The musical Pippin was put on by the Chesterton High School (CHS) Music Department November 2023.
Pippin is a musical about a recently graduated prince named Pippin, who is the son of King Charles. Pippin wants to do something extraordinary with his life, causing him to experiment with numerous hobbies, quests, and passions. However, he grows critical of his father’s political beliefs. Convinced to make a difference in the kingdom, Pippin kills his father and assumes the throne. Pippin then realizes the difficulties his father endured. Filled with grief and remorse, he desperately requests that his father may live, and King Charles resumes once more as king after being revived. Pippin then meets a widow named Catherine who is a mother to a young boy. Pippin grapples with his internal conflict of wanting to pursue a remarkable life, compared to settling down with the woman and boy to live a modest, hard-working life. Pippin tells a story of how our impossible standards can work against our best interest, and how family, love, and connection is enough.
“Pippin is a person who is trying to find his place in the world and he’s struggling a little bit to find where he belongs and things that make him happy. It’s really teaching you to enjoy the simple things around you and the simple things in life,” Senior Luke Housman said.
The leading cast members in Pippin include Ava and Sophia Cunningham, both as Leading Player, Luke Housman as Pippin, Cooper Fowler as Charles, Payton Whalen as Lewis, Hailey Nevious as Fastrada, Kassidy Miller as Berthe, Karleigh Pawlyszyn as Catherine, and Samuel Smith as Theo. Pippin’s cast was unique due to its versatile ensemble which included vocal and dance captains that implemented ballet, hula hoops, exercise balls, and aerial silks into the choreography.
“[Pippin] was a show I never directed before, but I always try to look at shows that are going to highlight the strengths of the kids that we have in the program [and of kids] that might be auditioning…I kept circling back to this show and it seems to have been the right choice. It’s been a really fun experience. The kids really stepped up, and it was kind of a challenge. We only had about 17 rehearsals to put the whole thing together,” Director Miss Morris said.
I attended the musical without any expectations and left pleasantly surprised. As an avid theater goer, Pippin truly is quirky and unusual show. The sets’ color palette focused on a striking pair- red and black. The set of looming, dark stairs on either side of the stage both led up to a bridge. Beneath the bridge was a giant square, mainly covered by bold, ruby curtains. Throughout the show, the ensemble sat on the staircases opposite each other, while the main performers stood in front of the curtains, fulfilling a complete appearance onstage. The show itself had a circus vibe and atmosphere with ensemble members sporting gaudy makeup and red tutus with black suits. For most of the show, the lighting used was red in color or neutral, only changing to alternate colors several times. With the lighting and hues, the ambience felt menacing and thrilling. The ensemble and cast each brought high energy to the performance, making it a night to remember for the audience.
“In the ensemble, I lead [the other members]. I make sure we all know our parts, and it’s a really fun vibe. We’re all friends so…I keep order [within the ensemble]. [It’s been] a great experience for me personally. I get to spend time with friends and sing with them one last time,” Senior Melissa Cook said.
While viewing Pippin, several specific details stood out to me. One such detail that, in my opinion, made the performance what it was, was the amazing abilities of the ensemble and dancers. I was impressed by one member’s flexibility as she gracefully maneuvered with the aerial silks. Another honorable mention is how the cast casually executed singing intense notes while moving in such a fluid way. The singer’s capacity to vocalize in such a distinct and clear tone was astounding. One moment where I sat in disbelief was when three girls contorted themselves into a makeshift table which a map was laid on top of- while they were still singing! The girls held this position for the duration of the song, “War is a Science.” This musical kept me on my toes and left me in awe of each person’s incredible talent.
“I’ve been doing [the musical] all four years so the big buildup to knowing it’s the last one is exciting. I’m very grateful for the opportunity Miss Morris has given me this year,” senior Sophia Cunningham said, “I’m the leading player. She [Sophia’s character] controls everything and she’s the ringmaster, so it’s cool acting like I’m in charge, I’m confident, I’m powerful. It’s a fun aspect, I think.”
“I think [opening night] went really well. It was really fun to perform the show finally, and I think we prepared well. I love the program at CHS, it’s a good musical program. We have lots of props and costumes, and all the systems work well,” junior Cooper Fowler said.
The audience was quite reactive during the show. After many enchanting solos, claps filled the auditorium. As I was leaving, I heard someone whistling the chorus of “Magic to Do”. Safe to say, the performance left an impression on those watching.
“I really liked the dancing and the singing…I think [Miss Morris] picked a perfect crew. I think the set, also, was really cool. I think the dancers were awesome,” Junior and audience member Heidi Nittner said.
I find that Pippin’s storyline is prevalent to many students currently. For the seniors at CHS, they are stepping into an unknown chapter, and the weight of our own and other’s expectations can feel suffocating. Pippin’s message reveals that it’s okay to not know what you want to do with your life. It reveals that sometimes we have to take other paths before we find the right one. It shows that there is magic in the mundane. The CHS Music Department did a phenomenal job with the selection of this musical, in addition to its execution.
