{"id":29647,"date":"2017-03-27T23:40:52","date_gmt":"2017-03-28T03:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=29647"},"modified":"2017-03-27T23:41:33","modified_gmt":"2017-03-28T03:41:33","slug":"pippin-packs-em-story-photographs-diane-fleischman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=29647","title":{"rendered":"PIPPIN PACKS \u2018EM IN &#8211; Story &#038; Photographs by Diane Fleischman"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.df-foto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Story &amp; Photographs by Diane Fleischman<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"su_carousel_69f495f123390\" class=\"su-carousel su-carousel-centered su-carousel-pages-yes su-carousel-responsive-yes su-lightbox-gallery\" style=\"width:100%\" data-autoplay=\"3000\" data-speed=\"600\" data-mousewheel=\"true\" data-items=\"2\" data-scroll=\"1\"><div class=\"su-carousel-slides\"><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6283.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6283-182x200.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_6283\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6303r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6303r-182x200.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_6303r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6328r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-2\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6328r-182x200.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_6328r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6342r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-3\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6342r-182x200.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_6342r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6372r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-4\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6372r-182x200.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_6372r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6393r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-5\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6393r-182x200.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_6393r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6431r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-6\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6431r-182x200.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_6431r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6452r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-7\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6452r-182x200.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_6452r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6490r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-8\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6490r-182x200.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_6490r\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6507r.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-9\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/DSC_6507r-182x200.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_6507r\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-nav\"><div class=\"su-carousel-direction\"><span class=\"su-carousel-prev\"><\/span><span class=\"su-carousel-next\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-pagination\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Walking up Northampton Street<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">in Easton, there\u2019s a special excitement in the air,<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">the Broadway shows have returned to <a href=\"http:\/\/statetheatre.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">State Theatre<\/a>, Pippin performed a matinee and evening shows on Sunday.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The history of this play began in 1972 as it premiered at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway, then later moved to the Minskoff Theatre, where this reporter, an impressionable young teen at the time, went to her first Broadway play, with no idea of what was in store or how the performance would leave such a deep impression which seemed to have covered a life time.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Pippin, was adapted from a book by Roger O. Hirson, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and the unmistakable choreography by Bob Fosse.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">During it\u2019s original run, it garnished nine Tony awards.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">But that was then, and this is now.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Four years ago Pippin revitalized, and perhaps has become even more popular today, as it entertains a brand new generation. <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">And the critics agree, this rendition earned four Tony Awards.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The most noticeable and significant changes were the addition of a circus feel, full of acrobatics, and hula hoops.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The show opens up with \u201cMagic to Do\u201d, as the Leading Player (Housso Semon) and the acting troupe offer a rousing welcome to the audience to kick back, relax, and enjoy the intrigue, humor, romance, illusion, and battles.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">We are whisked away to the early Middle Ages, and met Pippin (Naysh Fox), son to King Charles (Brendon Schaeffer),<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">who has just returned from the University.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">He proclaimed his desire to find an extraordinary fulfilling life in \u201cCorner of the Sky\u201d.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Fox provided the strong vocal conviction necessary as this song was show\u2019s main theme and snippets of the song are sung at pivotal moments during the performance.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The production cut \u201cWelcome Home\u201d from the show, as King Charles expressed his joy, and his busy distractions to Pippin in the original version, but made up the sentiments in a few lines of dialogue.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">We were introduced to a sassy Fastrada (Erica Lee Ciancuilli), King Charles\u2019s second wife, and her son, Lewis (Courtney Dease),<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">who had a secret agenda for Lewis to be crowned King and rule the land.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">It was a pleasant surprise to see most of the original choreography intact in Scene 3, with \u201cWar is a Science\u201d, and \u201cGlory\u201d.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">But there were changes ahead.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">After Pippin returns from battle and visited his grandmother, Berthe (Emilia M. Brown), she preached that it\u2019s time to start living in the upbeat \u201cNo Time at All\u201d, which is a sing a long song with the audience.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">In the original version, a large song sheet with large printed lyrics dropped from the ceiling which effectively allowed the audience to sing along. <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Unfortunately, it wasn\u2019t present, and much of the audience didn\u2019t sing along, which was a shame.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">After a brief intermission, Act Two began with a flustered and frustrated Pippin who at this point has tried several occupations in pursuit of his goal and was unsatisfied.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The Leading Player provided encouragement in \u201cOn the Right Track\u201d as love was just around the corner.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Widowed farm owner, Catherine (Savannah Sprinkle), <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">found Pippin on the street.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">She was initially attracted by the arch of his foot, which was only revealed in the original production.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">But she took him home and nursed him back to health.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">As he recovered, he was introduced to her son, Theo (Harrison Leahy), and started to work on the farm. It would only be a matter of time before Pippin realized this wasn\u2019t the life he envisioned and ran away from his future.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">In The Finale, Pippin reunited with The Leading Player and acting troupe, who offered him an extraordinary moment to dive into a fire pit and dance with the sun.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Pippin, not keen on ending his life at that moment, returned to Catherine and Theo.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The Leading Player and troupe denied of this over the top finale, struck the set, removed costumes and left them standing barren on stage.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">In the original production, this was the end of the play.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">In this version, Theo, started to sing \u201cCorner of the Sky\u201d, as an indication that this young man was about to begin his journey in life.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">One of the major changes in this rebirth of the play is The Leading Player is now played by a woman, and it works just fine, smoothly and effortlessly.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The script remains very close to the original with a few lines updated to today\u2019s trending lingo.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The acrobatics are a great addition as they captivated the audience, and gave them that wow factor.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Pippin is a play you\u2019ll want to see more than once in your lifetime.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Catch the magic again as this National tour continues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/statetheatre.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/statetheatre.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Story &amp; Photographs by Diane Fleischman Walking up Northampton Street\u00a0 in Easton, there\u2019s a special excitement in the air,\u00a0 the Broadway shows have returned to State Theatre, Pippin performed a &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=29647\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">PIPPIN PACKS \u2018EM IN &#8211; Story &#038; Photographs by Diane Fleischman<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29661,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2290,69,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diane-fleischman","category-in-the-valley","category-photography"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/pippen.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29647"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29647"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29647\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}