Review: The Adventures of Pinocchio ****

Three years ago The Adventures of Pinocchio, became one of Opera North's most successful productions, and now by popular demand returns to the Grand Theatre and goes on tour through to the New Year.

Directed by Martin Duncan, it became the company's most elaborate and expensive production for many years as he parades for our enjoyment all the tricks of the trade.

It is not Walt Disney's film version of the irascible little wooden boy, the librettist, Alasdair Middleton, returning to Carlo Collodi's book where he is a child capable of dark deeds, and only late in the opera does his good behaviour begin to make amends.

The composer, Jonathan Dove, has not watered down his operatic credentials as he returns to the fundamentals of 19th century opera traditions, the audience's younger generation rather thrown in at the deep end in an evening just creeping over three hours.

It is a noisy and colourful orchestral beginning to draw children into the story, and by the time we reach the second act, he has the riotous Funland and Circus scenes to inject vivacity to retain their interest.

The major parts are given to just three singers, the vocally attractive Victoria Simmonds recreating her marvellous Pinocchio, but I still wish Jonathan Summers, as the boy's father, would project his words with more clarity.

Of the many cameo roles I love Rebecca Bottone's Cricket, while Fflur Wyn, deputising for Mary Plazas, was a most charming Blue Fairy. A little too much impact from the orchestra pit at times masks diction, David Parry's conducting keeping the action moving with urgency.

A further performance tomorrow night and then various dates to December 31.