Italian Musical Pinocchio Makes Its Debut in Seoul
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
The Italian musical `` Pinocchio'' will make its way to Korea for the first time in Asia after touring Europe.
Based on Carlo Collodi's ``The Adventures of Pinocchio,'' the musical is written by Saverio Marconi and Pierluigi Ronchetti, with music by Dodi Battaglia, Red Canzian and Roby Facchinetti from the pop band I Pooh and lyrics by Stefano D'Orazio and Valerio Negrini.
The show is a new format combining the elements of both a musical and an opera with effective stage sets.
Since its premiere in Milan in 2003, the show has toured 22 cities in Italy and around Europe, receiving rave reviews. Particularly, soprano Sumi Jo has highly acclaimed the performance and recommended it be staged in Korea.
Director Saverio Marconi will work on a new edition fitted for an international audience. ``It is a show suitable for all the family: a musical which amuses and moves, surprises with great special effects, and fascinates with ballet and songs which remain in the heart of the spectators,'' SMI Entertainment, the organizer, said in a press release.
The show consisting of 22 arias in various musical genres including rock, hip-hop, Cansone and Latin music.
The organizer said that the musical is expected to evoke strong emotions in the audience by exploring Pinocchio's adventurous world; from the lightning which, during a rainstorm, burns down a tree on stage, to the astonishing birth of the puppet; from the poetry of the Puppeteer's theater to the Cat and the Fox's gags; from the magic of the Blue Fairy who multiplies Pinocchio in the scene of the mirrors to Toyland with an overwhelming ballet and then, the circus and a memorable scene at the bottom of the sea, until the exciting finale.
A cast of performers and spectacular changes of scenery, exciting songs, colorful costumes will add life to the over two-hour show with an overwhelming rhythm.
The musical will be on stage at the Opera Theatre of Seoul Arts Center from Aug. 7 to 23. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3461-0976.