We were looking forward to seeing Nice Work if You Can Get It with Matthew Broderick and then it closed a month before we could use our tickets. Disappointed that we missed what was supposed to be a great production, we now had to decide which other Broadway show we wanted to see instead. I consulted a theater friend for some recommendations, and after much deliberation finally narrowed down the list. We were happy to be able to exchange our tickets for our first choice, Pippin. When the show began to win a slew of awards we realized that we had been lucky to get the tickets when we had and counted the days until we would head to NYC.
The current re-imagined revival of Pippin recently won four of the ten Tony Awards for which they were nominated, including Best Director, Best Actress (Patina Miller as the Lead Player,) Best Featured Actress (Andrea Martin as Berthe,) and Best Revival of a Musical. It also won Outstanding Revival from the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and the Drama League, along with many other awards in various categories. The 1972 original production of Pippin won five Tony Awards. Legendary song and dance man Ben Vereen as Best Actor as the Lead Player. To say that expectations were high as our limo delivered us to the Music Box Theater is an understatement; could the show really be that good?
It is fair to say that Pippin exceeded our expectations with its sheer awesomeness. I really did not know much about the show, other than the fact that it was an early work of Stephen Schwartz (the composer actually began to work on the songs for Pippin while still in college.) I did see the spectacular opening number on this year's Tony Awards and recognized many of the actors, but I resisted the urge to research the show until after we saw it. It is still a musical that is difficult to describe, part circus, part Fosse-style dancing, part royal drama, part magical illusions and much more.
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Pippin, the title character in the show, is a royal heir caught between his boring duty and his desire for glory. The young man meets up with the very mysterious group of circus (more Cirque du Soleil) performers who relentlessly tempt him to throw caution to the wind to follow his dreams. At times very funny, at times a little dark, the show was certainly unique. The fourth wall was often broken and the audience was invited to sing along by following the bouncing ball...to a point. Some of the funny lines seemed particular to this revival and always made us laugh.
Dominique Lemieux was one of the original costume designers for Cirque du Soleil and has designed outfits for this show that are functional and beautiful. The hair and makeup was very unusual but fit the theme. The ingenious tent that serves as the set was designed by Scott Pask and lit by Kenneth Posner; it was perfect and when it was removed, the audience got a glimpse behind the scenes. We had excellent seats in the second row; it was exciting for this theater lover to be so close to a Broadway cast. Terrance Mann (King Charles) actually spoke to both my aunt and my son during the opening.
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It is such a special treat to see an original Broadway cast and this one was outstanding to be sure. Pippin was played by Matthew James Thomas (Peter Parker in Spider-Man) and charmed all the young ladies in the balcony and everyone else in the audience. His "Corner of the Sky" was perfection and he infused a gentle humor into his performance. Patina Miller (Sister Act) was a slightly scary Lead Player and an excellent singer and dancer. Charlotte d'Amboise was lithe and beautiful as Pippin's stepmother Fastrada. Her real-life husband Terrence Mann played his father; this very talented actor, who has played Mal Beineke in The Addams Family, Javert in Les Miserable, and Beast in Beauty and the Beast, sports long white hair for the role and was so much fun to watch.
Rachel Ray Jones was impressive and quite funny in the role of Catherine and her son at this matinee was well played by Andrew Woertz (who once appeared at the Yale Rep in Marie Antoinette.) Andrea Martin had the featured role of Berthe, Pippin's decidedly not elderly exiled grandmother. Ms. Martin has had a long and award-filled career on Broadway, but I have always loved her portrayal of Aunt Voula in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Here she was more down to earth in her portrayal of the role, but this 66 year old grandmother was definitely not in a wheelchair. In fact, she performed with a very strong performer on a trapeze.
The rest of the cast are billed as "players" and played additional parts and specialties, such as hand balancers, trapeze artists, the Manson trio and a head. All of them were pretty amazing at what they do. The program lists the choreographer (Chet Walker) but also the Circus Creation (Gypsy Snider) and Illusions (Paul Kieve.)
The wonderful orchestra in the pit was directed by the only musician that could be seen by the audience, Charlie Alterman. He was also incredibly giving to all the cast members as they sang center stage.
The show was spellbinding. Everyone in my party loved it, as did the standing room only crowd. I am so glad that I can now say of Pippin: Been there, done that, got the t-shirt...and the hat and the poster, as well.
Pippin is at the Music Box Theater in New York. Best ticket availability is on Tuesday and Wednesdays.
