Ch. 15: On with the Show

Lampwick and Veronica manage to swiftly sneak into crowd for Stromboli's show, with the motive to get Pinocchio away from the scam artists taking advantage of him. Familiar with an obvious con due to pulling similar schemes on their classmates, they knew Pinocchio would be the ideal sucker for whatever John and Leslie were cooking up. As they walked, they were being pushed and shoved in the crowd as audiences are lining up to their seats for the show. Soon afterwards, the two were knocked onto the front row seats, stuck in between two families eager to see the performance. Realizing they were trapped, Veronica began to struggle furiously to break loose. Lampwick does the same as well, but the two stop their efforts when they hear music. The band was beginning to play, meaning the show was about to begin.

Suddenly, the crowd grew quiet. Everyone was properly seated and in their place, waiting patiently for the overture to finish. Once the piece was over, the crowd applauded the band and once silence took over the area once more, the band began to play again. The lights went on and lit the stage. The curtain had risen, and marionettes began to crowd the stage. The puppets ranged from Dutch, Russian, to French ethnicities. Then, the puppets began to sing a song.

(AN: Song 12: I've Got No Strings I)

Marionette Performers: We are little wooden things. We're all controlled by hidden strings. When we move, our elbows creak. And for a voice, we have a squeak. Like the sequoia tree, we dangle helplessly. If we were stringless, we couldn't move a toe! But we have a stringless one, a very rare phenomenon! One who's bound to be the rage. The wonder puppet of the age. One puppet who demands no need for human hands. May we introduce you to the great Pinocchio!

In a flash, Pinocchio dashes from stage right all the way to the center. Strings are seen attached to him, causing the crowd to groan and boo for being lied to. However, he held his hands for their silence and proceeded to rip the strings from his body. He then started to skip and hop around the other marionettes, ultimately dancing to show off his mobility. The negative feedback from the crowd changed to gasps of awe and wonder, which developed into cheers.

Dutch Marionette: Why does the gay little dickey-bird sing?

French Marionette: Who put the 'zing' in the butterfly's wing?

Russian Marionette: What's the reason for the smile on the troubadour?

All: Why does the breeze have a barrel of fun? (Ooh-woo-Ooh-woo) Even the bee, who's a son of a gun? (humming)

Pinocchio: It's all because they're free and stringless, the same as me. I've got no strings to hold me down, to make me fret, or make me frown. I had strings, but now I'm free. There are no strings on me. Hi-ho the merry-o, that's the only way to be. I want the world to know nothing ever worries me. Hi-ho the merry-o, I'm as happy as can be. I want the world to know nothing ever worries me. I've got no strings, so I have fun. I'm not tied up to anyone (points to the marionettes and then back at himself) They've got strings, but you can see there are no strings on me.

Suddenly, Pinocchio looses some of his footing and trips on a loose floor board, falling face first into the plank. This got a huge roar of laughs from the audience, which unnerved the wooden boy a bit. "They're laughing. They're laughing at me." He muttered, with a sniffle.

"They are supposed to laugh, my boy!" Pinocchio turns to see the head of the show himself, Stromboli. It turns out he was one of the few puppeteers operating the marionettes during the performance. He looks down on him and says "That's how you know you are putting on a fantastic show. They're laughter means that YOU are doing a marvelous job of being a performer."

"You think so?" asks Pinocchio, still a bit unsure if that's how show business worked.

"Why, of course!" Stromboli reassured the wooden boy. "When in doubt and have run out of gags to spout, make 'em laugh!

(AN: Song 13: Let 'Em Laugh)

Stromboli: Let 'em laugh! Let 'em laugh! Let 'em laugh til' they fall down on the floor. Let 'em laugh! Let 'em laugh! Let 'em laugh til' their laughers get all sore. Let 'em hark; Let 'em hoe; Let 'em roar; Let 'em go; Let 'em laugh let 'em laugh let' em laugh! Let 'em hee! Let 'em hoar! Who put color in the floor? Let 'em laugh, let 'em laugh, let 'em laugh!

Let 'em laugh! Let 'em laugh! Let 'em laugh til' their eyes are teary red. Let 'em laugh! Let 'em laugh! Let 'em laugh til' they laugh themselves to death. Let 'em chuckle and howl, let 'em grunt; Let 'em growl! Let 'em laugh, let 'em laugh let 'em laugh! Let 'em snicker and snort! Giggle, cackle and cohort! Let 'em laugh, let 'em laugh, let 'em laugh!

Pinocchio looked back at the crowd, smiled and proceeded to continue the routine. He danced and pranced all around the stage and the audience was just eating it up.

(AN: Song 14: I've Got No Strings II)

Dutch Marionette: (appearing next to Pinocchio's right) You have no strings, your arms is free, to love me by the Zuyder Zee Ja, ja, ja! If you would woo, I'd bust my strings for you!

Suddenly, dutch dancers puppets came onto the stage, skipping and tapping. Their choreography began to knock and shove Pinocchio all around, until the puppets were taken away. By then, the setting was now in France and french marionettes came into view.

French Marionette: (appearing next to Pinocchio's left) You've got no strings, comme ci comme ça, your savoir-faire is ooh la la! I've got strings, but entre nous, I'd cut my strings for you!

The rest of the dancers appeared in a line and started to perform leg kicks. The background changed once more and the puppets were changed to Russian marionettes.

Russian Marionette: (appearing next to Pinocchio's left) Down where the Volga flows, there's a Russian rendezvous where me and Ivan go, but I'd rather go with you!

Soon, the Russian puppets began dancing the cossack. Pinocchio was observing the dance, and then began to join them. However, whenever he kicked, he smacked his bottom and caused his head to bop up and down. This action had the crowd rolling in laughter as applause and cheers filled the air. Deciding to kick things up a notch, he began to spin around and around, while his head stayed in place. His spinning began to twirl towards the other marionettes and he crashed into them. When Pinocchio emerged from the pile, he shouted "There are no strings on me!"

TO BE CONTINUED...