Hill plays ‘papa to Pinocchio’ in upcoming play

Mt. Hood student Lewis Hill, 25,  spends his free time swimming, studying, and when in the mood, dressing up like a 50-year-old Italian puppeteer and crafting wooden characters.

Hill plays Geppetto in the upcoming MHCC production of “Pinocchio.” Not only is Pinocchio Hill’s first acting performance, but his first audition, as well.

“Oh yeah, I’m nervous,” she said. “I’ve heard actors say that first moment of getting up on stage in front of a crowd never really goes away, either.”

Theater teacher Mace Archer complimented Hill’s work in playing Geppetto: “Lewis is a man among men. He’s great. He has this sensitivity on stage and he really lends himself well towards a father-type character like Geppetto.”

And yet, for a father-figure character in a children’s play, Geppetto is strangely dark. “He’s definitely a very lonely old man,” said Hill, discussing his character. “But I definitely like that he’s a papa to Pinocchio; it’s interesting playing an older character.”

As if the emotional requirements aren’t enough, the role is a physical challenge, also, as Hill has to carry Pinocchio (not a puppet, but his fellow actor, Ezra Vervin) across the stage during one scene. He said he has yet to drop her.

Although Geppetto is over 50, he is definitely a new parent, said Hill.

“There is one point in the play where I say ‘Pinocchio, oh, where could you be my little puppet? Please come home to papa!’ There’s definitely a lot of mistakes Geppetto makes throughout this play,” Hill said. But, he said, Geppetto is a bit of a softie. “He’s definitely more of a friend to Pinocchio, he loves him so much he could never get mad at him. He’s just not going to discipline him.”

If there is one moment to watch in Pinocchio, it is when the puppet becomes a real boy

“That’s actually an interesting scene because I’m waking up next to Pinocchio in that scene, and it’s all nonverbal, so the audience gets to watch as I wake up, look at Pinocchio, and then I do this double-take where I sit straight up and then I jump onto the work bench and yell ‘Pinocchio! You’re a real boy!’ and then run over and hug him,” Hill said.

While his first performance, the play is not Hill’s whole story concerning theater. He first came to Mt. Hood with hopes of becoming a certified public accountant. Everything went pretty much according to plan until he took a theater appreciation course here. He said that there was one moment in the class, in particular, that caught his attention. “There was a play called ‘Betty’s Summer Vacation’ and it’s really designed to make you think, which interested me – using theater to get people to think,” he said.

Hill is now an art transfer major, with no further interest in accounting.

He doesn’t plan on pursuing a career in acting, however. “I enjoy it too much,” he said. Instead, he plans on pursuing a career in the food service industry, where here’s got some experience.

Hill even joked about merging the two career fields: “Maybe I could be on ‘Iron Chef.”