Pippin Themes and Meaning

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1 PippinThemesandMeaning ThefollowingquestionsandanswersarefromthearchiveoftheStephenSchwartz.comForum. CopyrightbyStephenSchwartz2010allrightsreserved.Nopartofthiscontentmaybereproduced withoutpriorwrittenconsent,includingcopyingmaterialforotherwebsites.feelfreetolinktothis Pippin:TheTrueMeaningOf Question: Iamstudyingyourmusical,PippinformyEnglishclass.Iwouldlikesomepersonalinformationfromyou yourselfonyourthoughtsandfeelingbehindthe"true"meaning. AnswerfromStephenSchwartz: Thankyouforyour .Basically,PIPPINisaboutayoungmaninsearchofwhattodowithhislife. Butlikemanyofusincontemporarysociety,particularlythosewithenougheconomicfreedomtoallow choice,hehastheillusionthatthereisoneparticularchoicewhich,ifonlyhefindsit,willleadto completefulfillmentandcontentment.hehasnotyetlearnedthatitistheprocessofseekingthat containsthejoy,nottheattainmentofthegoalitself.healsoisquiteselfishinhispursuitsatthe beginning,asmostofusarewhenweareyoung.itisn'tuntilhelearnstogivehimselftosomeoneelse (Catherineandherson)thathebeginstofindasenseofinnerpeaceandself worth.ultimately,he realizesthatthedemandforsomethingwithoutflaworcompromiseisnotjustself defeatingbut ultimatelyself destructive.hemustcometoacceptthatlifeisneverperfectandthatwhatwehaveto doisfindsomethingandsomeonetocareabout,devoteourselvestothat,anddothebestwecan.in otherwords,hegrowsup.iknowalotofthisansweriscouchedin90'spsycho babble,butihopeyou willunderstandwhatimeanandihopeitproveshelpful.best,stephenschwartz WasPippinadraftdodger? Question: Thissummer,IdirectedPippinforayouththeaterinasmall,ruralcommunity.Usingveryyoungactors my(female!)leadingplayerwas18,lewiswas13,andpippinwas14! broughtallsortsofchallenges andinsightstothepiece(itwentwonderfully,bytheway!),butthebiggestquestionihavewaswithmy accompanists'interpretationoftheplotandthemeoftheshow. IamtooyoungtoremembertheVietnamWar,butthiswomancametotheconclusionthattheplot verywellcouldrefertovietnamandtothewayyoungmenwereencouraged/recruitedtobepartofit. Inthisinterpretation,theLeadingPlayeristhepropagandaofthegovernmentthatencouragedyoung mento"gooutinablazeofglory,"bysacrificingtheirlivesfor"oneperfectact."charlemagneisthe WWIIveteranfatherthatseeswarasarighteousandnobleendeavor;Lewisisthegung hosoldier ("strongandstupid"). Basically,ifallthisistrue,thenPippinrunsawaytoCanadawithCatherineinsteadofjoiningthewar or "finale" attheendoftheshow,butdoesn'tfeellikea"coward"ora"compromiser."(inour production,weusedthepapermillending,leavingoutthewords"trapped...buthappy"andgivingour 8 year oldtheoamomenttoshine.) Iwouldlovetodirecttheshowagainnow(thoughpossiblywitholderactors),basedaroundthis interpretation,andiwasjustwonderingwhatyouthoughtofit.ithinkitwouldmakeagreat movie/musical(hopefully"chicago"willjump startalong neglectedgenre),andijustwantedtoknowif

2 theseideashadanyaffectonthewritingoftheactual"pippin"bookorifanyonehasusedthis interpretationinamajorstagedproduction. ThanksagainforoneofthemostrewardingtheatricalexperiencesI'vehadsofarinmylife andisn'tit abouttimepippinwasrevivedonbroadway?sincerely Amanda AnswerfromStephenSchwartz: There'snoquestionthatPIPPINwasgreatlyaffectedbyhavingbeenwrittenduringtheVietnamera. Notonlythewarsequence(orperhapsanti warsequencewouldbeabetterwaytoputit),butthe politicalsequencewhenpippinbecomeskingandtriestoputallhisidealisticprinciplesintopractice, wereinfluencedbywhatwerethencurrentevents. Ifthewarsectionmadeleft