by Luke Voogt
Belmont actress Alysha Kitchingman will pull some strings when she takes on the unique challenge of becoming a puppet in a local production of Pinocchio.
“It’s a matter of coordinating between me and Chris, who’s playing Geppetto, to make sure I’m not moving when he isn’t,” the 23-year-old said.
“I’m keeping still and trying not to move my eyes around too much so my face looks fake.
“And there’s quite a lot of dialogue because Pinocchio’s in every scene.”
The other big challenge was keeping a smile plastered on her face until Pinocchio’s magical transformation, she explained.
“Geppetto wouldn’t want a sad puppet,” she said.
Alysha has performed at the Potato Shed since she was eight and loves entertaining kids during breaks from studying musical theatre in Melbourne.
“I dress up as a princess at children’s parties,” she said.
“I think Emma (from The Wiggles) has got the best job in the world.”
She joins fellow Theatre 3222 performers Jess Smith and Chris Reynolds in the Pinocchio pantomime, which comes to Drysdale’s Potato Shed next Tuesday.
“Pantomime is really special because you get to talk to the audience,” she explained.
“I’ll be like, ‘what do you think kids?’ and then they respond. They end up sort of yelling at you throughout the whole show, which makes it fun.”
Pinocchio runs twice each day from next Tuesday to Friday.
The play would be a “fun reinvention” blending traditional fable with modern twists and audience participation, promoters said.
Luke Voogt
