Director Dave Neal and his troupe of thespians have done it again. No one could accuse the cast of Pinocchio of wooden performances. From costuming to caterwauling, the cast and crew had their corners covered. Cornerstone Church of God was the place, and the time was April 23, 2009 and April 24, 2009 at 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM.

Much fun was had by all, with a particularly energetic performance early Friday night. Highlights of the show included the dancing blue fairy and puppets and a crowd of rowdy Italians. So who were these thespians, anyhow? Actually, Pastor and Mrs. Blair, children from the Grace Academy of Creative Learning, and others from Mr. Neal’s previous productions.

The real stars of the show would have to have been the fox (fur-flying and fangs chomping), and that mischievous, innocent puppet-boy, played so convincingly by CJ Gingras that it was a wonder the audience did not rush the stage and rescue him when the Italians booed him off.

The campy humor of the show couldn’t be missed. The crew, in full array including costumes, candy, and flower-baskets, sang, at the end, “We hope you won’t forget-a our little operetta.” Of course this little operetta contained all of the familiar staples of the original Pinocchio text – the elderly Gepetto, the fox and the cat, the nose that grows – but abbreviated or supplemented for full comic effect. Pinocchio’s nose grows only when his mama (new to this version) asks him, “Pinocchio, did you just eat a cannoli?” Even the drama booster club was in on this joke, selling cannolis as well as cookies after the show. A cat that drank milk for her disappearing act and a bucket full of confetti “water” on a shining paper “fire” completed the magic of this show.

After the stellar performance, the audience was only left to wonder what will be next: Perhaps an American classic? Perhaps Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat? We only hope that Mr. Neal doesn’t have to go back to Italy any time soon for inspiration—we rather like him around here.