wingmembersoftheaudiencehappy,thepippin as emperorsection probablymaderight wingmembersoftheaudienceequallyhappy.butithinkitistoolimitingtoview theentireshowasbeingaboutareactiontothevietnamwar,oranyothersingleevent.pippin'ssearch forsomethingfulfillingtodowithhislifeis,ibelieve,timelessanduniversal.idon'treallyseetheend asbeingabouthimrunningawaytocanada.iguessifeelthateachsectionisdiscreetinitself that onceherejectsbeingasoldier,thatsectionisover,andtheendingisaresultofhiscumulative experiences,ratherthanreferringbacktothespecificissueofthewar,vietnamorotherwise. Thanksforyourinterestingthoughtsabouttheshow.Itwillpleaseyoutoknowthatarevivalis,infact, underdiscussion.sincerely,stephenschwartz PIPPINSelf destruction/fire/playersasego? Question: WhydoesPippin'segowishforhimtosethimselfonfire?I'mconfused. AnswerfromStephenSchwartz: Iwouldn'tsaythePlayersinPIPPINreallyrepresentPippin's"ego".Thefollowingisofcourseanoversimplification:butinessencetheyrepresentthepartofallofusthatisneversatisfied,thehungerthat canneverbesated,thedesireforexcitementandglamourthatisimpossibletoachieve,theunfulfillable urgesthatleadustoself destructivebehavior,excess,depressionforsome,andmaniaforothers(orfor thesamepeopleatdifferenttimes.)theextremeversionofneverbeingabletobedevotedenoughto somethingtobeabletocommittoitisaspiralofself destruction.pippin'ssettinghimselfonfireisa metaphorforthat(andactuallyderivesfromagreekmythofacharacterwhokeptchanginghisshape untilheultimatelyburstintoflame.)ihopethishelpsansweryourquestionsomewhat.thanksforyour interest.sincerely,stephenschwartz PippinandthenewendingDownunder Question/comment: IhadtheprivilegeofseeingtheoriginalBroadwayversionaswellastheoriginalMagicShowinthe70s whilelivingwithmyaustralianfamilyinnewyork.likeallyourcorrespondentsihavealwaysbeen movedbyyourmusic;asanolderpersoniamstruckbyyouragilityandpenetrationofyourlyrics. WehavejustseenthecurrentproductioninSydney,whichisperformedbyanenergeticand hardworkingcast.icannottellhowmuchtheconclusiontotheshowisawismandatedbytheso called 'Theoending'andhowmuchwasoriginaltotheSydneyproduction.Iofferthesethoughts.

3 Thetroublewiththe'Theoending'IsawisthatitcentresthestoryontotheLeadingPlayer. RetrospectivelytheplaybecomesabouttheEnsembletemptingPippinandtheunwarytoeviland death,withthesuggestionthesuicide bomberastheunderlyingmeaningofthefinale. HoweverthereisnothinginthetexttosuggestthattheLeadingPlayerwishestoleadPippin,with malignintent,tohisdeath.onthecontrary,theleadingplayerishisfriend,hishoratio;theleading Playerofferscounsel("TheRightTrack")andprovidesoptionsandsupportasPippinseekstofindhis way.the'theoending'(andaspectsoftheproductiondesignandactingchoices)turntheleading PlayerintotheDevilandPippinintoFaust.PippinismuchclosertoHamletthantoanyotherfigure.The LeadingPlayerishisHoratio(albeitonewithmorethanatouchofPuck!)TheunderlyingthemeofPippin isnotthechoicebetweengoodandevil/lifeanddeath.itisbetweenrealityandnon reality,thetrue andthemagical("we'vegotmagictodo").pippinwantsglory,power,sexandanythingthatwillmake himfeelextraordinary.hewronglyseeksexternaleventsthatwilljustifyhis(andour)innersensethat ourlivesareuniqueandspecial,andthereforemusthaveauniqueandspecialmeaning. TheofferforPippintotouchthesunisnottheeviltemptationofaknowingIagofigure,seekingPippin's death,buttheofferbyanunrealfigureofahorrendouslyunrealchoice.itisimportantthatthelpand EnsembleareNOTmalignandthattheyareunconsciousoftheconsequencesoftheirsuggestion:they aremagicalcreatures,lookingformagic andwhatismoremagicalthanafireworksdisplay?what couldbemorewonderfulthanbeinginsideone?howgreatwouldthisbeforourgoodfriendpippin, whocannotfindhissatisfactionanywhere?"