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Adventures with Pinocchio:
A One-Act Musical Tale
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Art Samples
Character Breakdown
Lyrics Samples
Music Samples
Scene Sample
Synopsis
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Principals
ANGELINA BOBALINA BANANA FANA FOFALINA CONSUELLA,
a nasty witch and the owner of Party Island
SIGNORE CALZONI, a melodramatic carnival leader
CRICK HOPPER, a magical cricket and comedian
FARMER WOMAN, a widowed chicken farmer
SIGNORE GEPPETTO, a toymaker; PINOCCHIO’s father
NARRATOR, an omniscient storyteller
PINOCCHIO, a living marionette; GEPPETTO’s son
RACHEL WEASELY, a thieving weasel
RUSTY & PIP, playful urchins
SLY FOX, a con-crazy fox
Supporting Players
AUDIENCE MEMBERS, patrons of CALZONI’s Carnival
FAERIES, friends of CRICK HOPPER
HOOLIGAN BOYS, impish Party Island children
PERFORMERS, members of CALZONE’s troupe-a-dores
STARLIGHT/WISHING STAR, chiming granter of all wishes
VENDORS, sellers of various goods (bread, milk, and fruit)
VILLAGERS, GEPPETTO’s neighbors
WEASELS, RACHEL WEASELY’s cousins
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SYNOPSIS
Scene 1
An Italian village. The Narrator and the villagers of Geppetto’s town
begin telling the story of Pinocchio (“Overture/Storia Svelta”). Geppetto is
presented as a skilled toy craftsman whose heart is larger than his purse,
and his discovery of a magical log from which he intends to carve a
marionette is portrayed.
Scene 2
Geppetto’s shop. Geppetto finishes work on his marionette and names
the puppet Pinocchio. He reflects upon his loneliness and how wonderful it
would be if his creation were a real boy for him to love (“Broken Hopes”).
Geppetto goes to bed. Crick Hopper arrives with instructions from the
wishing star to fulfill Geppetto’s desires by bringing Pinocchio to life.
Crick complies and Pinocchio, in his enthusiastic delight at being alive,
nearly destroys Geppetto’s shop (“Vita Nuova”). Geppetto hears the noise and
investigates. He is thrilled that Pinocchio is alive, and he quickly carves
a mouth for the puppet when he sees that Pinocchio cannot speak. Crick warns
father and son that Pinocchio shall not be a real boy unless he proves
himself to be of good heart and mind. The Narrator and the villagers explain
that Geppetto plans to teach Pinocchio good behavior (“Storia Svelta II”).
Geppetto imparts his lessons and sends Pinocchio on an errand to purchase
school books.
Scene 3
The Italian village. Pinocchio is distracted from his task in town by
the sights and sounds of the marketplace. Sly Fox cheats the puppet out of
his school-book money (“Sly Fox”).
Scene 4
Geppetto’s shop. Ashamed that he couldn’t do as his father asked,
Pinocchio lies to his father when asked to produce the requested school
books. Pinocchio’s nose grows longer with every lie until he confesses the
truth. Geppetto forgives him, and the two go to bed. Pinocchio, his nose now
reduced, sneaks out shortly afterward, but Crick spots him and gives chase.
Scene 5
Carnival grounds. Pinocchio comes upon a carnival led by the
melodramatic Signore Calzoni (“Calzoni’s Carnival”). The carnival master is
impressed by the living marionette and chains him up as a featured
attraction. Pinocchio appeals to Crick for help, but the cricket declines.
Pinocchio laments his fate (“Broken Hopes (Reprise)”), but then he has an
idea: He can lie until his nose grows long enough to reach the keys Calzoni
hung nearby. Pinocchio executes his idea, claims the keys, and frees
himself.
Scene 6
A chicken farm. The Narrator and the villagers announce that
Pinocchio stops at a farm on his way home (“Storia Svelta III”). The puppet
encounters thieving Rachel Weasely and is persuaded to steal a chicken from
the old woman who owns the farm (“Grab and Scram!”). Pinocchio is caught by
the old woman and made to stand guard against future thieving by Rachel. He
alerts the old woman when Rachel tries to steal another chicken, and the old
woman thanks Pinocchio with a picnic lunch before she sends him home.
Scene 7
Geppetto’s shop. The Narrator and the villagers announce Pinocchio’s
return to the toy shop and his discover of a note left behind by Geppetto (“Storia
Svelta IV”). Crick reads the note for Pinocchio. It seems that Geppetto has
gone in search of his wayward son. Crick says he will help Pinocchio find
his father if the puppet promises to be more thoughtful of his actions in
future (“Obey the Rules”).
Scene 8
Outside Party Island. Rusty and Pip are turned away from Party Island
by its owner, Consuella, until they can find a third boy. Pinocchio
encounters the boys and is persuaded to enter the amusement park.
Scene 9
Party Island. Consuella encourages the children in the park to behave
nastily, and she changes them into mules and donkeys with her Transformation
Station (“Here on Party Island”). Crick rescues Pinocchio before the
marionette is completely transformed.
Scene 10
Inside a whale. The Narrator and the villagers explain that Pinocchio
and Crick escape Party Island on a raft until they are swallowed by a whale
(“Storia Svelta V”). The friends discover Geppetto in the whale (“Music Box
Fill”). They manage to light a fire whose smoke causes the whale to sneeze
out father, son, and cricket. (Note: “In the Abdomen” or whale song may
underscore this scene.)
Scene 11
Geppetto’s shop. The Narrator and the villagers reassure the audience
that Pinocchio and company arrive back home safely (“Storia Svelta VI”).
