Pippin

My tale today concerns the firstborn son of Charlemagne... and is entitled... Pippin! To be honest, Pippin is hardly actually based in history, but that doesn't mean that the album isn't brilliant. Then again, the music is written by Stephen Schwartz, creator of Wicked, so that shouldn't come as a surprise.

I confess, part of the reason that I'm reviewing Pippin is because my high school is doing it for our spring musical, so it's basically going to be the only thing I listen to for the next few months. I'm beyond excited; there's so much amazing music, parts to perform, hearts to warm, kings and things to take by storm... I'm killing two birds with one stone here (don't worry, no ducks were harmed in the making of this blog post), so without further ado, Pippin!

Notable Songs*:

1. Magic to Do - There's a moment at the beginning where you're not quite sure if it's begun. For the first thirty seconds, it's just an orchestra warming up, a jumble of notes that swells into a haunting melody to start off the show. Patina Miller's Leading Player is a blend of charming and seductive, drawing the audience with the help of a brilliant ensemble behind her. On a slightly unrelated note, does anyone else think that the voice at 3:24 sounds like Christopher Jackson in Hamilton's "Cabinet Battle #1"? 
2. War is a Science - This is probably tied for my favorite song in the show. It's Charlemagne's time to shine, and Terrence Mann milks every second of it. It's brilliantly flamboyant, all of the majesty and over-the-top grandeur that Charlemagne embodies. It's also hilarious, from Pippin's boyish interruptions to Charlemagne's all-too-casual explanations of the blood and gore that will occur in less than 24 hours. Favorite line: "Listen to me men, as I endeavor to explain, what separates a charlatan from a Charlemagne." 
3. Glory - When I said that "War is a Science" was tied for my favorite song, this is the song that it was tied with. Right off the bat, you're hit with a huge sustained note that's as "glorious" (if you'll pardon the pun) as the lyric itself. How Patina Miller manages to belt out those riffs (see 5:41) after a two-minute dance break is beyond me, but it's incredible. The song truly "glorifies" (again, apologies) war in a phenomenal and chilling number that takes your breath away, whether you're singing along or not. 
4. Morning Glow - This starts off quiet and calming, with minimal background music and just Matthew James Thomas's beautiful voice. It's truly like a sunrise, the soft dawn rising above the horizon. When the chorus comes in, it sounds like a church choir behind the gates of heaven, like the sun spreading its warmth. But as the song picks up, chills set in as the harmonies come together in beautiful chords. It culminates with an amazing final note by Pippin himself, just like the sun at its zenith, shining over the land. Also, can we please note that they say the "phantoms" of the "night"? Shoutout to Andrew Lloyd Webber? Whether or not the reference was intentional, it caught my attention. Maybe I'm just too much of a Phan... (Okay, I promise, no more puns.)
5. On the Right Track - While the song's lyrics are encouraging, the tone is not quite. The piano sounds like the Leading Player sneaking about on the stage. Considering the Leading Player's motivations toward the "grand finale", it's fitting, but that doesn't take away from the both elevating and deprecating at the same time. The ending is the best part, with an increasingly desperate Pippin practically losing all of his hope in one loud expletive. But wait, there's more. Can we acknowledge that riff at the end? Once again, Patina Miller = goddess. 
6. Extraordinary - This song is a great chance for Pippin to shine, and Matthew James Thomas does an amazing (or should I say, extraordinary?) job. It's a song that you can't help but tap your feet to. The lyrics make Pippin seem arrogant, but with that kind of energy in the background, you forgive him, because it's understandable that he wants to "live his life in superlatives." Thomas also hits some great notes at 1:43 and 2:36, showing off his range and vocal strength. 

*These reviews are of the 2013 Broadway revival cast, Patina Miller and Matthew James Thomas.
Note: There is one instance of explicit language in On the Right Track.

I can't talk about Pippin without talking about the dancing. The choreography of the show is incredible, both in the original run and in the revival. In the original, "Magic to Do" starts off with shadow hands that eventually center onto the Leading Player's face. In the revival, there is a more circus-like theme, with actual acrobats doing flips and trapeze stunts behind a vibrant backdrop. In both cases, it's absolutely stunning, a visual for the ages. And, of course, the Manson trio, the iconic dance trio during "Glory." There are some videos below, the first one of the revival's circus troupe and the second of the original Manson trio.

Look at those colors!!!

Old-time cane and top hat vibe! :) 

Like I mentioned earlier, Pippin is based very, VERY loosely in history. Though the events themselves are hardly historical (no, no one tried to *spoiler* make Pippin jump into a firepit), the characters are all real. Of course, Charlemagne was Charles the Great, one of the greatest figures of the Middle Ages who formed the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne did, in fact, have a wife named Fastrada, and two sons named Pepin and Louis, who are Pippin and Lewis in this story, respectively. His mother's real name was Bertrada, and his father's name was actually Pepin (how original). Pippin's character is drawn primarily from Pepin the Hunchback (not to be confused with Pepin of Italy, Charlemagne's other son). This Pepin led a revolt against Charlemagne and was cast out to a monastery for his betrayal. There were rumors of Pepin's illegitimacy, as well as tensions among the court between the Frankish nobles and Charlemagne himself. After Pepin is exiled, Louis the Pious (Lewis in the play) becomes the leader of the Frankish Empire. However, Louis's mother was not Fastrada, as depicted in the show, but Charlemagne's second wife, Hildegard. These are just some fun facts (if you're curious about the amount of historical accuracy), which I was. If you're not into those types of fun facts, well, quite frankly, I'm

Just kidding. Here are some others: 

• The Leading Player is the only role to have won Tonys for both Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Ben Vereen) and Best Actress in a Musical (Patina Miller). 
• In the 2013 revival, the actors playing Charlemagne and Fastrada (Terrence Mann and Charlotte D'Amboise) are actually married. 
• The iconic Manson trio is named for Charles Manson, the famous cult leader. 

I can't wait to be in Pippin in the spring, especially to be tackling the role of the Leading Player, which is both intimidating and exciting. The show is so iconic, a dark comedy with beautiful visuals and incredible music. That being said, I'm going shamelessly promote the show. On Friday and Saturday, March 17th and 18th, at Brookdale Performing Arts Center, and I promise you a climax justly famous throughout the civilized world!