Pippin (1981 TV version) - The Fosse Version- Page 3

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 1:37am

If anyone would be so kind as to forward to me, it would be much appreciated!

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 8:31am

Phyllis Rogers Stone, as we are clearly related, would love a copy as well. Very exciting (just saw the revival last night, yes and no).

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 12:20pm

Phyllis Rogers Stone, as we are clearly related, would love a copy as well. Very exciting (just saw the revival last night, yes and no).

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 12:20pm

sorry, dupe

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 12:51pm

OK Now that half of BWW has seen it--I'm curious as to what others think? Did your view of the show change (like mine did) with the additions? I can't help thinking part of the Fosse/Pippin legacy of the show being ultimately empty is due to the filmed version that was released--although, for myself, having more of the elements muddies Fosse's "message" further--though I much prefer it.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 3:49pm

I'm more wondering: Why William Katt?

"The Greatest American Hero" wasn't that big of a hit TV show and, as a musical performer, he's a triple threat.

He can't sing, dance or act.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 3:58pm

Some of his line readings are just tragic! The way he says "I'm sorry, Father" just before "Morning Glow" makes me laugh every time.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 4:05pm

I like the alternate take of "Can I have a little more light, please?" in the full Fosse cut myself.

Frankly, I'd have gone with Barry Williams, if he wasn't appearing too old on screen. He famously did the role on tour and in stock for a long time, and might have been far more recognizable to Brady Bunch fans.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 5/10/13 at 5:25pm

I saw the national tour and agree that Barry Williams wasn't half-bad.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 10:40pm

just curious, but was Chita in the Broadway production?? She's not listed in PlaybillVault.com

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 10:50pm

Far as I know, Chita never played Fastrada on Broadway. My understanding is the cast on the DVD wasn't even a touring company. The cast was assembled strictly for the purpose of making the DVD.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 10:50pm

No, Leland Palmer was the original Fastrada, I believe Chita only did it in the the film.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/15/13 at 11:59pm

Far as I know, Chita never played Fastrada on Broadway. My understanding is the cast on the DVD wasn't even a touring company. The cast was assembled strictly for the purpose of making the DVD.

The stars (Katt, Vereen, Rivera, Raye) were definitely specially chosen, but I think some of the secondary leads and ensemble were part of a road company, as, only a few years later (according to the link below), Vereen was supervising / appearing in his final Pippin tour, also involving Kathryn Doby, and likely much of the usual Fosse stock company.

Scroll to page 123 (I think the whole chapter on the "Pippin" experience is there).

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/16/13 at 1:57am

Wow--that's a fun read. But when was the tour? Dixon at one point says it was 20 years old at the time, which would be the arly 90s--a long time after the video. Certainly the sets and costumes in the video look MUCH better than the tattered, cat piss smelling mess he describes.

I need to check, but I'm pretty sure All His Jazz says the entire production and company was put together just for the filming, though they surely used sets from an older production (I imagine the show toured into the late 70s and it ran about that long anyway--well till 1977 on Broadway.)

...I actually don't think Katt is half bad (though I agree some of his line reasings are unintentionally comic, but he seems to be giving it his all, for what that's worth.) It would have been great to have had Leland Palmer perform, but Chita is pretty perfect, and Leland may have retired from performing by then--her last major credit was All That Jazz a few years earlier.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/16/13 at 2:18am

The tour he describes is late Eighties, I wanna say 1985, only a few years after? The book is slightly old.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/16/13 at 2:20am

Eric -- I think you are correct. I think the tour he is referring to is one that went out in 1984 with Ben Vereen and Ginger Prince. It toured again in 1986.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/16/13 at 2:39am

thanks guys, so he was wrong about it being a 20 year old show at the time. I wonder if the set--especially if they used the same one as in the filmed production--was really in such a tattered shape. I'm glad Dixon apparently had aa fun night witgh a cast member's closeted brother though, lol, while on tour.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/16/13 at 2:59am

I doubt it was the same set they used in the television taping. That set obviously would have been cleaned up and was in good shape juat a couple of years prior. The set he's talking about was probably the remains from one of the bus and trucks from the early 70s

[bk]

Posted: 5/29/13 at 11:37pm

I"m not sure what is going on in this thread, frankly. What is this "version" everyone is talking about, this combo version? Because I'm here to tell you that I've just seen for the very first time the full "Fosse cut" and it is amazing. It is completely different than the cut version that aired - different performances (for certain things), completely different and better editing choices (David Sheehan was an idiot), and, of course, uncut. Martha Raye fumfers her lyrics repeatedly, Pippin cracks on Corner of the Sky - but none of that matters because everything that is brilliant about the original production comes through loud and clear. The fact that some people have the temerity to criticize or not understand how great the original production was because all they are basing their comments on is the hideous David Sheehan monstrosity, is criminal. The quality of the DVD I was sent isn't optimal, but to watch that original staging without all that crappy over editing, and to see all the bits that were cut, most especially Without You, well, it was the best way to spend my evening.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/29/13 at 11:44pm

^ Basically, Mr. Kimmel, loved your recording of Godspell a while back btw, a fan took the commercially released DVD and edited in all of the material from the rough cut you no doubt saw that was cut from the commercial release. Hence, the "combo version."

[HorseTears]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 12:58am

I'll be annoying and put in another request for the combo version, please.

Also, had no idea Vereen played this role so often and for so long -- well into the late 80s it sounds like? Similar perhaps to Yul Brynner in the King and I. I know he had some other stellar Broadway roles -- Jesus Christ Superstar, Jelly's Last Jam etc but am I mistaken in thinking he never had a role that truly showcased his triple threat status quite like The Leading Player?

[bundy5000]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 4:52am

If I could take a lookie also I'd appreciate it!

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 8:55am

g.d.e.l.g.i. thanks for the link - enjoyed reading that chapter on Pippin

[dreamcoat12]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 9:16am

If I could see the Fosse cut, I'd really appreciate it!
Love Pippin! :)

[OperaBwayLover]

Posted: 5/30/13 at 5:37pm

I would like to see the Fosse cut as well, if requests are still being taken. Thank you in advance.

And I now have to find a copy of Ed Dixon's book. What a fun, fascinating read that section was.