Preview and Post Opening Pippin Critiques

[bundy5000]

Posted: 5/23/13 at 10:16pm

I have seen Pippin twice now and have a few snippets about some of the small changes. I know not every performance is the same but these were distinct when I was watching. I don't know if any of these would be considered spoiler so read at your own RISK.

Rachel's "Average Woman", she no longer holds the last night very long. In previews she held it for at least 15 sec. She holds it not as long now. Andrea Martin does a few more extra moves on the rope than in previews but less "ahhs" and noises. The cast is more interactive with the audience immediately following the intermission. During "With You", Matt had a bit more comedic moments during the song. Spread a Little Sunshine is a little less exciting, maybe Charlotte was off her game. "War is a science" was done a little different, more comedic moments.

If I think of anything else I will let you know. Feel free to post anything I might have missed or am overlooking

Updated On: 5/23/13 at 10:16 PM

[getatme]

Posted: 5/23/13 at 10:21pm

I'm not sure the ending of "Average Woman" is a permanent change. I was at the show last Tuesday evening and Rachel cracked a bit earlier in the song and then struggled to hold out the long note at the end of the song and ended up repeating the word "girl" a few times until finally the downbeat happened. I think they've made the change for the time being to spare her voice a little bit so she doesn't have to call out during Tony time.

[lxttech]

Posted: 5/23/13 at 11:21pm

I was at a talkback for Pippin on Saturday and Rachel told us she has laryngitis and is trying her best to stay in good voice. I'm sure its temporary.

[JarqueLemos]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 6:31am

Since Circus and musicals are combining now will Barnum become the next musical on the ART radar

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

Posted: 5/24/13 at 7:23am

^ The A.R.T. have nothing to do with it, but I believe it is currently being prepped for a revival on the other side of the pond? Cameron Mackintosh is involved.

[MusicalTheatreGeek2]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 7:36am

Yeah, They are doing a Revivial at the Chichester Festival in the UK, with a view to transferring to the West End, and Cameron Mackintosh is Co-Producting! And Christopher Fitzgerald is playing Barnum!

[JarqueLemos]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 7:58am

yes I know about that one, I was thinking about what Diane's vision would be though.
since she did it in Pippin. Another forum perhaps

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 8:18am

Just because Diane did one musical with an added circus theme doesn't mean she wants to do another one.

I'm pretty sure she's smart enough to know that people may start to think she's trying to make lightning strike twice or that she's a one-trick pony (though she's already proven she's not).

As an artist, she probably wants a new creative challenge.

Updated On: 5/24/13 at 08:18 AM

[dreaming]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 8:24am

I was there last weekend and if anything, the energy seemed amped up. I was quite impressed (I had previously seen it and loved it). Rachel Bay Jones did hold the note out and I thought Charlotte D'Amboise was particularly good. Andrea Martin-well, she doesn't disappoint. Overall, I was very pleased-everyone sounded and looked great. (A happy group to be sure.) The audience loved it.

[PJPan]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 9:12am

I saw it two weeks ago and the energy was definitely high - not one cast member was lagging. Stephanie Pope, who was fantastic, was on. Going to try to see Patina in it in a few weeks.

On a shallow note, I should probably see it again anyways because lord how I spent most of that show ogling Colin Cunliffe. Man is gorgeous :)

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 9:30am

We saw it Wednesday night, (May 22) - and I don't think I've ever been in a theatre where the audience was that pumped up before the show began. When the first notes started, there was a cheer. And the energy offstage and onstage never faltered.

I'm now able to go through the BWW threads and explore the changes from prior versions especially changed lyrics.

But, man, was that a fabulous evening - and the cast was so nice at Stage Door even with the GMA appearance coming up in just a few hours.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 10:08am

The night I saw it, the audience was pumped up from the start, even before Patina walked through the curtain. Of course once she walked through, their was a thunderous applause for her & the cast. Would love to see this again(and again).