..theguardiansofspendourarecallingyoutodance!..") AtthispointPippinmust,withcourageandconfidence,assert:"Iamnotariver,oragiantbirdthatcalls tothesea..."here,atlast,pippinknowsthathischoiceistoliveareallife,withallitsambiguities,and boringbits,becausethe'heroic'optionsareinfact,unreal:"inevercameclose,mylove.ithinkwe camenear.ithinkitwashere.itneverwasthere."pippinandcatherineandtheo(howlikelyisitthat P&Cwouldrunawayinfear,leavingTheobehind?Theo,whosecriticalinfluenceasanunlikelymentor convertspippin,nottocatherine(love)buttocatherineandtheo(family)?)thetrioshouldatthis pointbecomemorerealandtheplayersless.thestrikingofthelights,setandcostumesshouldhave aneffectunintendedbytheleadingplayer,whichisthattheensemblebecomesless,andthepippin TriobecomesMore.TheEnsemblearethesprites,thefairies,themagicalfigures:withouttheirmagical world,theyceasetoexist.pippin,however,haschosenreality.asthetrappingsofthetheatre disappear,hischoicesandhisrealityshouldgrowbeforeoureyes.ithinkitwasaugustinewhofirst mappedouttheideathatevilwasnotanopposingandequalforcetogood,butsimplytheabsenceof Good.Evilissimplyunreality,inthiscasetheuniversalexperienceofwantingeverysecondofone's existencetobeturbochargedwithmagicandimportance.theabsenceofmagicisnot'depressing' reality.theoppositeofmagicisrealism:toleavebehindtheillusionsofchildhood,selfishnessand pique.pippinmayatlastembrace,withtheconfidenceandasenseofrealismthatnoteverydaycanbe aperfectday. WhenPippinchoosestheOrdinary,hebecomesExtraordinary. AnswerfromStephenSchwartz: Thanksforyourpointofview.Ihavetosay,however,thatIdon'tagree,atleastwithyour interpretationofwhatthe"theoending"signifies.

4 Letmesay,first,thatIdidnotseetheproductionyoudid,soIdon'tknowhoweffectivelyitwasstaged. Thereiscertainlynointention(noranystagedirectiontothateffectinthescript)tohavePippinand Catherine"runawayinfear",butratherforthemtolookonhelplesslyastheyrealizethattheirson,like allofus,willhavetowrestlewithhisowndemonsandmakehisownchoices.thisisofcoursea commonthemeinmanyofmyshows(cf.childrenofeden).andthatchoice,whichyoueloquently describeandwhichallofuswhohavecontroloverourownlivesmustmake,iswhattometheending isabout.pippinhasmadehischoice,andasyousay,hassuccessfullyandheroicallycometotermswith therealitiesoflife.buthehasnotchosenforallmenforalltime.bytakingthespotlight,literallyand figuratively,offofpippinattheend,andputtingitontotheemergingconsciousnessoftheo,ifeelthe endingmakestheshowmoreuniversalandmoreclearly(andtheatrically)dramatizesthisuniversal humanchoice. Thanksagainforyourthoughtful ,andIhopemyresponseatleastclarifiesforyoutheintentionof the"theoending",whichicontinuetofeelistheperfectendingforpippin. Sincerely,StephenSchwartz SchwartzonPippin Questionsfromawriter: Thismusical(PIPPIN)involvedanincredbilevarietyoftalent RogerHirsonwritingthebook,BobFosse directingtheoriginalbroadwayshow,etc.didyoueverexpectthisshowtomakeit"thisbig",with 1,944performancesonBroadway?Whatisitabouttheshowthathasinterested(andcontinuesto interest)somanypeopleinaudiencesaroundtheworld? AnswerfromStephenSchwartz: Idon'tknowthatwehadexpectationsfortheshow,beyondtryingtomakeitgoodenoughforittobea