HYDE PARK – The current spring production of the Lamoille County Players at the Hyde Park Opera House is the steam punk musical, “Pippin,” in a fast-moving performance with spectacular group dancing and great stage presence in their singing and acting by the two principal characters, Pippin and the Leading Player. The cast is huge with some twenty-five members, eight in the major roles and seventeen in the ensemble of chorus and dancers, along with an orchestra of ten musicians.
photo by Natalie Dunn
The original musical was a smash hit on Broadway in the 1970s, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, a video was made of the stage version in 1981, starring Ben Vereen, William Katt and Martha Raye.
The plot is based on the real (or imagined) Prince Pippin, the first son of Charlamagne (742 -814), King of the Franks, who ruled all of present-day France. He expanded his kingdom to include most of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy and was crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 800. His reputation was of a pious ruler and a patron of the arts, and he was committed to converting the pagans east of the Rhine to Christianity.
photo by Natalie Dunn
In this musical, presented in the steam punk style of the 1970s, the setting and the colorful costumes are contemporary and the choreography involves remarkably well-coordinated dancing by the whole cast, with considerable frequency.
In the production, Prince Pippin has come of age, is next in succession to be king and now seeks a meaningful and fulfilling life. In his journey he tries a variety of possibilities.
photo by Natalie Dunn
The director is Shannon Sandborn, who did a superb job in casting C. Duncan as Pippin and Jack Wildwood as the Leading Player. The former had a particularly beautiful tenor voice, was an agile dancer and was thoroughly professional in his acting. Wildwood was immediately commanding and skillful in character, in body language and with a fine expressive voice as Pippin’s guide, through his journey to find his highest aspirations.
Supporting players who showed their dramatic talents Ben Irish as Charlamagne, Carrie Philips as Pippin’s grandmother, Michelle Sawyer as Frastrada, the ambitious stepmother, CeeJay Levine as her son Lewis, Kiley Currier as Catherine. whom Pippin comes to love, and Hollis Sawyer-Houle as her son, Theo.
The excellent choreography was by Taryn Noelle. Participating in the ensemble were Kim Anetsberger, Arlo Bickford, Quincy Boardman, Gwen Campus, Lee Chasen, Mariana Considine, Natalie Dunn, Ashley Hall, Cassandra Machia-Cibra, Kimmy Rose, Danny Miller, Danielle Peveril, Jupiter Rae, Bre Valdez, Eyanna Victoria, Anah Witt and Madison Yasner.
The orchestra was ably conducted by Issac Besso, and consisted of Carol Spradling and Patricia Jacob on keyboards, Joe Surkiewicz on bass, Jane Lambert and Joni McCraw on woodwinds, Dave Pacheco on drums and percussion, Bob Berger on guitar, Holden Freizel on trumpet and Kenneth Grenier on trombone.
Co-Producers were Holly Biracree and Gene Heinrich, not to mention the very numerous technical staff.
The Lamoille County Players are a genuine community theater at its best and is now in its seventy-fourth season.
“Pippin” will continue next weekend, April 24 to 26, on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.. For information, call (802) 888 – 4507 or go online at LCPlayers.com.
David K. Rodgers
David K. Rodgers is a writer, mason and card carrying dilettante, who dabbles and babbles in art. He has lived in East Craftsbury for the past 40 years.
