Pippin previews start tomorrow- Page 5

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 6:42am

Really, Taz? The kid had a pet duck. Always has.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 6:59am

Oh, yea...

I completely forgot about that.

Lol, it's such a random thing to turn into a merchandise item.

[BwayFan4]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 8:41am

My new Pippin duck looks great on my shelf. Teasing. But I'm sure the kids will love them...ducks are fun :)

[Patash]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 8:45am

Was online this morning looking for discount seats for any of a number of shows for Saturday, May 4 matinee. Nothing seems to be available (unless I really want to sit against a side wall in the back of an orchestra or in the back rows of mezzanines -- I don't!). So I was indeed surprised to get front row mezzanine for Pippin on that date -- at discount. (I'm still amazed that Newsies won't sell front row mezzanine at any discount, instead selling them as Premier seats for $178 each).

So Pippin, here I come. Really looking forward to it. From all descriptions, I'd think front row mezzanine will be IDEAL!

[Jamie Pierce]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 9:10am

So what's the consensus on the ideal place to sit for this show? Not the extreme sides - but considering the staging, is it better to be in the orchestra or mezz?

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 10:08am

Boy, even with the partial view seat I had for rush (5th row, second from wall) I loved it and didn't miss much. But I'd say orchestra OR mezz would be fine.

[macnyc]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 10:21am

Would someone sitting in the rear orchestra (under the overhang) be able to see the action if it's high up? I'm assuming the aerialists are all the way up to the ceiling.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 10:40am

"It was groundbreaking in its day"

It was? News to me. I suppose Fosse's work could be considered groundbreaking, but not this trite, simpering show.

"How wonderful to watch that choreography revitalized and brought to life again."

It had no need of "revitalization." It stands on its own as it was.

"When a force of nature like Diane Paulus can pay homage to a classic like Pippin "

Pippin, a "classic?" Never was, never will be.

[lenstersf]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 10:40am

looking forward to getting a broadway window card to accompany this

Updated On: 3/25/13 at 10:40 AM

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 10:57am

Paging After Eight!! Did you see this version yet or are you planning to? It is just so good...

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 11:07am

Just heard my pager ringing. Oh, it's you, April. How ya doin'?

In any case, since you asked, I saw it in Boston. Here's what I wrote then:

The circus element was fresh and winning. By far the best thing about the show. The design was also excellent. Paulus has done a fine job, just as Fosse did. They both had magic to do, and they did it.

But neither Fosse nor Paulus are alchemists; they couldn't turn dross into gold. And that's what Pippin is: dross --- sophomoric, simplistic, and pretentious, with some catchy songs. It's quite a bore, actually. It's very much a product if its time, or actually, a by-product of its misbegotten time, with its mindset of self-centeredness and self-indulgence. Who cares about Pippin's "journey" to self-realization? Certainly not the audience.

So thank heavens for the circus!

[dave1606]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 11:30am

Saw the show last night, having seen it at ART and I have to say, this production will probably enter my top ten theatrical experiences. When Patina comes out and says they have magic to do, they mean it.

I have seen a good chunk of bad theater lately, from The Big Knife to the mediocre (Kinky Boots), and this reminded me why I see shows in the first place. There is magic on that stage, and the show is just thrilling.

Nearly everything has been improved upon from ART. Matthew James Thomas, who I thought was getting a bit swallowed up by all of the flashier performers at ART, is now much more charismatic and with a few re-workings to his part now really stands out as Pippin. His voice was truly excellent last night. He also has gotten quite a rabid fan club of young teenage girls. Remember those crazy Spring Awakening and Next to Normal fans? They have found a new show.

Andrea Martin. Nothing more to be said here, but she was amazing, and got a similar reaction last night.

Terrence Mann was a standout for me last night. He was hilarious. Charlotte D’Amboise was great, though unfortunately her costume didn’t quite cooperate last night.

Patina commands the stage, and is in fantastic voice.
The acrobatics are truly thrilling, and work so well with the rest of the show. The added moments in act one and the re-working of the finale are excellent. It is so thrilling to watch them all, and in a smaller theater and stage, very thrilling to see them up close.

