“It’s almost like a beating whale heart,” says Mrs. Fifer, describing the cast huddled together, pulsing and breathing in sync to the beat of the music. The scene is hazy and mysterious. This is how the musical Pippin begins.
Pippin is a story within a story. It features an eccentric acting troupe run by the charismatic Leading Player, played by Jabari King ‘26, who’s determined to put on an extraordinary show. The troupe performs a play about Pippin, our naïve and confused protagonist played by Isaac Obeng ‘26, as he searches for purpose in life. Daniel Kaminju ‘26 plays Pippin’s inattentive father, Charlemagne, who is King of the Holy Roman Empire. We follow Pippin as he tries to find meaning in war, politics, and a romantic relationship with the graceful Catherine, played by Anny Qian ‘27. The story also features Catherine’s son Theo, played by Jack Camp ‘29; Pippin’s cunning stepmother Fastrada, played by Zoe Woodhall ‘27; his arrogant stepbrother Lewis, played by Alvin Wang ‘28; and his sassy grandmother Berthe, played by Ruby Dawson ‘26. Together, they bring the magical world of Pippin to life.
Interestingly, Pippin seems to be the only one who is oblivious to the fact that they are acting. To help audiences understand this, the cast and crew compared it to The Truman Show and the dream scene in Disney’s Inside Out: stories where the main character doesn’t realize everything around them is artificial.
The faculty team behind picking the musical – Mrs. Fifer, Mr. Gales, and Mr. Werrel – hoped that this production would “stretch” Taft’s talented seniors: Isaac, Jabari, and Daniel. All three have been involved in Taft’s theatre productions since their freshman year, and say that Pippin might be the most work they’ve ever put into any one so far. Whether it be singing in a higher register, executing elaborate dances, or figuring out the nuances of their complex characters, our lead actors are challenged in new ways.
To take the musical to the next level, Taft invited several professionals to support the production. Amber Cameron, a former Rockette, supplemented Ms. Surber’s dance choreography, and fight choreographer Robert Richnavsky offered his expertise in stage combat. On top of Dr. Pierpont and Mr. Thompson’s ongoing vocal work with the entire cast, some lead singers also had a short coaching session with a guest artist, adding an extra special touch to their singing.
Let us not forget the theatre technicians who work tirelessly behind the scenes. This fall, the tech crew, including George Macdonald ‘27, Alice Li ‘27, and Sylvia Rassen ‘28, devoted many afternoons to painting the stage floor. It now features colorful, patterned stones that set the mystical tone of the musical. Additionally, Melissa Maselli ‘26, who assisted in wardrobe design, emphasizes the role that costumes play in storytelling. In Pippin, she says, the “garish” and “avant-garde” costumes not only give the entire musical a surreal feel, but may also “illuminate the façade people put on every day.”
Although it is undoubtedly a comedic and fun musical, Pippin is also a production that will leave you asking questions. How far will you go to achieve your goals before they destroy you? What truly makes life fulfilling? Can you ever be “extraordinary”? Each audience member might walk out of Bingham Auditorium with a slightly different interpretation – or maybe simply leave humming the song “Corner of the Sky.”
Pippin is a musical you absolutely cannot miss. It has everything you could ever ask for: an adventurous storyline, lots of lively songs and dances, many moments of laughter, a beautiful set, and an incredibly dedicated cast, crew, and faculty. But beyond all that, this musical forces us to reevaluate what really matters in life. This Fall Family Weekend, everyone will be talking about Pippin!
