Pippin

(Photo Courtesy of NPR)

I had the opportunity to see Pippin at Dean College on March 24th, 2023. There were two acts to look forward to seeing and enjoying. Pippin is a book written by Roger O. Hirson and originally produced on Broadway by Stuart Ostrow with music by Stephen Schwartz about Pippin, the son of the legendary Emperor Charlemagne. As the play begins, we see an acting troupe and the leading player invites the audience to witness their magic as they assist him in telling his story.

Pippin tells us in his song "Corner of the Sky" that he is looking for his life's true meaning and purpose before informing his father that he wishes to join the army and accompany him to war. Eventually, Pippin realizes that becoming a war hero is not the solution to his quest, and because of this revelation, he goes to his grandmother for advice. The performers did a fantastic job showcasing their dancing and singing abilities, and the performance set itself resembled a large hall where kings and queens would sit and converse with their local city people, complete with some high rales and bars to climb and slide down from. The set featured many browns, yellows, other colors, flags, and extensive, tall backgrounds to walk around the center of the stage for dancing and acting. There was also a circle set piece that could be turned depending on what part of the story was being discussed, for example, Glory for a part of the song.

My favorite song from the performance was "Morning Glow" which has a deep meaning, and I connected with the performers and felt their emotions throughout the song. Another song I enjoyed was "Magic to Do" the first song of the show, because it sparked my interest in the rest of the show and in watching a play I'd never seen before.  

Furthermore, the actors, background dancers, and three narrators of the performance aided the audience in understanding the story by keeping the audience engaged and making viewers curious and wanting more of the story lining. The costumes and each outfit flowed and moved well, and they were appropriate for the songs and storyline themes of the story. Additionally, the use of black and white masks made the dance more dynamic and what would happen next, giving the audience suspense about what could happen next—the performance's lighting. The show had darker moments when the plot did not go as planned, but it was also bright and easy to see everyone on stage.

Overall, Pippin was a good show, and I recommend seeing it. Those who wish to see it can still do so, with the final show being on March 26th at 2:00 pm. Lastly, I'd like to thank the performers and crew who helped make this incredible show successful.  

Have an opposing viewpoint to this opinion?  Let us know.  All views are welcome.  Send your thoughts to our Editorial Staff – Editor Dylan Hicks dhicks@student.dean.edu or Dean Daily Faculty Advisor, Professor John Rooke jrooke@dean.edu