by DEKOTAH LEGO
Contributing Writer
The Piedmont College Department of Theatre welcomed an anticipating audience this past week for its first production, “Pippin.” The show was performed Oct. 3-5 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 6 at 2:00 p.m. “Pippin” is the first production of the department’s 2013-2014 season.
“Pippin” first opened on Broadway in 1973, directed by Bob Fosse. During its run, the show won five Tony Awards. It is currently on Broadway again, and its revival has boasted four Tony Awards so far.
Director Bill Gabelhausen and student director Kiki Thompson said before the show that Piedmont’s version was slightly different from the one on Broadway, but the production’s “magic” still kept the audience attentive and wanting to know what would happen next.
The show began with the three “Leading Players,” played by seniors Whitni Coke, Ben Cissé and Nic Johnson, on the empty stage.
In the beginning of Act One, the stage was built right in front of the audience. This really made the audience feel part of the production.
The first act featured stellar performances that were accompanied by strong vocal performances. Senior Chase Weaver played Charlemagne, Pippin’s father; senior Katie Robinson played Pippin’s stepmother, Fastrada; and Pippin was portrayed by senior Jeremy Douylliez.
In the first scene, Pippin sang a song called “Corner of the Sky,” showcasing his desire to do something great with his life.
That is the great question of this show: “who are we, and where do we want to go?” In a search to find meaning in his life, Pippin goes to battle, finds love, runs from things and in the end has the chance to do something that will make him part of “The Grand Finale.”
It is when Pippin makes his choice of what he wants to do with his life when we see what it means to be human.
The show received a great amount of positive feedback. Junior art major Rosie Walk said, “It was really entertaining. My favorite part was the slow motion battle scene. I couldn’t stop laughing.”
Similarly, sophomore early childhood education major Amy Crump said that her favorite part was also the battle scene.
“I thought it was funny how they all did it in slow motion. All the different weapons they used were funny,” Crump said.
Sophomore music major Jessie Bee said, “The show was great. I loved Theo and his duck.”
The theatre department’s next play is “Courage!” and will run from Nov. 21-24 in the Blackbox Theater.