Musical Theatre News: PIPPIN at the Mark Taper...

"Tony Award®-winning Pippin is the lively coming of age story of King Charlemagne's oldest son. Featuring music from the award-winning composer of Wicked and Godspell, this dazzlingly colorful and imaginative tale first captivated audiences on Broadway and continues to appeal to the young-at-heart everywhere.

Director Jeff Calhoun and Deaf West Theatre follow their popular hits, Sleeping Beauty Wakes (Ovation Award winner) at the Douglas and Big River at the Taper, by transforming this beloved classic into a wildly theatrical and original musical event featuring deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing actors as voice and American Sign Language are interwoven with music, dance, and joyous storytelling." http://www.centertheatregroup.org/tickets/productiondetail.aspx?id=7702

My Review:

Well, I waited a week to post my opinion because I needed to really think about it. The incorporation of sign and the double casting of signing and singing actors in some of the roles worked very well. In fact the signing was beautifully done and added to the production the way good choreography does. The costuming was generally good, but uninspired, and sometimes, as in the case of Berthe, pedestrian and poorly fitted to the actress. Fastrada's costume was a neon, plastic version of a 1950's housewife with bustier styled cleavage. The portrayal by the actress was equally plastic. She rarely showed any of the raw ambition central to the part, nor the wicked witty sexuality the role requires.
Louis was fine. Not good, not bad, just fine.
Charlemagne was powerful, distant, and paternal all at the same time. A little too Hell's Angel for me, but acceptable.
Berthe was flat and uninspired. No one joined in the sing along... she just didn't compel it. Her lust for life was hardly evident, nor was her lust for her young male chorus all that apparent, even with the choreographed thrusts and gropes. She absolutely threw away her flagpole line. No laugh. NONE.
The two Pippins were very good. They were warm, funny, confused, petulant, and just a very little evil. Having two, one signing and one singing, made for an very nice dichotomy when the character is confused or trying to make up his mind.
Catherine was good, but her spotlight solo was nothing to bring down the house. I don't think her delivery got through to the audience, as they did not laugh or wince at her comments about him being "worse", nor did they relax when she said he was the best that had come along in a long long time.
The Lead Player was energetic, sexy, and in good voice. Not Vereen, but very good.
The ensemble was excellent, with a lot of expression and energy.
The finale was well presented. The duck flopped. Theo was too old, or too stolid, or just too unpleasant. His moment at the end, taking over Corner of the Sky was fine. They cut the "trapped, but happy" speech.
So, what did I think? If this was your first Pippin, you would probably enjoy it, but think it was nothing terribly special. I was neither pleased nor disappointed, since an evening of theatre, even bad theatre, can be fun.
But for my taste, the EastWest Players' version last year was far superior. This was just a performance. Theirs was a dynamic art.