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Pinocchio perfection
PETER MASON sees a new version of the classic children's story that ticks all the boxes
Pinocchio

Pinocchio
National Theatre, London

BEAUTIFULLY wrought, and spellbinding in its execution, this Pinocchio reverses expectations.

In this version by Dennis Kelly, Pinocchio is played by a real person and some of the human characters, including Pinocchio’s father Geppetto, are represented by huge-headed puppets, each crafted in the spitting image of the actor who holds them aloft and gives them voice.

It’s a clever trick that allows the audience to focus interchangeably on either the puppet or its human embodiment with no loss of effect or drama.

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