Pippin On Stage at the Selma Arts CenterOct 12, 2022 | 2022 Articles, Terrance V. Mc Arthur, Theatre
It’s a tale of Pippin (Jonathan Padilla), son of Charlemagne (Chris Ortiz-Belcher), led through the Middle Ages by a troupe of performers headed by the enigmatic Leading Player (Leif Bramer). Searching for ways to do “extraordinary things,” the prince tries military exploits, sensual delights, political power, and pastoral domesticity with a young widow (Kindle Cowger), with uneven results . . . but he keeps trying. Reaching out from its 1972 Broadway origins, the songs by Stephen (Godspell, Wicked) still ring strongly in the heart and soul, carrying the script by Roger O. Hirson. Echoes of Bob Fosse’s famed choreography for the show run through this production, especially in what is called “The Manson Trio,” a precise dance number set against “battles barbarous and bloody.” Summer Session’s direction, Miz-Unique Slater’s choreography, and Lauren Heard’s costume, makeup, and hair/wig designs honor the legacy of earlier productions with dizzying new spins, and the choral effect is intense. The songs will stick with you, and you’ll be better for it.
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