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8 The Leading Player and Players bully and dare
Pippin to partake in the grand finale by jumping
into a magical box of fire to become one with
the flame. “You will be an extraordinary part of
history,” proclaimed the Leading Player.
9 In another twist of the plot, stepmother
Fastrada believed she could “Spread a Little
Sunshine” by plotting the murder of her husband
King Charlemagne and opening the path to the
throne for son Lewis.
10 In a turning point for Pippin, he stands
united with Catherine and Theo, defying
the governing Leading Player who furiously
threatens to stop the show because this is not
the finale he had plotted.
11 As the cast returns to a reprise of “Magic
to Do,” The Leading Player grooms Theo
as the next prince. The musical ends with
Pippin and Catherine looking on, only to
realize that Theo, like all of us, will have to
wrestle with his own demons and make
his own choices in order to find his corner
of the sky.
12 In the final scene, as Pippin and
Catherine turn to leave the stage, young
Theo (Mateo Carrasco) remains alone and
sings a verse of “Corner of the Sky.” The
action suggests that at the heart of the
plot is a cycle which will now continue
with Theo.
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ultimately self-destructive. Having experimented with every
possible path to fulfillment, he feels humbled, and realizes the
most fulfilling life may be found by settling with Catherine.
The Leading Player, who suddenly realizes Pippin is falling
for Catherine and defying his script by not partaking in his
plan for a grand finale, becomes furious and calls off the
show, telling the Players and even the orchestra to pack up
and leave. The story ends dramatically with Pippin, Catherine,
and her son alone on an empty, dark and silent stage, and
the Leading Player yelling, “You try singing without music,
sweetheart!” At this moment, Pippin recognizes that he has
given up his extraordinary purpose for the simplest and most
ordinary life of all, and he is finally a happy man.
In 2013, Pippin saw a revival on Broadway,
with director Diane Paulus merging a circusinspired theme to feature an acrobatic troupe
of performers (originally the Players). The
storyline remained the same, with Pippin
struggling to decide whether he should settle
down and pursue a peaceful life or continue
to make magic with the dazzling acrobats. The
musical won four Tony Awards, one for Best
Revival. The show is now touring nationally
while its run on Broadway prevails.
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C ARLYN TON S CHOOL DIS TR IC T NE WS
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5 Returning from war with brother Lewis
(Caleb Staker) and father King Charlemagne
(Jarod Latta), Pippin struggles with the
realization that he does not wish to be a
soldier even though he believed it would offer
excitement and adventure.
6 Pippin visits his grandmother, Berthe (Marin
Exler) to seek advice. Despite his efforts to lead
an extraordinary life, Berthe suggests that it’s
simply time to start living through the song,
“No Time at All.”
7 Pippin meets and falls in love with the
widow Catherine (Sophia Carrasco). The couple
shared a tender moment in “Love Song.”
Carlynton-Montour
Opposite page:
1 Leading Player, Alex Pollak, opened the show
with an enigmatic performance of “Magic to Do,”
promising a display of adventure, intrigue and
romance.
2 The Players and Leading Player close out the
first scene of “Magic to Do” in grand Fosse style.
3 Singing “Corner of the Sky,” Pippin (John Oliver)
expressed a passion to find an extraordinary
calling.
4 Players Cristy Crawshaw and Brianna Oddi,
with Leading Player Alex Pollak, performed the
Manson Trio, inspired by the original
Pippin Broadway performance that opened in
1972.