Thu. August 10, 2006
By John Olson
God bless the children, because they make all sorts of things possible in theatre! Since everything in theater is a new experience to them, they can approach each show without the rigid expectations adult audiences may have. They can be generous enough to let pass a less ambitious project like the touring Dr. Dolittle, or open-minded enough to allow the innovation of a Lion King. Quest Theatre's The People's Pinocchio deserves to be compared to the latter. Not in scale, of course. This non-profit company funded entirely by grants and donations presents its shows for free and hardly has the resources of a Disney. But in their visual inventiveness and risk-taking, the creators of this Pinocchio prove the "equal-opportunity" nature of creativity. You don't have to be big or have a lot of money to have great ideas.
The cast is quite solid by non-Equity standards. Hoover does a fine job playing Pinocchio mostly through pantomime. He's made of wood, yet spineless and flexible. Vincent Lonergan is an affecting Gepetto and gets a touching solo, "If I Could Start My Life Again," while in the belly of the whale. Jason Bowen, in a smaller part, sells the show's only show-tune style number, "Move Away and Shine," with a solid voice, confidence and style.
The People's Pinocchio is another example of the Chicago theater community's ability to surprise. There's never any telling where the best work will surface. In this case, some of the most inventive work that can found in the city, particularly in terms of its visual stagecraft, is on display for free in a school gymnasium.
The People's Pinocchio will be performed Fridays and Saturdays through August 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at Klasen Hall, 1609 W. Gregory, Chicago. Tickets are free, but donations are greatly appreciated. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 312-458-0895. For more information, visit www.questensemble.org.
Photos: Jeremy Lawson
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