Hannah Hamilton
It’s a tough world for an impressionable little boy. Big Tobacco retell the classic story of Pinocchio through a raunchy, hilarious, sleazy, dope as hell performance that is all kinds of bizarre. The production dares to discover what would have happened if Pinocchio had ran into more of life’s messier traps, would a good life still be possible?
The play begins with a strung out Gepetto longing for a a son, because having a son makes you important in the town of Felatio, apparently. His wish is granted by the ever irritated and horny Blue Fairy, on the condition that Pinocchio will only ever become a real boy if he leads a ‘good life’. Well, it’s hard to lead a good life when there are no good people, Pinocchio gets exploited at every turn in this darkly comic performance.
Gipetto is an absent father, Pleasure Island has a pile of goo you can f*ck, and Catholicism is a scam in this joyously irreverent play. Pinocchio has always been a story of learning moderation and responsibility, and this rendition sees our protagonist taken in by a talent agent who makes Pinocchio a global sensation…to further his own devious appetites. Aided by his only friend, the camp and sardonic Jimminy Cricket, he escapes from one frying pan into the next fire, becoming an addict on Pleasure Island, then being stuck into a whale by the pope, and finally becoming a father.
Every adult in this play is terrible, but there’s something nice about the Blue Fairy and Gepetto being somewhat successful parental figures in spite of that. Every scene is packed with acidic humour, played out phenomenally by the cast. This very much felt like a live episode of South Park, making fun of our current porn-centric, money hungry, pleasure forward culture. It uses a lot of cringe inducing language to hilarious effect, juxtaposing the childish costume and context.
It’s a crazy life for little Pinocchio. The performance unfolds with a jilting pace, without lingering too long on the well-known plot. The benefit of a classic is that the parody doesn’t need to overplay the complexities of the text. The cast has excellent comedic timing and full commitment to their bizarre characters, it’s a real joy to watch these fully grown adults be completely ridiculous onstage.
This show is such a laugh, and it definitely does not take itself too seriously. See Pinocchio like you have never seen him before, tempted into dopamine chasing by every adult in his life. It’s a hilarious hour of debauchery and bad taste that is terribly moreish.
Recommended drink: Shots! Cheaper the better! This is a show of quick, simple pleasure.
Catch Big Tobacco’s Pinocchio from 7th to 29th August at 19.15 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Shay Mace
Isobel Jacob
Romeo Lau
