Don't get too excited about endings just because they are a little shocking. The ending with Theo walking into the fire is just so random. I like the idea of the players turning on to him and trying to entice him like they did Pippin, but it's so odd to have Theo kill himself instead of Pippin.
I like Pippin. Not as much as I did when I was younger, but it's still a nice enjoyable show.
TheaterMonkey, I completely disagree with you. There are lots of shows playing on Broadway/that recently have played on Broadway that have much better scores than Pippin, including that bland momma of blandness by the same composer, Wicked. The jukebox musicals aside. Pippin is filled with mildly amusing pseudo seventies rock numbers that remind me of that song that goes "If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can't I paint you?" Schwartz may have been trying to top that song all his career ;P I think Ben Vereen brings his music to life, and he gets the best songs.
As for how topical it is, I dunno if I'm with you there. Unless you think that "War is bad and violent" is a deep and searching message (sadly, for some people, it is...). I love the talking head thing though.
Pippin raises some good ideas, but fails to explore any of them because it's not that sort of show.
PS I've heard that somewhere online there's a long article on Pippin by Bob Fosse. Anybody have a link to it?
yr ronin,
joey
