The high flying PIPPIN deserved the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival

Sunday night, my parents took me into New York City (one of my favorite places in the world) to see the revival of Pippin. I have always loved the show since I did a Musical Theater Camp and we opened the show with "Magic to Do". I was about 10 at the time. 6 years later, I have read the script numerous times, fallen in love with the score and have seen 2 amazing Leading Players: Ben Vereen on a DVD performance and Patina Miller as Broadway's current leading player. Every time I listen to the score, I fall more and more in love with it. 

The Sign of the Music Box Theatre

Now onto the actual show.

The orchestra warms up and we begin to hear the first few measures of the opening. A light shines behind this black curtain and we saw the silhouette of the Leading Player. This was the revival's take on the glowing hands, if you saw the original show. When she burst through the curtains, you can tell that she was going to bring you into the life of the show. 

"Intrigue: Plots to Bring Disaster"

A mysterious troupe of performers led by Leading Player rolls into town to tell you the story of Pippin, the son of Charlemagne. Numerous events, such as holy war, feuding family, search for purpose and a secret desire all change the course of the show. 

"Humor: Handled by a Master"

Andrea Martain won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Berthe. While I would have loved to see her, I saw Tova Feldshuh in the role. She was fabulous and stole the show with her spot on comedic timing and a beautiful voice that made the house roar with applause at the end of her audience sing-a-long moment, "No Time at All"

Tova signing my playbill

"Illusion: Fantasy to Study"

To be honest, I was a bit uneasy on how circus and PIPPIN would go, but I was pleasantly surprised. The circus illusions was the real magic that was created. There was knife throwing, pole scaling, bending in inhuman ways, balancing on one hands, and much more. It brought a new energy into the show. These are circus performers that are singing great music and dancing in the style of Bob Fosse. What can be better than that?

The "Extraordinary" Cast:

Matthew James Thomas: He is one of my favorite Pippins so far. The way his voice carried the difficult melodies and the harmonies moved me greatly. He deserved the role greatly.

Matthew James Thomas signing a playbill

 Colin Cunliffe: Colin is the understudy for the role of Lewis, and he definitely made the audience fall in love with him. He did an excellent job as the role and brought comedic light to it.

Ashton Woerz: Ashton is one of two Theos in PIPPIN. He really was adorable, just like Theo needs to be. Before the start of Act 2, the Players were onstage performing various circus acts. Theo was a circus clown until we find out is character later in Act 2, and he went into the mezzanine and did various tricks for the audience members. As we was running back up, I reached my hand out for a high five and he high fived me. That was one of the best experience moments of my life. He was funny and adorable and he was great.

Rachel Bay Jones: She was a great Catherine. She sang with emotion which made the audience fall in love with her. As Pippin leaves her and Theo, she stays onstage and begins to sing a song that was not in the show at other times, so the Leading Player tells her that there is not a song and to leave the stage, but Catherine is sick and tired of the Leading Player telling her what to do. She says simply, "There is now." That is the first time we see defiance in her sweet and innocent character, and the audience loved that. She was amazing.

There is one more actress I want to talk about...

Patina Miller: Patina fit the role so well. Patina took the fun and the firework energy of the Leading Player and showcased it in a different light. This being the first time PIPPIN was brought back on Broadway. It went on with a bang. Patina sang the score beautifully, brought power and perfection to the role: EXACTLY how one would want her to carry on Ben Vereen's iconic role. She was comedic when it was right and serious when it was needed. She is a quadruple threat: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Acrobat. She walked while hula hooping WHILE belting out "Simple Joys", Got some sky high action during "Magic to Do" and danced perfectly in the Manson Trio (the most iconic dance from the show). Basically, no one could have asked for a better actress to be the Leading Player. 

After the show, when she was signing Playbills, she was answering any questions anyone had. She explained how the training for the circus stunts and incorporating the Fosse choreography. She was thrilled to see how many people were thrilled with the entire show. 

From Left to Right: My sister Natalie, The fabulous Patina Miller and myself
(after Natalie and I got our Playbills signed by her)

I absolutely love this show! I would see it again in a heartbeat! I overheard someone say this after the show, and I couldn't agree more with the result: "I saw the original production in high school and loved it," now truth be told, the closest thing I saw to the original production was the DVD with Ben Vereen as Leading Player and William Katt as Pippin and that was great, but then he said this, "I think the production is at least as good as the original or better. It was the makeover it needed for families today. It deserved any awards it won and much more."

Another person was shocked at how much of a good time she was having. She was really skeptical about the whole thing, but she was laughing and during intermission, the only thing she was talking about was how fantastic the who thing is and how brilliant the circus stunts and choreography and the blocking flowed as one. 

So the next time you are in the city, check out the revival of Pippin on 45th Street at the Music Box Theatre. It is well worth the time and money. You will not be disappointed in this show.

~Nathan Clift, 16, Trumbull High School

Vice President of the NPT Youth Board