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The opera opens with Gepetto carving the puppet, Pinocchio, who comes alive. He expresses his wish to be a real boy and go to school; Gepetto sells his coat, gives Pinocchio four silver ducats, and sends him off to school. Pinocchio meets a cricket on the way who warns him of the dangers of running away. Not heeding the advice, Pinocchio walks on and meets two shady characters, a “blind” cat and a “lame” fox, who play on his sympathies. They invite him to dinner, for which he pays. The cat and fox hang Pinocchio from a tree and run away with his money. He is rescued by a blue-haired fairy, the cricket, an owl and a crow. When the fairy asks Pinocchio about his money, he lies and his nose begins to grow. He promises not to lie again, and is told if he keeps his promise he will become a real boy. Pinocchio again meets the cat and fox who tell him that his father, Gepetto who is searching for him, has been lost at sea. They throw Pinocchio into the sea. Gepetto is seen inside the whale, and shortly Pinocchio swims into view. They build a little fire to cook dinner and the smoke causes the whale to sneeze them onto the shore. The blue-haired fairy turns Pinocchio into a real boy, and all join in a happy farewell song to the audience.
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