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Performing Arts

A once and future king

DAC’s summer musical ‘Pippin’ is colorful and ambitious

When a medieval king and his soldiers wear turkey trays and plastic Jell-O molds for armor, you know you’re in the land of make-believe. When a prince dons a cookie-tin helmet and a wooden sword, you know a war spoof is afoot.

“Pippin,” the breezy 1972 Broadway hit musical, has landed at Durango Arts Center with a trunk full of kitchen utensils, feathers, sequins, tights, cutaway jackets and damsel dresses that slide over T-shirts and jeans.

Directed by Dennis Elkins, chair of the Fort Lewis College’s Department of Theatre, and a creative dream team, the musical comedy is a hybrid – not unlike the composer’s other big hit, “Godspell,” or its winking cousin, “Cabaret.”

Created by Stephen Schwartz with a book by Roger Hirson, “Pippin” is a story about a bewildered prince with a powerful father. Loosely based on the life of one son of Charlemagne – the elder being Charles the Great, the first Holy Roman Emperor and father-of-Europe – the story is set in the eighth century. The trappings are colorful, including Walker White’s Bayeux Tapestry inspired set design and Ginny Davis’s zany costuming. But at heart, it’s a coming-of-age tale.

Michael Chapman brings some maturity to the role of the famous father, and the prince is played by the winning actor-singer Adam Sowards. His early ballad, “Corner of the Sky,” echoes throughout the show. In search of purpose and true identity, Pippin participates in the king’s court, his father’s wars and the wider world. In his quest, he encounters various people and stumbles onto other paths.

The ending won’t be given away here, but it’s interesting to note the composer wrote two endings. In the 2013 Broadway revival, the second ending prevailed, and so it does in Durango. It’s provocative and beautifully realized by Elkins and company.

“Pippin” may be a Broadway musical, but it has a vaudevillian format. You’re guided through the prince’s journey by a master of ceremonies (Kenneth Breece as Leading Player – an oily salesman, slithering and smiling throughout). He speaks directly to the audience and to his players to keep them on story.

The music is straight out of the rock ’n’ roll ’60s, with dark echoes of Weimar Germany (“Spread a Little Sunshine”) or Hollywood war movies (“Glory”) in which choreographer Suzy DiSanto has channeled Bob Fosse’s famous soft-shoe trio in front of slo-mo battlefield scenes. There’s nothing like a jaunty, old-fashioned song-and-dance about violence to underscore the work’s ironic tone.

For dramatic purposes, a subversive subplot involves a naughty stepmother, Fastrada (played by Durango performer, Mandy Gardner) and her son Lewis (the fit bench-presser Steve Ward). Historically, Fastrada was Charlemagne’s third wife of four, and there was a Lewis (Louis I).

Fastrada would like to dispense with Pippin and put Lewis on the throne – a subplot that brings “Camelot” to mind, another, earlier Broadway success capitalizing on the popularity of mythic medieval adventures.

The other women in Pippin’s life include Berthe, his quirky grandmother (played by the musical comedienne Charissa Chiaravalotti) and Catherine, a young widow (brought to life at dress rehearsal by understudy Emma Costello for Kristin Winchester).

Music Director Helen Gregory pulls out all the stops on her magic piano to create relevant accompaniment (harpsichord or organ), where necessary. Percussionist Mark Rosenberg stirs Charlemagne’s army with a snare drum march as well as all the rhythmic underpinnings for this dance-crazy musical.

“Pippin” is an ambitious, high-energy show. Last Wednesday at dress rehearsal, almost everything clicked into place. Only a few sound problems needed to be fixed and a lost line or two recaptured.

“Pippin” is a spicy choice for Durango summer theater, now through Aug. 16.

jreynolds@durangoherald.com. Judith Reynolds is a Durango writer, artist and critic.

If you go

“Pippin,” a musical by Stephen Schwartz, Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Avenue, directed by David Elkins, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Aug. 16. Tickets are $25 general admission, $22 DAC members, students and seniors. For information, visit www.durangoarts.org or call 259-2606.



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