Pippin
Pippin
#1Pippin
Posted: 10/4/13 at 12:13pm
Finally saw Pippin this week. I had seen the original a few times and pretty much wore out the OBCR.
Thew new version was everything everyone said - excellent performances, fast moving, entertaining, etc. etc. etc.
What I didn;t realize was how spectacular the score sounds when sung by real singers. The OBC had Vareen and Leland Palmer, but pretty much everyone else was an actor or dancer first and and singer second. Mathhew James Thomas blew me away with his vocals, especially on Morning Glow. I think Juhn Rubenstein was great, but hearing the songs by Thomas was incredible. Terrance Mann brought so much more to Charlemagne with his spectacular voice. Patina, Charlotte and Eric Altemus were great (doh) and Rachel Bay Jones not only brough so much voal talent, but more comedic timing then anyone I had ever seen play Catherine.
Kudos on the orchestrations and vocal arrangements as well.
luvcaroline
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/05
luvcaroline
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/05
#3Pippin
Posted: 10/4/13 at 8:26pmWhile I definitely enjoyed Pippin, I was not as wowed by it as everyone else. The circus theme was the only thing that saved it from being a total snooze fest for me. I thought Matthew James Thomas was boring and lifeless. Patina Miller was stellar as the Leading Player. Andrea Martin was great and all, but she only had that one song. I saw all the major revivals this past season except for The Mystery of Edwin Drood. I thought that they (they meaning Annie, Cinderella, and Jekyll & Hyde) were all better.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
VotePeron
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/2/13
#5Pippin
Posted: 10/31/13 at 3:47pm
I finally saw Pippin -- the last show of my NY weekend. What can I say that hasn't been said already? Blew me away; lived up to the hype. My one hesitation about this production was the circus theme - thought it would be an overcooked distraction. So glad I was wrong about that. The circus and Fosse elements were wonderfully integrated throughout. Not a weak link in this cast. Patina is undeniably a star and far more warm than I was lead to believe, Matthew James Thomas (who seemed dull in the b-roll) was funny, warm and engaging in person, Charlotte and Terrence were having a GRAND time playing their juicy parts -- wish we got a little more of Fastrada in this show -- but Charlotte made the most of it, Tovah was a TKO, Rachel Bay Jones was such a delight -- I hope that when she gets that (inevitable) sitcom that the writing lives up to her comic gifts and, of course, this ensemble is wildly talented.
Also, special kudos to that pit band. Were there really on 12 of them in the pit? They sounded like a 20-piece ensemble. Kudos to the orchestrator, md and musicians for producing such a vibrant, rich, dynamic sound. And for subtly updating a very 70s sounding score without losing its edge. I find that far too often when there is a revival of a 60s or 70s show, the music ends up sounding sterile and overly shiny due to the orchestrator and MD's attempt to "contemporarize" the score. (See Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Godspell etc...). Not the case here.
Unfortunately, there were three full rows of empty seats in the mezz. I hope this production can last through the Spring. If so, I will definitely be revisiting it.
For what it's worth, I went with two friends who last attended Pippin the month it opened and they said that the remaining original cast was still uniformally excellent and the replacements were worthy successors.
Up In One
Broadway Star Joined: 5/27/04
#6Pippin
Posted: 10/31/13 at 5:17pmHey Horse Tears I was searching for Pippin tickets today and noticed that there are many mezzanine seats available while the orchestra is sold out. Too bad balconies have a stigma because The Music Box is so tiny those mezz seats are pretty damn good, and less expensive. I do wonder about the staying power of Pippin, its has 500 less seats to sell each night than all the other big hits so it should be an impossible ticket but its not. Even its premium seats are going for less than the other big hits.
Up In One
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#7Pippin
Posted: 10/31/13 at 6:08pmConsidering the time of year, the show is doing fine. Things could get rough in Jan-March -- as it does for all shows, but they've got at least to next summer, and likely to NEXT Jan.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#9Pippin
Posted: 11/2/13 at 6:28am
Yeah, we were half way back, center mezz and our view was perfect. Shows should probably do a better job of informing tourists how intimate most Broadway houses are when compared to the massive 3,000-4,000 houses that a lot of national tours hit.
I can't stop thinking about this production. If I were in town for just one more night, I would have bought another ticket for the following night. So, has there been any buzz on the show's future? Any possibility of a West End transfer? A national tour hasn't been announced yet, has it? Also, I wonder if Barry, Fran & co would ever consider filming the show for one of those live cinema simul-casts. If that pitiful Merrily We Roll Along production can sell out cinemas, surely Pippin could do well. Seems like it would be a big crowd pleaser.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#10Pippin
Posted: 11/2/13 at 8:09am
Informing tourists about b'way being smaller than most touring venues? I doubt it matters to anyone: either they will go to a bway show or not. I cannot imagine anyone saying that they weren't going to NY to see a show until they heard the houses were smaller. (But maybe I'm missing your point.(
But no, I havent' heard anything about a tour, etc. I don't doubt for a moment that they will however. )
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
matineeidol2591
Stand-by Joined: 6/10/09
#12Pippin
Posted: 11/2/13 at 11:47am
dramamama611 - yeah, you did miss my point. I was referring to the prior discussion regarding the great view from the mezzanine. What I meant was, tourists shouldn't feel like they need to buy the more expensive orchestra tickets to have a great experience on Broadway when the mezzanine and balcony seats in most Broadway houses are going to be just fine. Most of the Bway houses are much more intimate that the big houses that these same shows play when they're on the road. So a balcony view on Broadway is, generally speaking, going to be much better than a balcony view in San Diego.
matineeidol2591 - completely agree. While I certainly loved several of the songs from Pippin before, I thought at least half the score was pretty mediocre. My opinion was completely altered by this production. Loved every single song. And, while I'm VERY glad that the creators decided to integrate as much of Fosse's original work as possible, this production demonstrated that the score and, yes, even the book -- imperfect as it may be -- can stand up well with other interpretations.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#13Pippin
Posted: 11/2/13 at 12:03pmAh, now I see -- but they would NEVER discourage tourists from buying the more expensive seats. Why should they? WE get to have discounts (in all forms) BECAUSE of those that don't know better and buy full price and/or the higher priced seats. (additionally, the great seats in the mezz are usually the same price as tix in most of the orchestra.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
jwsel
Featured Actor Joined: 8/2/05
#14Pippin
Posted: 11/4/13 at 4:41amI have to agree about the mezzanine for Pippin. I had house seats for Pippin that I got through the Ahmanson in LA and was told that they would be center-orchestra, so when I saw they were mezzanine, I was initially a little annoyed. But they were front row of the mezzanine and were probably better than the orchestra seats would have been. It really is a tiny theater and from the mezzanine, I think you get a better view of everything that is happening on the stage.
mpd4165
Leading Actor Joined: 8/6/09
#15Pippin
Posted: 11/4/13 at 9:49am
The PIPPIN tour will start in Denver, beginning Sept. 2014.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/PIPPIN-Will-Hit-the-Road-for-a-National-Tour-Launches-September-2014-in-Denver-20130515
Updated On: 11/4/13 at 09:49 AM
Videos