Diane Paulus-Helmed PIPPIN Revival in Development — Page 2

I've seen it "work" with females as the LP.

I don't see anything in the material that precludes it.

What's gender-specific about the character?

Seems like a very misogynistic POV.

Can anyone elucidate with specifics?

---

Peters and Morrison are entirely too old for those roles. And Sutton would be a Catherine, if anything, but she's still too old, IMO. Also, Barrowman is too young.

I just don't think it has the same feel. Not that a woman can't play it, but it plays off more like an awkwardly sexual kindof feel. Not that Ben Vereen didn't have it going on, but with a woman it adds an overlying layer of sexuality that doesn't need to be there.

---

I like the casting, but Paulus and this Sept Doigts **** is absolutely insane. Who in their right mind throws out Fosse? Schwartz has even gone a long way toward acknowledging and incorporating Fosse's contributions in recent years.

For that matter, what is this bull**** about Hirson retooling the book when he couldn't even tool it himself in the first place, leaving Fosse, Paddy Chayefsky, and a bunch of script doctors to create the show's most effective lines and moments? The current script licensed by MTI is a weird hybrid of Fosse, Hirson, and some new stuff like the "Theo ending."

Right off the bat, I'd advise the Weisslers to guarantee themselves another Chicago. Bring in Ann Reinking and anyone else who's alive who did the show and recreate the Fosse choreography and staging. Let the sets and costumes be new, do whatever adaptation you have to with the new number that replaced "Welcome Home," clean up the orchestrations a la the Papermill revival so that the music actually matches the tone of the book, and serve to a paying audience. I guarantee they'll go home pleased.

And if you really think the play within a play concept needs clarification, then go with the unused screen draft's idea and have Pippin be a young man facing the same life decisions as the character who is pulled out of the audience and becomes a part of the show until he realizes that it's only a show in the end.

---

Updated On: 11/19/10 at 04:15 PM

I think Terrence Mann should play Charles; I can easily see him as Creel's father. And no disrespect to Houdyshell, but Berthe should be Stritch, or someone of her stature.

---

PurpleFanta, if Katie Finneran was involved, I imagined she played Fastrada.

That's genius casting.

---

I feel like Cortez would be SO much better as Fastrada than as Catherine. And Katie could really play either role.

I think PIPPIN is bound to be revived at some point. It's a show that can use a revival and has potential, but it will be an uphill. It was a production of its time and of Fosse at the height of his popularity and creative powers. It'll be interesting to see how it does in new hands. However I think there is a chance it could be an very successful rediscover.