Pippin
Rhode Island College Theatre's
current show is the musical, "Pippin" which opened on Broadway on October
23, 1972,closed June 12,1977 and ran for 1,944 performances. It is a musical
with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob
Fosse directed the original Broadway production which starred Ben Vereen as
the leading player and John Rubenstein as Pippin. The story centers on
Charlemagne's oldest son, Pippin who is a young prince in 780 A.D., he is
searching for fulfillment in the outside world. He first decides to become a
soldier but sees the horrors of his father's various campaigns against the
barbarians. He then visits his grandmother, who tells him to live life to
the fullest by enjoying many sexual encounters and escapades as possible.
Pippin realizes her advice isn't so wise after all. Meanwhile, Charlemagne,
Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, is back to his usual business of slaying
thousands. Upon hearing this, Pippin murders his father by listening to the
advice of his sexpot stepmother, Fastrada. But after trying to rule his
empire for a short time discovers it is more difficult that he thought and
brings his father back to life and since the show is an anachronistic fairy
tale anything can happen. Pippin then tries different careers, failing at
all of them finally ends up in despair. Then suddenly out of the blue, your
average ordinary kind of woman, Catherine picks him up off the street.
Eventually Pippin is charmed by this woman with a small boy and a large
estate. But, still thinking that love isn't complete fulfillment, he leaves
her and with nothing else to try the show reaches its climax. Director Bill
Wilson takes this musical, injects it with large doses of humor and makes it
into a joyous romp of sexual escapades and innuendos with a cast of
excellent vocalists and fantastic dancers to give it the powerhouse
presentation it deserves.
Bill not only casts this show very
well but he blocks it wonderfully, making sure everyone is seen at all
times. He pays close attention to the characterizations presented by his
students in this show, making them come alive for current day audiences and
sets the show as the Charlemagne Revue, a Las Vegas extravaganza with an
enormous twelve step staircase up stage center. When I reviewed URI's
production of this show 10 years ago they presented it as if they were
casting a movie.) Bill mixes the comic and poignant moments together
perfectly. Anthony Torelli is the musical director with Stephen DeCesare on
the lead keyboards. Anthony conducts his topnotch 12 piece orchestra. The
dance numbers choreographed by Angelica Vesella include many Fosse signature
dances including tap, jazz, marching, a kick-line Her youthful cast executes
them perfectly. The colorful set is by Robert T. Williams while the
inventive and unique lighting is by Alan Pickart. The multitude of gorgeous
costumes are by Charlotte Dunning Burgess with the coronation robe as a
standout as well as the show girl costumes.. Stage manager Molly
Kaufhold keeps things running smoothly backstage and onstage all night long.
Bill uses a filmed sequence to introduce Pippin to the audience called "The
Life and Times of Pippin" created by Patrick Bosworth.
The cast is lead by Naysh Fox as
Pippin. With his blond hair and blue eyes, he looks like William Katt who
did the DVD version of this show back in 1981. Naysh's acting prowess comes
through in this role by his energetic and sympathetic portrayal. His
gorgeous tenor voice soars in all his songs including "Corner of the Sky"
where he starts his journey to find meaning in his life, a verse in "War
Is a Science" where he jumps up to start the battle with the
barbarians, "With You" where he discovers sex during a dance orgy, "Morning
Glow" where he finally becomes king only to discover it isn't as easy as it
appears, "Extraordinary" where he plugs his own self importance and "Love
Song", a duet with Catherine where he finally finds meaning in his
life. Naysh makes the naive prince grow up quickly in the barbaric world
around him and is a joy to watch in this role. I previously reviewed him as
Will Parker in "Oklahoma'' in 2008. Joe Nicastro is spectacular as the
Leading Player. He captures the deviousness and the slickness of this
character. The show opens with the Leading Player inviting the audience to
join the performers in a story about a boy prince searching for fulfillment
in "Magic To Do" where Joe and 14 other dancers swirl around the stage in a
show stopping dance number while the chorus wears white glow in the dark
gloves. His other songs include "Glory" where he leads the troupe in a mock
battle. The song is about the horrors of the Vietnam protest when it was
written back in 1972 , and "On the Right Track" with Naysh which he
inspires Pippin to find his way in life with the both of them performing an
excellent jazz dance while doing so. His dialogue with the entire
cast, controlling scenes of Pippin and his argument scenes with Catherine
are first rate, too. I first reviewed Joe when he was little Patrick Dennis
in "Auntie Mame" in 2001 and I directed him in "Caught in the Net" at the
Newport Playhouse in 2005. Derek Capobianco who has a dynamite tenor voice
sings "Simple Joys" with the ensemble doing a country western dance. The
song is about Pippin heading out into the country to visit his grandmother.
Frank Toti plays Charlemagne with
gruff authority. His character has an eye for the pretty girls. Frank sings
his solo "War is a Science" with the chorus doing a splendid dance to it. He
also has many funny one liners including my favorite "Lewis is an
asshole". Marissa Silva is a sexy vamp as Fastrada, Charlemagne's evil
second wife. She keeps plotting and planning to take over the kingdom for
her dimwitted, barbaric son, Lewis. Marissa belts out "Spread A Little
Sunshine" with her fantastic voice while doing a sexy dance up and down the
massive stairway. Her many one liners constantly hit paydirt. She wears a
sexy dress as Fastrada. I recently reviewed her as Lucy in "You're a Good
Man, Charlie Brown" for Bay Colony Productions last August. Adriano
Cabral is a hoot as Lewis, the egotistical son who loves himself. He does a
wonderful job playing the stupid dummy who loves to make war. His crazy
antics are laugh out loud moments in the show. Talia Triangelo is a
gorgeous redhead and is one of the biggest scene stealers in this show as
Berthe. She does a bit of a Cher impersonation at times and sings the
interactive audience participation number "No Time at All". Talia also gets
to strut her stuff in a country western number with her singers and dancers.
Her number stops the show with her message to Pippin to enjoy life because
she still does at her advanced age. Shayna Eisemann plays Catherine. She is
a pretty brunette with a powerful voice. She knocks your socks off with her
songs, "Kind of Woman" where she sings about being an ordinary woman while
she tries to seduce Pippin, "Love Song" which she sings with Naysh where
they finally admit their love and "I'll Guess I'll Miss the Man", a
gorgeous, earnest ballad where she laments their break up when Pippin
decides to leave her which is my favorite song in the show. Shayna is
dynamic as she stands up to the bullying of the leading player.Zack Albro, a
9 year old plays her son, Theo. He wins the sympathy of the audience with
Otto, his duck. He tries to help Pippin recover from his despair by yelling
at him, praying for his duck and in his final solo song "Corner of the
Sky" to the audience. This little boy handles the role with ease. Kudos to
the entire talented cast on a job well done. So for a trip back to the days
of Charlemagne, be sure to catch "Pippin" before it dances out of town. (I
was lucky enough to catch "Pippin" on Broadway in 1974 with John Rubenstein
and Ben Vereen on his last night as The Leading Player in the show.)
PIPPIN ( 22 to 25 April, 2010)
Rhode Island College Theatre, Roberts Auditorium, 600 Mount Pleasant Ave. Providence,RI
1(401)456-8144 or www.ric.edu/mtd