successartisticallyandwehopedcommercially.giventhequirkinessofthesubjectmatter,thescopeof itssuccessdidcomeasapleasantsurprise.ithinkthecontinuinginterestintheshowforpeoplestems fromthecentralstruggleofitstitlecharacter,ayoungmantryingtofindsomethingmeaningfultodo withhislife.ithinkheasksquestionsweallaskourselves,andexperiencesdisappointmentsand frustrationsthatweeitherhavepersonalfamiliaritywithorhaveobservedinthelivesofothers.ithink themordanttoneoftheshow,itslackofsentimentalityinviewingtheidealismandromanticismofits hero,isalsosomethingthatresonatesforcontemporaryaudiences.plus,ofcourse,it'ssexyandfunny, whichusuallydoesn'thurt. SchwartzQandAonPippin Question: Isthereaparticularsong,scene,momentorotherportionofPippinwhichismostmeaningfultoyou?If so,whyisthatparticularpartoftheshowsospecialtoyouonapersonallevel? AnswerfromStephenSchwartz: Well,atthetimeIwroteit,therewasasemi autobiographicalaspecttotheshow,soalotofsongsand momentsweremeaningfultome.overtheyears,myfavoriteline(byrogerhirson,notmyself)has cometoringtruerandtruerforme,whichispippin'scommentafterhisdisillusionmentwithhis experiencesasawarrior:"ithoughtthere'dbemoreplumes."howmanythingswecansaythatof! Intermsofsongs,acoupleofyearsbackinalarge castconcertbenefit,iheard"morningglow"sungby anexceptionallyfinesinger(michaelarden)backedbya100voicechoir.thatremainsmymostthrilling musicalmomentinvolvingasongfromtheshow.

5 Question: Finally,andperhapsmostimportantly,whatdoyoupersonallyconsidertobethemoralofthe"Pippin story"?whatdoyoufeelaudiencesshouldtakeawayfromthismusicalwhentheywalkoutofthe theatreattheendoftheevening? AnswerfromStephenSchwartz:Idon'treallyliketotellpeoplethe"moral"ofanyofmyshows;Ithink eachmemberoftheaudienceshouldtakefromashowwhatheorshewill.thatbeingsaid,ithinkit's clearthatpippintalksabouthavingtofindabalanceinone'slifebetweenidealismandambitionand findingalifeonecancommitto,evenifitdoesn'tsatisfyeverylongingorgoal.onedoesn'twanttojust settleforsomethingandgiveupone'sdreamsandaspirations,butontheotherhand,onedoesn'twant tochasesomethingthatisalwaysendlesslyjustoutofreachandwindupnowhereandwithnothing. It'sachoiceeachofus(inarelativelyfree,class lesssocietyanyway)hastodealwith(orrunawayfrom) andfindawaytoreconcile. Irealizeallthishasbeenalittlehigh falutin'foradiscussionofamusicalcomedy,butihopethese responsesproveofuseforyourarticle.sincerely,stephenschwartz SECTION2 PippinandViolence/Suicide Thefollowingisaseriesofexchangesstartingwithan that NameWithheld agreedtoallowtobe posted,alongwithstephenschwartz sanswer.followingthatisaforumvisitor sreply,andanother replyfrommr.schwartz. DearMr.Schwartz, Iamahighschooldramateacherwhodirectstheall schoolmusical,andihaveadelicatequestion aboutpippinandtheideaofsuicide.thedelicatenatureofthisquestioninourcommunityprevented mefrompostingthisonyourpublicforum(althoughilovethatresourceandreaditdaily!!!).injune, myproductionstaffandidecidedthatitwastimetomoveourhighschoolmusicaltheatreprogram, whichhadsuccessfullyperformedgreaseanddamnyankees,intoa"new,"moretheatrical Iguess youcouldsay"deeper" realm,andwedecidedthatpippinwouldbeagreatshowwithwhichwithto dothis.wehaveallofthegiftedsinger/actorsweneed,andlotsofgoodideasabouthowtoremovethe Fosse esque"bumpsandgrinds"tomakeitmorehighschoolappropriate.theonequalmihavealways hadaboutthisshowwhenperformedwithyoungeractorsistheviolencewithwhichtheplayersurge PIPPINtowardsuicideattheendoftheshow:certainly,suchissuesareveryrelevantintoday'sworld, butourcommunityisfairlyjudgementalandnotverysavvytheatrically(tothem,greaseisaclassicand