The re-workings of Catherine and the duck also work much better than they did at ART, even if this is part of the show I will always find a bit problematic. Rachel Bay Jones is really excellent though.

The bottom line is that this is going to be a huge hit. I think the Music Box will have a tenant for quite some time. I need the cast recording now, and will likely be at the box office today buying more tickets.

A word of the wise for anyone about the stage door. If you must do it, plan on going a different night than you see the show. Last night it was insane. (Remember what I said about fan girls. Beware.) That said, all of the principals came out, and could not have been nicer. They all took their time and posed with anyone who asked. The thrill for me was meeting Andrea Martin! I had understood that she usually did not do that (She definitely did not come out during Young Frankenstein) so it was a nice treat!

As for seating, I was in the rear mezzanine K103 I think, and the view was perfect. I would definitely recommend it as you are much closer than most other theaters.

[bk]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 1:01pm

It's amusing to read about the directors's visionary approach to Pippin as circus and how brilliantly original it is and what a fresh take it is.

When the original production was doing some casting for the leads in LA, I was called in to audition for the title role. I sang. They liked me. I moved. They liked me. And then I was asked a question: Could I do acrobatics and any circus stuff, to which I had to say no. I asked why. They said that Mr. Fosse's concept was the show as circus and that people would be required to do circus-like stuff.

Apparently Mr. Fosse gave up that concept soon thereafter (probably not finding many good folks who could realize it - or maybe just thinking his new concept suited him better) - so, everything old is new again - as always.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 1:10pm

A circus gimmick is hardly new in the theatre - there was Peter Brook's 1970 production of Midsummer Night's Dream, Barnum in 1980, Liza's third dream in 1941's Lady In The Dark, etc.

If it works, enjoy it; but there's no need to exaggerate the "newness" of a gimmick to lend it more cachet.

[ken8631]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 2:02pm

Glad to hear that Terrance and Charlotte were good - that's why might go see. Is this the first time they are on Broadway together again since CATS?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 2:15pm

I wonder if Ato2 liked it.

[BwayFan4]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 2:17pm

Pippin's not a classic?? Really? Whether you like the show or not, we must see theatre and the world from very different perspectives if we can't agree that Pippin is a classic.

When a show is 40 years old and has been performed by every regional theatre around, kids, cabaret singers, performers of all types have covered the score, and the name of the show is a household name (I know people who named their dogs after Pippin who aren't even musical theatre geeks...lol), then if that show isn't considered a "classic" then I don't know what is.

Do you consider Annie, Evita, Oklahoma, Godspell, and Jesus Christ Superstar to be classics? I do. Pippin is right up there with them.

The rest is up for debate, but not if Pippin is a classic or not.

Updated On: 3/25/13 at 02:17 PM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 2:22pm

I must say that I had zero interest in seeing this but after reading everyone's reactions I just might. If only to see what the big hoopla is about Andrea Martin.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 2:24pm

To be a classic requires a certain level of quality.

Show Boat is a classic.
Oklahoma! is a classic.
My Fair Lady is a classic.
Pippin is not a classic.

[BwayFan4]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 2:27pm

That's silliness. Who are you? The Classic Quality Police who gets to decide such things?

[all that jazz]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 2:38pm

If we all can't agree on classic, which to me it is, we should at least all agree it was legendary. In addition to its enormous popularity, even 40 years after its premiere, it did won Fosse the tony for directing, completing his unparalleled triple crown that year, plus it supposedly caused Stephen Schwartz to be shunned from Broadway for many years.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 2:40pm

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 3:01pm

plus it supposedly caused Stephen Schwartz to be shunned from Broadway for many years.

The Magic Show opened a year and a half after Pippin. The two shows ran simultaneously on Broadway for three years.

[D2]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 3:04pm

Plus GODSPELL moved to Broadway in 1976 after a lengthy Off-Broadway run, giving him 3 shows running simultaneously for over a year.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/25/13 at 3:21pm

I'm a huge fan of Pippin, but from reading much of the press from the time and musical theatre books written in the 70s and 80s if Pippin is legendary for anything it's for how many perceived a TV commercial as turning a potential flop into a hit.