**** Recommended **** The Music Theater Works production of Pippin, directed by Kyle A. Dougan, is a bright, colorful, fantastical extravaganza. The set reminded me of the comedy wall in 60’s TV hit, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh In, with several monitors scattered among multiple nooks and crannies. The talented cast was in constant motion with sexy and suggestive Fosse-esque choreography (totally appropriate since Fosse choreographed the original production). 4 Spotlights
The Leading Player (Sonia Goldberg) is a sort of narrator who doesn’t just tell the story, she nudges the characters, particularly Pippin, into action – usually against their best interests. Together with the ensemble, she opens the show with a fun production number, Magic to Do.
The Leading Player introduces the young Prince, Pippin (Connor Ripperger), who has completed his education and returned home to seek his destiny. Unfortunately, his father, Charles (Thomas M. Shea), aka King Charlemagne, is almost always too busy to deal with him.
Pippin wants to do something worthwhile to do with his life, so he thinks he might be a solder like his flashy half-brother, Lewis (Andrew Freeland). The King doesn’t think soldiering would be a fit for Pippin, so, in an effort to teach him about the reality of war, he sings a really clever song, “War Is a Science”.
Meanwhile, Pippin’s wicked stepmother, Fastrada (Savannah Sinclair), is determined to put her son on the throne by hook or by crook, so she plots Pippin’s death.
Pippin goes off to war but is a failure as a soldier. He goes on to try other, more basic pursuits – sowing a few wild oats along the way. In one of my favorite scenes, he goes to visit his grandmother, Berthe (Kathleen Puls Andrade), who is delighted to see him. Andrade is a delight as she entertained Pippin with a song called No Time at All.
Urged on by the Leading Player, Pippin promotes a revolution, kills his father and takes over as king, but then decides he really doesn’t want to be king after all, demanding a do-over. The Leading Player reverses time and everything goes back to the way it was.
On his wanders, Pippin meets an ordinary girl named Catherine (Desiree Gonzalez) and her son, Theo (Di’Aire Wilson). By the way, young Theo steals the show!
The Pippin ensemble includes Jenny Couch, Ciara Hickey, Alex Iacobucci, Lacey Jack, Samira Jasmine, Katie Kotila, Justin Payton Nelson, Mollyanne Nunn, Jordan “J.Ro” Ordonez, Kaitlyn Pasquinelli, Dane Strange and Eustace J. William.
The Pippin orchestra includes Justin Akira Kono (Conductor/Drums); Stephen Boyer (Piano 1); Kailey Rockwell (Piano 2); Matthew Beck (Reed); Lewis Rawlinson (Cello); Amy Nelson (Trumpet); Jakob Saleh (Bass); Stephanie Lebens (Trombone).
A warning for parents who might be thinking about taking your kids to see “Pippin”, my advice, don’t. This play contains is for mature audiences ages 15 and older, as it includes sexual content and innuendos, suggestive choreography and costumes, drug use, violence and theatrical gun use
Note: masks are encouraged but not required.
The Music Theater Works production of Pippin runs through June 25th, North Theater, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 N. Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Parking is free. Running time is approximately two hours, 20 minutes, with an intermission. Performances are Wednesdays at 1:00 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm; Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets range from $39-$106 (guests 25 years of age and younger- 50% off). FYI (847) 673-6300 or www.musictheaterworks.com.