Crick reveals that Pinocchio has at last become a real boy after rescuing
his father. The entire company enters and reflects upon the power of proper
behavior (“The Benefits of Goodness”).
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LYRICS SAMPLES
"BROKEN HOPES"
ALL THAT I HAVE IS MYSELF AND YOU KNOW
THAT IT’S REALLY NOT SO MUCH TO HOLD.
WE NEVER THINK THAT ALL WE’LL HAVE TO SHOW
IS OURSELVES WHEN WE FINALLY GROW OLD.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO MARRY, AND HAVE A CHILD OR TWO,
BUT I NEGLECTED AND TARRIED AS PEOPLE ARE WONT TO DO.
BROKEN HOPES ARE ALL THAT I KEEP IN MY HEART,
WHISPERS OF CHANCES PASSED BY.
MY ONLY KEEPSAKES ARE DUSTY LAMENTS
WRAPPED IN THE SOUND OF A SIGH.
BROKEN HOPES ARE ALL THAT I’VE TAKEN FROM AGING,
TRACES OF TOO-FLEETING BLISS.
NOW ALL THOSE SHADOWS ARE SILENTLY FADING.
ONE TO LOVE IS ALL THAT I WISH.
"CALZONI'S CARNIVAL"
IT’S CALZONI’S CARNIVAL.
SEE THE MARIONETTES.
GREAT CALZONI’S CARNIVAL.
HEAR THE CASTANETS.
IT’S A SCENE OF SPLENDORS;
A JOY OF RARE COMPARE;
IT’S A FAIR THAT’S AT YOUR BECK AND CALL.
COME INTO THE CARNIVAL!
MEET OUR MERRY JUGGLERS:
THE BROTHERS BENDINELLI.
THEY TOSS AROUND TEN SCIMITARS
LIKE STRANDS OF VERMICELLI.
THEN WE HAVE THE ACROBATS,
OUR WALKERS OF THE WIRE;
JOLLY TUMBLERS OF THE AIR
WHO LEAP THROUGH RINGS OF FIRE!
MIMES WILL VEX YOU
AND PERPLEX YOU
WITH THEIR CLOWNING WAYS,
AND YOU’LL ZOOM IN
ON CONFUSIONS
WITH OUR MONKEY PLAYS.
MY FESTIVE FELLOW CREATURES,
TONIGHT A SPECIAL FEATURE:
THE STRINGLESS PUPPET PINOCCHIO.
THAT’S CALZONI’S CARNIVAL.
HE’S A MASTERMIND!
FAIR CALZONI’S CARNIVAL.
THAT PUPPET’S QUITE A FIND!
FAREWELL UNTIL NEXT TIME.
FOR NOW, WE MUST SAY CIAO.
BOY, I REALLY HAD A BALL!
THAT’S CALZONI’S CARNIVAL!
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MUSIC SAMPLES
Instrumentals
"In the
Abdomen" (Use Optimal Gain)
"Vita Nuova"
(Use Optimal Gain)
Vocals with Accompaniment
(Courtesy of Bob Marshall and
Snowflower Music)
"The Benefits of Goodness"
"Here on Party Island"
"Overture and Storia Svelta"
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SCENE SAMPLE
Act I, Scene 8
(Outside the gates of Party Island in the morning. RUSTY and PIP are being
thrown out of the amusement park.)
ANGELINA BOBALINA BANANA FANA FOFALINA CONSUELLA
Out. Out! I told you, you must have three to enter Party Island. I need
three mules . . . I mean fools . . . to pull my carts. Find yourselves
a third and then come back. You’ll eat; play; stay awake to your heart’s
content. Until then (She spits.), goodbye!
(CONSUELLA exits.)
RUSTY
Gee, Pip. What are we going to do now?
PIP
I don’t know. Everyone else is at Party Island already.
RUSTY
I hear someone coming.
(PINOCCHIO and CRICK enter.)
PIP
Ah, it’s just that puppet boy I saw at the carnival the other day. Hey, wait
a minute . . . (He begins to talk in an exaggerated fashion.) Yeah, all you
do is play all day.
RUSTY
(Whispering.) What are you doing? (He suddenly catches on.) Oh! (Loudly.)
What about curfews and bed times?
PIP
Are you kidding? No bed times; no school; no grown-ups. You’ve never seen
such a place. All for kids. You wouldn’t want to miss it.
PINOCCHIO
(Interested despite himself.) Miss what?
PIP
All the fun. Who do we have here?
PINOCCHIO
I’m Pinocchio, and I’m very pleased to meet you.
RUSTY
Hoo! He’s a sketch.
PIP
(To RUSTY.) Hush! (To PINOCCHIO.) Ever hear of Party Island?
PINOCCHIO
No.
PIP
No? (Nudging RUSTY.) Then come with us.
(They pick up PINOCCHIO between them.)
PINOCCHIO
Where are we going?
RUSTY
On a wild fantasy ride. Party Island, here we come!
PINOCCHIO
Oh, boy!
(The boys exit, leaving a very forlorn CRICK behind.)
CRICK HOPPER
Aren’t you forgettin’ my single condition? “Better mend your ways; better
get up on the straight and narrow path . . .” So much for heeding Old Crick
Hopper. Pinocchio’s sure in for a horrible shocker. (To the audience.) Do
you know why there are so many fish at the bottom of the ocean? Because they
dropped out of school. (Pause.) Right. Enough of shirk. Back to work.
(Calling.) Pinocchio!
(CRICK exits. Blackout.)
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ART SAMPLES
Production Photographs
 
 
 
 
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