manymayneverhaveheardofpippinbefore).evenso,myproductionstaffandifeltthatwecould downplaythesuicidebyfocusingontheideathattheplayerswantpippintoachievethe"glitziest," mostbang upshow bizfinishhecan,andifhegetshurtintheprocess,sowhat???however,iwas nevercompletelycomfortablewiththat"revised"appraochtotheendoftheshow,andnow,my studentsandihaveawholenewissuetodealwith.alongtimeresidentofourcommunity,wasshotto deathbyherhusband,whothenkilledhimself.sothewords"murder suicide"havebeenresonating throughoutourcommunity.tomakethisalltheharderformystudents,thehusbandwasacoachinour school,sothisaffectedalmostallofourstudentbodyinsomeway. IwouldbereallygratefulifyoucouldgivemesomeinsightintohowyouviewtheroleofthePlayersand whattheirintentionisintheendoftheshow,sothatitisclearinmymindandicanbetterexplain tomyactors.ihavebeeninpippinmyself(asaplayer),buthaveneverfeltthatifullyunderstoodthis role,unlessisitsimplythattheplayerswanttoleadpippinonapathtodestruction.ihaveread

6 everythingaboutpippinthaticangetmyhandson,butmostofitisaboutbobfosse'sdarkvisionfor theshowandhowitwasmaybeanoutgrowthofhisownpsyche.wasyouroverallvisionequallydark? Knowingyourothershows,itseemsuncharacteristicofyou also,yourmentionsofpippininyour FORUMallfocusonthejoythatPippinrealizeshecanfindinseekingagoalandincommittinghimself tosomethinghecaresabout.ilovethenewendingyoumentioned,wheretheosings"cornerofthe Sky"acappellaandtheLeadingPlayercomesbackon butagain,thisunderscorestheelementof darknessintheshow.howdoyousuggestmakingthe"good"elements"intheshowastheatrically powerfulasthe"bad"elements,whenthegoodis,bydefinition,aquietgood?doyouseeallthe Playersas"bad";oraretheyjustmisguidedandonlytheLeadingPlayeris"bad?"(Ironically,the sophisticationwithwhichthethemeofpippinispresentedmakesitmuchmorecomplicatedtoconvey thanindamnyankees,whichhas,asiseeit,thesametheme,butverydefiniteandeasily recognized "good"and"evil"elements.) ThankyousomuchfortakingthetimetoreadwhatIrealizeisalengthy .Ihavethoughtabout thesequestionsagreatdeal,andiknowanycommentsyouareabletoofferwouldbeextremely helpful.mystudentsreturntoschoolnextweekandwillbefullofquestionsandexcitementabouttheir musical,andiwanttobefullypreparedtohelpthembegintoenterthewonderfuljourneythat everyonewhoperformsinoneofyourshowstakes.verygratefully,(namewithheld) AnswerfromStephenSchwartz: Dear(Namewithheld):ThankyouforyourthoughtfulquestionaboutPIPPIN.Iappreciatethedelicacyof thisissueforhighschoolstudents,andparticularlyunderthecircumstancesyoudescribewiththe recentviolenteventsinyourcommunityinvolvingpeopleyourstudentsknew.idon'tthinkonecan totallyavoidthedarkgoaloftheplayers,asthatisintrinsictothestory,butithinkonecanlookatthe wholeissueinmoremetaphoricalterms.ithinkthestatementpippinismakingisinherentlyavery simpleone:ifyoukeeprunningaroundlookingforperfectioninlifeandlettingoutsideforcesinfluence yourgoalsandchoices,insteadofpickingsomethingyoucareaboutandstickingwithitwithoutillusions orromanticization,youwilleventually"burnyourselfout"anddestroyyourself.itdoesn'tliterallyhave tobesuicide;itcanbethekindofsubstancedependencythathasdestroyedpeoplelikerobert Downey,Jr.,forinstance.IthinkthewaytothinkaboutthePlayersistorealizethattheyareactuallyin Pippin'shead,justasweallhavethoseinternalizedvoicesthattelluswe'renotgoodenough,rich enough,beautifulenough,etc.,andthatwehavetomakeourgoalsconformtotheshallowand