Cappies Review of Pippin at Justice High School
Fairfax County Public Schools students are talented actors, musicians, and visual artists. Many FCPS high schools participate in the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Critics and Awards Program for High School Theatre, otherwise known as the Cappies.
The Cappies is a program through which high school theater and journalism students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers. There are fifteen Cappies chapters across the United States and Canada.
Editor's Note: This review of Justice High School's production of Pippin is written by Andrew Landrum of Herndon High School.
From sex, war, regicide, and a climax you will never forget for the rest of your life, Justice High School had "Magic to Do" and they put on an Extraordinary performance of Pippin. Stephen Schwartz's Pippin is the musical retelling of the King of Rome's (Charlemagne) son Pippin the Hunchback. This retelling however throws historical accuracy and the 4th wall out the window with a character that narrates the piece, Leading Player. Pippin made its Broadway debut in 1972 and its West End debut the year after. Pippin then had 4 U.S. tours and a new circus-themed revival in 2013. During the original production of Pippin, Bob Fosse directed and choreographed, which led Pippin to become an iconic Fosse musical. Pippin follows a player troupe led by the sensual Leading Player, as they tell the story of Pippin and his desire to find purpose in his life. Pippin, in his hopes of finding himself, also goes to war, has a lesson on time with his grandmother, and lives his life as a farm hand for a widow and her son.
Justice High School's ensemble featured a myriad of players who all had makeup that mimicked that of mimes. The makeup team of Charlie Boucher, Makayla Freeman, and the Make-up Mavens used makeup as a way to spoon-feed the audience emotional information. All the ensemble members' makeup accented the player troupe's campy aesthetic and the Commedia dell'arte influences where the white face and exaggerated features served as masks. The makeup, while furthering the troupe's aesthetic, also served as a visual aid for the audience.
The makeup was not alone in highlighting the actors onstage. The lighting designers, Benny Ward and Elizabeth Cheek, used lighting to cue the audience in on emotional moments and also to display parallels within the story. The use of lighting on Pippin, played by Elijah Kassa, during Corner of the Sky was also used for its reprise done by Theo, played by Olivia Costley. This parallel within the lighting displayed the cycle that continues with the "Theo Ending".
Angel Stanfield, as the sexy, money-hungry, stepmother of Pippin, Fastrada never failed to fill the audience with laughter, especially with Stanfield's asides to the housewives within the crowd. Stanfield, along with a comical performance, also beautifully displayed a jazzy dance solo within her song Spread a Little Sunshine.
Valeria Peterson, as the Leading Player, narrated Pippin's story with her Fosse movements. Peterson's onstage chemistry with fellow lead, Kassa, wowed the audience with their rendition of On the Right Track. The piece showcased their chemistry not only as dancers but also as vocalists, as they danced and sang their hearts out together. Peterson's annihilation of the fourth wall and charisma caused the audience to root for this morally gray character.
Justice High School's talented cast and crew's portrayal of Pippin truly gave us a performance we will never forget for the rest of our lives.
