Pinocchio's a great panto with no strings attached

* Stromboli (left) is played by Daniel May, 

Tagliatelle (right) is Aled Morris and Macaroni (front) is Shea Ferron. 

Llangollen Pantomime Group are doing a marvellous job with Pinocchio – and that’s no lie.

A massive cast and crew numbering almost 40 are pulling out all the stops to deliver a stylish and amusing portrayal of the tale of the little puppet boy whose nose grows to enormous proportions every time he tells a fib.

The production, based on the nineteenth century Italian book The Adventures of Pinocchio and the 1940s Disney film, has been adapted for the Llangollen stage by the show’s director, Justine Bradey backed by assistant director Samantha Fletcher.  

And a great job they’re doing of this glitzy production which is running at Llangollen Pavilion until this Sunday.

The young girl taking the title role is a mini marvel. Having a whole show revolving around her doesn’t seem to bother the very young Sophie Siddall in the slightest.

The confidence she displays when it comes to delivering her lines – many of them packed with wise-cracks - moving around the stage and interacting with the rest of the cast is just remarkable for her tender years and this is highly unlikely to be her last on-stage appearance.

But Sophie is far from being left to shoulder the burden on her own because backing her is a fantastic bunch of performers, not least of which are the comedy duo of Shea Ferron as Macaroni and Aled Morris as Tagliatelle.

This is not their first successful stage pairing as they’re seasoned veterans of Llangollen Operatic’s shows, both its senior and Young ‘uns junior productions, and always big audience pleasers.

It’s no different with this panto where their quickfire knockabout routines have been polished to perfection.

Old Geppetto, the Italian village carpenter who fashions young Pinocchio from a chunk of wood, is neatly played by Llan panto regular Neil Barrett who appears – in a good way - to have used TV chef Gino D’Acampo as his voice coach. He’s been given some great lines which he delivers with great style.

The other half of his comedy pairing is David Lyne as Prosecco who in usual panto terms would be the dame. The part fits him as comfortably as his deliciously over-the-top costumes.

Every good panto needs a decent villain whom the audience can hiss and boo at their every snarling appearance. And Daniel May doesn’t disappoint as the circus master Stromboli who sees the stringless Pinocchio as a great revenue earner and tries to steal the little chap away for a life in the big top.

Hopping on stage at regular intervals to help keep us briefed on the plot is young Harvey Barrett as the green-clad Jim the Cricket. He’s another Llan panto regular who never fails to impress.

Providing admirable support for the main characters is a small army of fellow performers – mainly youngsters - who act, sing and dance their way through the two acts in great style.

And helping to weld everything together is a live and very lively seven-piece band which lays on some epic numbers from big show material to the novelty Shaddap Your Face in which the audience is encouraged to sing along with Geppetto and Prosecco.

A lot of thought has clearly gone into the colourful set and costumes just as one has come to expect.

Stir in plenty of opportunities for the crowd to yell along with the cast and even a distribution of sweets and you have another perfect panto from this talented outfit.

* Tickets are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenpanto or in person from Gwyn Davies Butchers, Jade Hair & Beauty, Dee Valley Produce or by calling 01978 860297.