misplacedgoalsweseetoutedbythemediaandourso calledsocietalleaders.theplayersarenotso muchmalevolentastheyareeternallycynicalanddissatisfied,becausenothinginreallifecanbe glamorousenoughorspectacularenoughtoachievethesortofromanticizedperfectionwecarryinthe movieinourheads.ithinkthisisinfactaveryimportantmessageforhigh school agekidstothink aboutastheyfacedecisionsaboutwhattodowiththeirlives.pippinisinessencetellingthem,inits highly theatricalizedway:"tothineownselfbetrue."ican'tknow,obviously,thespecificissuesthatled tothemurder suicideinvolvingyourcoachandhiswife,butiwouldbemuchsurprisedifonsomedeep leveltheyweren'tinfacttheseveryissues.itmightprovehealing,withoutyoureverhavingtomention theconnectionspecifically,foryourstudentstoworkonpippinwiththisphilisophicalcontentexplained anddiscussedopenly.ofcourseicanunderstandifthisseemstoodangerousatthistime,butsinceyou askedformythoughtsaboutthissoarticulately,ithoughtiowedyouthemostarticulateanswericould manageinreturn.becauseithinkthisisanimportantissue,iwouldliketoaskyourpermissiontopost yourquestionandmyresponseonthewebsitebulletinboard;ofcourse,icouldremoveyournameif thatweredesirabletoyou.iwilldonothing,however,withoutyourspecificpermission.thankyouso muchfortakingthetimetowrite,bestwisheswhateveryoudecide.yoursmostsincerely,stephen Schwartz

7 Replyfrom Fastrada Myhonestadvicetoyou,wouldbetochooseanothermusical.AlthoughIbelievethatMr.Schwartzisa truegeniusandthatpippinwouldneverhavecometolifewithouthim,itneverwouldhavebeen moldedwithoutbobfosse.itisobviousthatyouhavenotdonemuchresearchonbobfosse,asyou brushoffhischoreographyasbeingnothingbut"bumpsandgrinds."fossedidsomethingforthechorus ofpippinthathadneverreallybeendonebeforeinmusicaltheater:hemadethechorusmembersan integralpartoftheshowandnotjust"wallpaper"forthestars.thebeautyoffosse'sdancinginpippin isthatithelpstellthestoryofpippin."glory"isoneofthetruedancemasterpiecesofourtime entertaining,attimeschilling,andcompletelyrelevanttotheshowandwhatisgoingonwithinthe show.iamawareoftheproblemsthatmr.schwartzandmr.fossehadthroughoutthepippinprocess, howeverithinkthatitisunneccessarytowriteoffhischoreographicaccomplishmentsasmerely "bumpsandgrinds."anyonecanbumpandgrind.veryfewcansuccessfullydanceinthefossestyle. Onachoreographynote,ifyouaretrulydead setagainstfosse,thenatleasttakeacuefromwhathe wastryingtodo.makethedancingtellthestory.onethingthatfossedid,wasincorporate improvisationfromthedancersintothechoreography.thisreallyworksforpippin,becauseeach individualpersonistellingtheirownversionofthestory.makesureyouhaveachoreographerthatis sensitivetotheseneedsandwhounderstandsthisidea. Iwouldadviseyounottodothisshowinahighschoolsettingforafewreasons: 1.)IfyoutakeawaythedarknessofPippin,YouareleftwithawatereddownKool Aidversionthatisn't excitingtoanyone.anyonewhoknowstheshow,knowsthatthereisaslightlydarkfeelingtopippin.if youtakeaway,youmightaswelldo"oklahoma,"andsaveyourselftheeditsandrationalizingof changes. 