Katelyn Cabalo, Kevin Thomas, Chassidy Andrews in Pinocchio, Alberta Musical Theatre Company. Photo by Ian Jackson, Epic Photography
By Liz Nicholls, .ca
Fifteen years ago, a highly eccentric, episodic 36-chapter 19th century Italian novel, a fairy tale adventure with a puppet hero who dreamed of being a real live boy, tickled the fancy of a musical theatre writing duo whose jam was re-imagining classic fairy tales for contemporary kid audiences.
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The fairy tale was Carlo Collodi’s 1883 Pinocchio, serialized in Italy’s first newspaper for kids. And in the hands of playwright/ director/ actor Farren Timoteo and the late composer Jeff Unger, Pinocchio’s wildly fantastical odyssey over land and under sea became an ingenious much-travelled 60-minute musical comedy — for three energetic, very agile triple-threats. The trio, in constant motion played two dozen or so characters — a kooky assortment of animals, con persons, monsters with costume-changes to match. And they sang original Unger songs that ranged from an intricate Sondheim-esque number for Gepetto the puppeteer, G&S for a couple of sprightly groupers, an Italian tarantella, American Gospel….
Alberta Musical Theatre’s award-winner, a test of theatrical savvy if ever there was one, is back in a new production directed by Corben Kushneryk, starting tonight at Theatre Network’s Roxy Theatre for eight performances before it sets forth on Edmonton theatre’s most demanding and extensive tour: 220 shows and counting in seven or eight months, in schools, community halls, even the odd theatre. “That’s a lot of little eyes watching,” grins Kushneryk, who has the cherubic aspect of a big little kid himself. “New venues, new acoustics … every day a new adventure.”
As with many AMTC shows, as Kushneryk points out, Pinocchio has proven to be a springboard for energetic young up-and-comers, mostly recent theatre school grads on the threshold of professional careers. You know their names; they’re become significant players in the Edmonton theatre scene. Its premiere production in 2011 introduced Madelaine Knight, Byron Martin , Chris Scott. The revival of 2018 starred Josh Travnik, Chariz Faulmino, and Cameron Chapmen.
And so it is with Kushneryk’s new cast: emerging artists Katelyn Cabalo, Kevin Thomas, Chassidy Andrews, recent MacEwan and U of A theatre grads all of whom were in Fringe shows this past summer. And they will be tackling a musical “that’s full of zany comedy, gags and bits, a combination of farce, reality, age-appropriate horror.” Pinocchio does get eaten by a giant shark, for example. And a premise with contemporary resonance that re-works Collodi’s dark and whimsical tale in a way that’s much different than Disney’s 1940 animation since it focuses on a fractured father/ son relationship. “A sad, lonely elderly puppeteer feels abandoned by his son,” who has eloped. Pinocchio, Gepetto’s magical puppet creation, sets forth into the world to retrieve him. As Kushneryk puts it, “it’s about finding connections again, the strings that connect our hearts, a magical creature re-uniting a broken home….”
At the centre is the accordion, “the heartbeat, the push and pull, the bellows, the pulse, the breath….” It conjures, in Timoteo’s author’s note, “the spirit of Italy, past, present and future.” Often AMTC shows put a sassy feminist spin on familiar tales like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. And for this new production, Kushneryk has done some gender-swapping, as he says. “The judge who puts the heat on Pinocchio is a kind of Judge Judy character….” And “the head baddie” is a woman too.
In the post-COVID world of shrunk budgets, touring theatre is even more a test of logistical ingenuity and resourcefulness. Kushneryk, who spent three seasons as the co-artistic director (with Tracy Carroll) of Concrete Theatre, borrows from one of AMTC’s fairy tale re-creations, “it’s about spinning straw into gold.”
For the upcoming tour, the actors are on their own: “no stage manager, no live music (professionally recorded tracks, including underscoring). They fire their own sound cues, sometimes while they’re onstage. No technicians, no sound crew, no backstage (dresser)….” Says Kushneryk, laughing. “it’s a big puzzle,” he says of “tour-izing” the show. And since it’s clearly impossible, the result is … “magic!”
In his time Kushneryk himself has toured theatre for young audiences shows, among them Concrete’s The Bully Show. “I had a single jacket and a hat,” and in the Q-and-A sessions after the show, the kids would ask him where the rest of the cast was. “Magic! I can’t wait to see their minds blown with this one,” when a character disappear behind one drape, and emerges seconds later as a different character in a different costume!
Deanna Finnman has designed new costumes. The set uses elements of Corey Sincennes’ original design, “re-imagined to tour” as painted bas-relief drapes. And the actors do the rest. “Very much a working-class job,” as Kushneryk says. “A lot of sweat and effort, full-body engagement, a labour of love. They are travelling troubadours.”
PREVIEW
Pinocchio
Theatre: Alberta Musical Theatre Company
Created by: Farren Timoteo and Jeff Unger
Directed by: Corben Kushneryk
Starring: Katelyn Cabalo, Kevin Thomas, Chassidy Andrews
Where: Theatre Network, Roxy Theatre, 10708 124 St.
Running: Oct. 3 to 12, then on tour
Tickets: theatrenetwork.ca
