By Conor O’Neill
Photography courtesy of The Grand Opera House
It’s that time of year again and May McFettridge is back in her spiritual home, Belfast’s Grand Opera House. This is her 35th year gracing the mainstage in what has now become a Christmas tradition. Northern Ireland Christmases don’t really start for me until I’ve watched McFettridge in whatever vehicle is chosen to for her comic delights. This year it’s the story of Pinocchio, with McFettridge playing the part of May Geppetto. As ever May is joined by Paddy Jenkins as Jiminy Cricket in his 20th year as McFettridge’s side kick.
Loosely based on Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio writer Alan McHugh, with additional material by Matt Slack, the plot is buried somewhere beneath McFettridge’s unique brand of tongue-firmly-in-cheek inimitable Belfast humour. I’m often left wondering why people book tickets in the front few rows as they’re simply setting themselves up for ridicule. One punter says they’re from they’re from Malaysia, “Will you make it home tonight?” quips McFettridge. Another states they’re from Donaghadee, “Oh, you get your big issue posted through the letterbox, do ya?” Such quick wit can only be admired. We were sitting in row H and were happily well out of the way.
Set in the Italian village of Belfastia, and May Geppeto only wishes for her woodwork boy Pinicchio (Adamm C Booth) to develop a conscious. Of course every panto plot needs a villian or three. Enter The Great Stromboli (Jolene O’Hara), Phyllis the Fox (Phiippa O’Hara) and Kitty the Cat (Maeve Byrne). Their devilish plan is promising to make Pinocchio a star. Their secret is they kidnap him and bring him to Fantasy Island.
(Adam C Booth as Pinocchio)
Booth’s problems start earlier than the script intends. His initial appearance is comical not just because of the antics from the writers’ pens, but due to the fact that his blue shorts haven’t been stitched right and Booth finds himself trying to maintain his modesty throughout the opening scenes before he exits to get them stitched before his second appearance.
We all need a bit of Christmas magic to get us through the miserable winter months; enter the Blue Faerie played by Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli. Zanoncelli partially narrates the show as well as banging out some vocal gymnastics that pepper the onstage action. McFettridge’s voice? Well to save me from libel, I’ll just state it adequate.
(The Blue Faerie, Jiminy Cricket and May Geppettto)
Speaking of music, Musical director Philip Shute and his six piece orchestra don’t put a note wrong in this two hour show. Songs such as Give a Little Whistle, A Lie can Really Change a Person, and Where Dreams Come True lift the mood of a nearly full Opera House. There’s 14 songs including a pop medley which really engage the audience from curtain up to the finale.
(Philippa O’Hara as Phyllis the Fox, Jolene O’Hara as The Great Stromboli and Maeve Byrne as Kitty the Cat)
The scenes flow seamlessly into one another, the laughs are continuous and with some special effects the kids leave for the interval with magic burnt into their minds. Even the adults are enthralled. Christmas time has truly started when I find myself tickled pink by McFettridge’s and company’s yuletide antics.
A must see show for kids of all ages this festive season. Tickets for The Adventures of Pinocchio are available from http://www.goh.co.uk or simply phone the box office on 02890 241919. You’ll have a wonderful time. The show runs up to and including January 11th, 2026.
ENDS
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