2.)Ifyourtownisjudgemental,Iwouldstronglyadvisedoinganothershow.Iknowthisfirsthand becausemytownisverysimilarandwhenididgreaseinhighschool,weweregivenalotofgrieffrom theparentsandthetown.saveyourselftheheartache,becausepeoplewilltakeoffenseatthisshow unlessyougiveita"g"rating.especiallywiththecurrentcontroversyinthetown.peoplewilloverreact, nomatterwhatyoudototheending. Whichbringsmeto: 3.)Youcannotavoidtheunderlyingdeaththemesnomatterhowhardyoutry.Unlessyourewritethat entirefinale(whichidon'tthinktheauthorwouldappreciate)youarefacingasuicidethemeatevery angle,myfriend.thatisthepointoftheleadingplayerandpippin:deathistheultimatefinale. AlthoughIadmirethefactthatyouareconsideringdoingthisshowinaHighSchoolsetting,Ithinkthat yourmanyconcernsshouldtellyouthatmaybethisisnotthewisestchoiceatthisperiodintime.waita while.doabitmoreresearch.thentrytheshow.censorshipisnottheanswer,especiallyforpippin.i wishyouthebestofluckandiamsorryifihavecomeacrosstoostrong,butiamquitepassionate aboutthisshow. AnswerfromStephenSchwartz(from2000): DearFastrada1:ThankyouforyourardentdefenseofPIPPIN.YouarecorrectthatBobFosse's choreographycontributedanenormousamounttotheshow,bothconceptuallyandinpuredance terms(thoughfranklyevenifounditalittleheavyonthebumps and grindsattimes).butihaveseen severalproductionsoftheshow,particularlyatthehighschoolandcommunitytheatrelevel,thatused differentchoreography(obviously)andaslongastheymaintainedthecynicismoftheplayersandthe sensualityofthemovement,itworkedverywell.itremainstobeseeniftheshowcanworkona

8 professionallevelwithoutthefossechoreography theupcomingrevivalatthepapermillplayhouse nextspringmaytellusthat butnamewithheldwasaskingaboutahighschoolproduction. Inaddition,Idon'tagreewithyouthattheideaoftheFinaleisthat"Deathistheultimatefinale."AsI saidtonamewithheld,ibelievetheconceptisthatthelogicalendtopippin'sendlessquestforperfect fulfillmentandrefusaltounderstandthatalllifeisacompromiseisthathewillonlysucceedin destroyinghimself.ithinkthatisamorecomplexandinterestingthoughtthanthatdeathisthe ultimatefinale,whichisastrueforthepersonwhodoesnothingwithhislifeasitisforsomeonewhois constantlysearching.iagreewithyouthattheconceptofself destructionand"thanatopsis" the longingfordeath wasparticularlypersonaltobob,asonecanseein"allthatjazz".buttheconceptof PIPPINgoesbeyondthat,Ibelieve.Thisisastruggleallofusfaceinourlives whentosettleandwhat tosettlefor.ontheonehand,youdon'twanttostopstrivingandexperimenting,growingandtryingto improveyourself.ontheotherhand,youdon'twanttospinyourwheelssothatultimatelyyouget nowhere.it'sneveraneasychoice,andthat'swhyithinkpippinhascontinuedtobemeaningfulto peoplewhodotheshow.that'swhyithinkifnamewithheldwantstodoit,itmightbeaverygood experienceforherstudents.yes,shemaygetflackfromthecommunity,butthesedays,evengodspell isgettingflack,assomeoftheotherpostingstothisforumhaverevealed.(ihavetosayi'mpretty astoundedthatashowasinnocuousasgreasegotprotests,asyoureport,butthatjustshowswhati meanabouteverythingbeingcontroversialinthistimewhennooneseemstohavemuchofasenseof humoraboutanything.)inanyevent,ithankyouforyourstrongbeliefinpippinandforcontributing enlighteninginformationtothisforum.sincerelyyours,stephenschwartz CommentfromRick: ItoolovethestoryofPippin.IalwaysvieweditasaretellingofthepoetinEcclesiateswhosearchesfor meaninginriches,flesh,worketc.mostofmyfriendsdon'tcareforthisbookastheyviewasthemost pessimisticinthebible.oddlyenoughthoughit'stheonebookthatseemstobecomepopularwhen thereischangegoingon.wequotefromitatgravesiteswhichisoneofthebiggestchangespeopledeal with.it'snosurprisethatthisstorywouldbeextremelypopularduringthe60sand70sturmoil. AsforFossewell.Iagreehisworkiswaymorethanjustbumpsandgrinds.Anintrointohisstylefor yourstudentsthoughmaynotbeabadidea.thecompleteconcentrationrequiredforsomeofhis isolationtechniquesteachesanindividualantremendousamountabouthowabodyworksandreallyis fun. AhWell,Goodluckwithyourdecision...