MARK AUERBACH
HARTFORD – The national tour of “Pippin”, the Tony-Award winning revival from American Repertory Theatre’s Diane Paulus, opened the New Year in Hartford with enough heat and sizzle to melt away the Arctic mass surrounding The Bushnell. Diane Paulus’ brilliant staging, set in a circus tent, with Bob Fosse style choreography by Chet Walker, and amazing acrobatics from Gypsy Snider dazzle. The handsome sets (Scott Pask), costumes (Dominique Lemieux) and lights (Kenneth Posner) equal those of the Broadway production. The performances are a joy, and the ensemble jump through hoops, swing from the ceiling, and do some pretty mean moves. It all adds up, for me, to a top notch evening of entertainment.
Lucie Arnaz as “Berthe” in “Pippin”. (Photo by Terry Shapiro)
I’ve been a fan of “Pippin” since it opened on Broadway back in 1972. The musical’s staging, courtesy of Bob Fosse, was pure razzle-dazzle; and the Stephen Schwartz score (post-”Godspell” and pre-”Wicked”) was that kind of soft rock that seemed so contemporary next to the Broadway hitmasters of the day. Most of all, the story resonated with me as a kid finishing school–what do I do next? How do I find my corner of the sky?
“Pippin” launched the stage career of John Rubenstein as the son of Charlemagne, fresh out of school and trying to find his corner of the sky. He’s back, direct from the Broadway revival, this time as Charlemagne. Kyle Dean Massey is terrific in the title role, as winning as Rubenstein was in the original. Lucie Arnaz, as Pippin’s grandmother, stops the musical cold with her rendition of the show’s best-known number, “No Time At All” , while hanging above the stage on a trapeze. Sabrina Harper dances the role of Pippin’s stepmother, Fastrada, with slither and shimmer. Sasha Allen plays the Leading Player, the role originated by Ben Vereen. She’s got all the dance moves and a voice that is amazing. She, Mathew deGuzman, and and Borris York performed the signature Fosse dance, “The Manson Trio” with incredible syncopation.
Kyle Dean Massey is Pippin in “Pippin” (Photo by Joan Marcus)
Forty-something years later, “Pippin” still entertains, thanks to Paulus and company. The Schwartz score remains easy on the ear, and if Roger O. Hirson’s book seems slight, it does serve to move the action along between one production number after another. As Bob Fosse and now Diane Paulus prove, “Pippin” is a satisfying example of style over substance. As for the magic, the illusions, the circus tricks and the acrobatics–it’s all astonishing.
The Bushnell presents “Pippin”. Book by Roger O. Hirson. Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Directed by Diane Paulus. Choreography by Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse. Circus creations by Gypsy Snider. Music direction by Ryan Cantwell. Scenic design by Scott Pask. Costume design by DominiqueLemieux. Lighting design by Kenneth Posner. Sound design by Jonathan Deans and Garth Helm. Starring: Sasha Allen, Kyle Dean Massey, Sabrina Harper, Lucie Arnaz, John Rubestein, Callan Bergmann, Kristine Reese. Through January 11. The Bushnell, Gartford. For tickets: (860) 987-5900 or www.bushnell.org.
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
