves, Volpe and Felinet, who work for Lorenzini, a sinister theatre director and puppet master. Lorenzini tries to purchase Pinocchio, but Geppetto declines, to avoid selling his son. Pinocchio gets into a fight with the rowdy Lampwick and when he lies about it, his nose grows longer, and he is kicked out of the class. Pinocchio ends up causing damage to a local bakery, and Geppetto is arrested as a result. Pinocchio flees home, meeting a talking cricket, Pepe, who tells Pinocchio to behave and stay out of trouble to become a real boy. The next day, Pinocchio and Geppetto are put on trial at court. Lorenzini enters, offering to pay off the debt if Pinocchio is given over to him. Geppetto reluctantly agrees but changes his mind soon afterward and sets out in search of his son. Pinocchio becomes the star of Lorenzini's productions and is given gold coins as payment. Pinocchio rescues several of Geppetto's puppets from being burnt by Lorenzini, unintentionally setting the theatre on fire. Pinocchio spots a stagecoach passing by, carrying Lampwick and other boys, travelling to Terra Magica, a hidden fun-fair for boys to do as they please. Drinking the water of Terra Magica turns them into donkeys. The funfair turns out to belong to Lorenzini, who sells the donkeys off to circuses and farms. Pinocchio has Lampwick kick Lorenzini into the cursed water, transforming him into a sea monster and forcing him to flee into the ocean. The boys and donkeys escape the fun-fair, and Pinocchio reunites with Leona at the beach, as he sets out to find his father at sea. Pinocchio and Pepe are consumed by the sea monster, reuniting with Geppetto inside his stomach. Pinocchio lies to extend his nose and make the passage larger, causing his nose to break. The monster starts to choke, spitting Geppetto and Pinocchio out, before suffocating and sinking to the depths. On land, Pinocchio and Geppetto embrace. Pinocchio's tears flow, the tears landing on the heart carving, the same magic force from before transforming him into a real boy. Geppetto and Leona marry, and Pinocchio gives his father a log he found, to carve into a girlfriend for him.MUSICAL NUMBERS
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