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 10:08am

"Just because Diane did one musical with an added circus theme doesn't mean she wants to do another one. "

She also directed the latest Cirque to Soleil, so you never know what that carny will do with next season's "Witness Uganda." Will she finally originate a successful musical? Can one successfully circusize a story of violence and oppression?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 10:18am

I'd be very curious to see what Paulus can do with an original new musical.

[dreaming]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 10:23am

I think I'd like to see Diane Paulus try directing an opera. That seems to be a new trend among theatrical directors and I think she'd be very good at it. I don't know what opera, but I know I'd see it. (I love Handel so maybe one of his operas.)

[Queen of the Night]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 10:53am

Dreaming, I totally agree. The Metropoltan opera has hired Broadway folks like Michael Mayer,Julie Taymor and Bartlett Sher recently, so why not Diane? She pays a lot of attention to detail, the creator's intentions and backs her staging choices with research, knowledge and creative storytelling while be faithful enough to the original work. I'd love to see her do an opera. And if she wants a staging challenge, Handel would definitely be it! Those are so hard to do because they are so static.

[dreaming]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 11:00am

My favorite Handel pieces of late are "Alcina" and "Ariodante". They have lush scores and are less frequently done. She could do an amazing job with them. "Semele" has a little more action and a neat score as well.

[mikem]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 11:44am

I remember reading that more circus stunts were added to Pippin during the preview period. Does anyone know what those specific additions were?

[lenstersf]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 11:03am

I watched the show on Friday night after having seen it a few times at the A.R.T. There were many changes made in Act II, fewer in Act I. In general, the cast was phenomenal, especially Patina Miller. She's giving a fantastic performance, and I really think she deserves a lot of recognition for what she's doing up there.

Some changes I noticed:
-Orgy scene - new costumes, much more of a dominatrix feel than before
-The table walking only with a pair of legs...not sure how that's done, but wasn't in the show before
-"Spread a Little Sunshine" - All the quick costume changes are new

-Opening of the second act - the players are more interactive with the audience, doing tricks in the aisles, etc. I found this a little distracting since I was seated in an aisle seat, but still enjoyable.
-Blocking for much of the scenes only with Catherine and Pippin is different (e.g., position of the bed and table, etc.)
-Extraordinary - the peasants, farm animals are new. At the A.R.T., the only peasants were Greg Arsenal and Philip Rosenberg. Now the entire ensemble is on stage. I felt this was too excessive and distracting...not a fan of the changes in this scene.
-Love song - Pippin didn't play the guitar before.
-Finale. LOVED the changes here. The tricks on the red ribbons are new additions. Real fire, a big fire pit, Pippin on the trapeze. It felt dangerous, exciting, and real.

[gchris11]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 11:17am

Changes since previews began.
1. Lyric changes to War is a Science, and Extraordinary
2. Blocking on Extraordinary I think I counted at least 5 times they changed it.
3. The human tower at the end of Morning Glow was moved in front of the stair case
4. Changed this week: the acrobat routine during the sex scene. (not sure this one is permanent).
5. They dropped one of Charlotte's quick changes (There used to be 4).
6. Pippin's shirt has been changed at least 3 times.
7. Theo's costume has changed.
If I think of more I will add them.

Updated On: 5/27/13 at 11:17 AM

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 11:27am

War Is A Science is almost completely rewritten from the original. I presume Schwartz did the changes. Were these lyric changes he wanted 40 years ago? I'm real curious as the whys and wherefores.

[gchris11]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 11:52am

War is a Science lyrics were changed at 2 separate times during previews. Up until the last week or 2 before opening the only verse that was changed was the second. then they went and changed the first. I can ask next time I am at the show (this week). Also they changed Extraordinary 2 or 3 times.

Still do not know why.

[Thparkaly]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 12:02pm

Updated On: 11/8/17 at 12:02 PM

[gchris11]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 12:26pm

Updated On: 5/27/13 at 12:26 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/27/13 at 10:22pm

I don't know why I can't get excited for this. It's totally up my alley, but I don't know. I just feel like "i'll see it eventually..."