A.R.T Pippin- Page 2

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 7:31pm

Cukor, curious, what's your issue with Chet? I'm fine with him recreating Fosse stuff--just the way I am with Baayork Lee doing the same. I kinda wish Wayne Cilento would have stuck to that and never started thinking he could do his own work... (actually, I don't think much of Anne Reinking's choreography--when she doesn't use the Fosse vocabulary, either). Still, doesn't sound like something he should be criticized for.

[CukorLover]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 7:34pm

Eric, in a word, HEATWAVE.

[HoldThatThought]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 8:42pm

I'm seeing this on Dec. 16th and looking forward to it. Here's more info on it from an article in the Globe:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2012/12/01/taking-pippin-big-top-art/SIcZWoLDpPb3ydEexcruGK/story.html

I was going to re-watch the 1981 version before next weekend, but I'm thinking I'd be better off if I don't. Sounds like it will be quite different anyway.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 11:34pm

maybe this can book the Neil Simon or Barrymore?? Or if they want a smaller theater, the Golden??


Broadway next for A.R.T.'s PIPPIN??

Updated On: 12/6/12 at 11:34 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 11:36pm

Cukor, fair enough I heard that show was a mess staging wise, but was the actual Jack Cole choreography recreation was decent... Wasn't it?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 11:58pm

I don't think Diane Paulus passes gas anymore without the intention of it transferring.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 11:59pm

I believe Chet's failure with HEATWAVE was re-creating the Excitement of Cole's work. They did the steps but the show had no shape or drive.

I still stand by my opinion that TLP should be a man.
The music is written for a particular male voice (as was the choreography for a male body).
Frastrada is the sexy female role, another sexy female (plus a sexy ensemble of dancers can be overkill).
HE should be apart from the preceedings (till the very end). Any sexual chemistry between TLP and Pip should be subtle not overt (as Patina's costume promises).
Can a woman play it?
Sure.
That don't make it right.

What are the pluses of a female in this role?
Pip already has a wiser older (much older) guide in his Granny.

I like Patina a lot, but what can she bring to this role as a Woman?

Updated On: 12/7/12 at 11:59 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:02am

I found Patina to be so wooden in Sister Act. Everything seemed too calculated and planned. Hopefully she's a little bit looser in this show.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:21am

Curtain--that makes sense about the failure to convey the feeling under the steps.

I don't really see the gender issue, though--and I'm not sure Fosse would've either. The Leading Player has to be sexually charismatic, but as Fosse's production shows, the sexual orientation is not the point--Pippin isn't turned on by the LP sexually, though he is turned on by what he promises. I think that could work with either gender, as long as they don't play up Pippin wanting to sleep with the LP now that, umm, he's a she.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:36am

PIPPIN is a straight character (even with a slight experiment in SWEET SUMMER) If you have a sexy Female LP, how do you avoid the tension?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:36am

DP Updated On: 12/7/12 at 12:36 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:37am

Double DP

Updated On: 12/7/12 at 12:37 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:46am

^Pippin experiments? Do I need to watch the DVD again? I don't remember that.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:48am

PIPPIN is a straight character (even with a slight experiment in SWEET SUMMER) If you have a sexy Female LP, how do you avoid the tension?

Believe it or not, heterosexual men and women are able to have relationships that are non-sexual.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:58am

Not in a FOSSE Musical.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 4:42am

And I've never really considered the LP as HUMAN. I've always viewed him/her as the embodiment of temptation, there fore the sex of the actor makes no difference as the character REPRESENTS sexualilty, amongst many things.

(and yes, the intent of Sweet Summer suggests there is experimentation)

[jon2]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 8:40am

Oh man, the options for the Weisslers' stunt casting Berthe boggle the mind. They should really run with it and bring people in for a week or a month at a time.

Updated On: 12/7/12 at 08:40 AM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 9:36am

So...has anyone actually seen it?

[amoni]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 11:36am

'From the press release:
"The American Repertory Theater's new production of the 1970's musical Pippin, which will debut later this season, will utilize the original Bob Fosse choreography recreated by Fosse protege Chet Walker."

Maybe they're confused because the actual website states...

Choreography: Chet Walker in the style of Bob Fosse

http://www.americanrepertorytheater.org/events/show/pippin

[timote316]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:09pm

So...has anyone actually seen it?

I have. I can't compare it to anything, as it was my first exposure to PIPPIN, but I thought it was an absolutely wonderful production. There were a few little things here and there that will get better as performances continue, but I had an absolute blast. Great cast, great show, great production.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:26pm

What are the chances of a Tony for Diane Paulus if it transfers? I know lots of people can't stand her but I thought she was fully deserving for her production of Hair.

[timote316]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:34pm

What are the chances of a Tony for Diane Paulus if it transfers?

If that's a question for me, I really can't say. I haven't seen anything from this season in NYC, and I don't know PIPPIN enough to see what was new and what was a re-creation of the original production. For what it's worth, the real inventiveness of this production comes from the circus tricks and concept, which did seem seamlessly integrated to the show itself.

And as I've been saying for months, it's not "if" it transfers, it's when. Even before seeing it, it seemed painfully obvious this was a pre-Broadway show, just like her Paulus's PORGY & BESS (also from A.R.T.)

Updated On: 12/7/12 at 12:34 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 12:38pm

What are her chances? The same they will be for all the other nominees. I don't mean to sound snarky, but what other answer can there be right now? An actual transfer, and more specifically, an actual transfer THIS season, isn't even guaranteed.

I like Paulus' work, I loved Hair, I even loved Porgy and Bess (I know, shoot me) and expect that I will be one of those that are likely to really like Pippin as well. I already adore the source material.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 1:19pm

Pippin is an everyman. He's tempted by guys as well as girls in Fosse's production--in a way that was pretty groundbreaking at the time (for a commerical Broadway stage). I have no idea why he would be seen as purely straight.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 1:32pm

He is tempted by men and women, and the brief interaction with men, to me is like when one get a little freaky, drunk in college,, but the character is absolutely straight in his major reationship wth Cathryn. (not that anyone is 100% anything).