WATERLOO — Oliver Treloar is having a “super fun” time playing “Pinocchio” in the opening of the Black Hawk Children’s Theater production on Friday.
Treloar, 14, describes the troublesome wooden puppet with the long nose as a “bad boy at the start and by the end he’s completely changed. You can see the change in the character as you go.
In a scene from the Black Hawk Children’s Theater production of “Pinocchio,” Glissandra the Blue Fairy (Gena Koinzan) encourages Pinocchio (Oliver Treloar).
BHCT PHOTO
“I read the book, I’m a fan of the movie and being able to play the role of Pinocchio is probably one of the best experiences I’ve had,” enthused Treloar, who will be in second year at the school. Cedar Falls secondary this fall.
A veteran BHCT actor, he has appeared on such shows as “Junie B. Jones”, “School of Rock” and “The Night Before Christmas”.
Friday’s performance will be at 7 p.m. on the Hope Martin Theater stage at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St. Shows will continue at 7 p.m. on June 17 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and June 18.
Treloar appears in nearly every scene, said director Bonnie Ruble. “He has almost 300 lines in the script. He’s really great, a really fun kid and a really funny actor,” she said.
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Ruble, from Cedar Falls, is making her directorial debut at BHCT. A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in theater production, she works frequently as a freelance stage manager and joined Waterloo Community Playhouse as production manager. “It’s a challenge to step out of my comfort zone and try something as big as directing an entire show. I loved the idea of trying something new,” she said. Explain.
Pinocchio is considered one of the most reinvented characters in children’s literature. “The Adventures of Pinocchio”, written as a cautionary tale by Italian author Carlo Collodi, was originally published in 1883. It has been adapted many times for stage and screen. Walt Disney’s 1940 film gave Pinocchio a sense of childlike innocence and is still considered one of the best Disney animated films ever made.
Disney is remaking the film as the live-action film “About A Boy,” directed by Robert Zemeckis from a screenplay he co-wrote. It will stream on Disney+ starting September 8.
BHCT’s version was adapted for children’s theater by playwright John Baldwin Jr. Glissandra the Blue Fairy (Gena Koinzan) tells the story and, along with her elves, guides and encourages Pinocchio. Ruble likes the message of the piece.
“Pinocchio does stupid things like children do and he is told that it is okay to make mistakes. As long as you are true to yourself, things will be fine,” he said. she declared.
There are 15 cast members between the ages of 9 and 17 and two adults. The minimal stage has a storybook quality, including a wooded forest on the proscenium, screen projections, lights, and sound.
“I want kids, families, to watch the show and think about their favorite story or movie and feel those memories, reminisce in their minds as they watch the play. Things look different when you’re a kid – brighter and bigger, cooler, and the acting and the story should portray those childhood memories,” Ruble added.
FORUM Performances at the Waterloo Community Playhouse
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Unbeknownst to the family, Grandpa (Rick Johnson) has taught Olive (Sophie Lang) all the dance moves he knows – mostly learned by watching strippers, in “Little Miss Sunshine”.
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Family road trips provide exciting (and sometimes terrifying) moments on the road, in this scene from “Leaving Iowa” from the Waterloo Community Playhouse. Clockwise from left: Mom (Kristie Conditt), Sis (Karen Engels), Don (Kenton Engels) and Dad (Grant Tracey).
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Mavis (Raechel Sittig-Esser) has found someone to replace the Easter Bunny, and that’s Pastor Gunderson (Dean Messerly) in a scene from Waterloo Community Playhouse’s “Church Basement Ladies,” which opens Friday.
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Susan (Kelsi Hansen) and Mike (Trace Moustakas) in a scene from WCP’s “Wait Until Dark.”
WCP PHOTO BY SHELBY DAVIS
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The Governor of Texas (Jeffrey Taylor) “dodges” questions with the help of his aides, played by Sydney Burt and Laurel Malecek, in a scene from WCP’s “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”
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Belle (Rachel Winter) outside the Beast’s castle in a scene from the Waterloo Community Playhouse’s summer musical, ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WCP BY JACQUELINE KEHOE
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Cassidy Acthison and Tony John sing Johnny Cash’s song, “Tennessee Flat Top Box,” with some percussion help from the rest of the cast in WCP’s “Ring of Fire.”
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Things aren’t always what they seem in 2063 as Jon (Henry Edsill) and Tess (Karla Koch) are shocked to discover in a scene from WCP’s “Marjorie Prime,” which opens Friday.
PHOTO OF WATERLOO COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE
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Annie (Gina Brooks) sings for her loyal companion Sandy (Sophie) in WCP’s musical “Annie.”
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The orphans sing their “Hard Knock Life” in WCP’s production of the musical “Annie.” From right to left, Lyra Benjamin, Mackenzie Cole, Emmi Flynn, Ava Torres, Addy Breddin, Kathryn Malek and Daisy Murfey.
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Zombies lurk outside the rural farmhouse where humans hide in WCP’s “Night of the Living Dead,” clockwise from left, Donna Baumgartner, Katie Albright, Jacob Watts and Robyn Cusmano.
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Danny (Jacob Haag) and Sandy (Lily Gast) enjoy a happy time outside of the drive-in movie in a scene from WCP’s “Grease.”
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Frank’s (Greg Holt) endless rants annoy Jill and Tony (Emily Eisenman and Kenton Engels), who share a cabin for the weekend in a new WCP production.
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Women react to the idea of unemployed regulars posing as Chippendale dancers to make money in WCP’s “The Full Monty.” Left to right, Jacob Miller, Crystal Waltz, Scott Schuster, Cassidy Atchison, Robyn Cusmano and Hunter Quint
COURTESY PHOTO by JACQUELINE KEHOE
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In a scene from WCP’s ‘Who Shot Liberty Valance?’, a man (John Molseed) is dragged off the prairie and left in a bar in the western town of Two Trees, much to the dismay of the bartender (Will Frost) and owner (Jacqueline Kehoe).
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Left to right, Nnamdi Nwaneri, Karmelle McGee, Abraham Funchness, Eileen Tucker, Nicole Cook, Will Frost and Kenton Engles rehearse from the upcoming ‘Between Riverside and Crazy’ stage reading.
Brandon Pollock
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The popular “Rocky Horror Show” continues this weekend at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St. Here, Brad (Jordan Abbe) is surrounded by images of his girlfriend (Erica Thurm, Brian Langr, Sydney Miller and Cassie Yost) as he sings “Once in While”.
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
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Waterloo Community Playhouse cast members rehearse for an upcoming production of ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ at the Hope Martin Theater on Monday, June 27, 2016 in Waterloo, Iowa.
TIFFANY RUSHING / Courier Staff Photographer
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Atticus Finch (Kyle Beerman) is forced to take matters into his own hands as a rabid dog threatens the neighborhood. Scout (Abby Zeets), Jem (James Kuener), Calpurnia (Endya Johnson), and Sheriff (Dave Hisler) in WCP’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
Photos by MATTHEW PUTNEY, Courier Photo Editor