The past few years, Southeastern Louisiana University has produced a show independently from a local or personally known author. Some might remember the smash hit, “Peter and Tink” from last summer.
This summer, Alpha Psi Omega (the local theater fraternity) put on another children’s play called “Once Upon a Pine,” written by Tommy Jamerson and directed by Southeastern’s own Jim Winters. This retelling of Pinocchio’s life is spontaneous, enthusiastic, lively and intensely enjoyable. The cast includes a variety of actors with different amounts of experience, creating a rounded production.
This isn’t any ordinary children’s play though. There were villagers, Davey Cricket, the enchanting blue fairy, a lovely young man that played a lovely old man and a sweet, sweet Pinocchio. Extra characters played a variety of roles, like different animals to actual pieces of furniture. The cast was interactive with each other and with the audience. I don't believe there was a point when any of them stopped moving (except if they were a lamp).
One of the truly wonderful aspects of the play was that it broke through the fourth wall. For those who don't know, the fourth wall is the “wall” that separates the world of the production from the world of the audience. At one point, Geppetto was handing out autographs to the audience and another actor screamed “turn off your cell phone” when there was an unprecedented chime. (It was beautiful, there was applause.)
The show made me regret not auditioning. Every spring semester, the director at Southeastern opens up auditions to anyone who is willing to try. The Blue Fairy was a sophomore who had never been in a show before.
The production will continue touring to the Dance Center and School of Performing Arts in Baton Rouge on May 8. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and the ticket fee is $10 or $5 for a student.
If you love laughing till your ribs hurt, puns that never stop and spectacular theatre productions, this is the play to see.
