Cappies Review: 'Pippin' At Justice High School

By Justin Pokrant of Westfield High School

Searching for something more to life? Perhaps peace, passion, or purpose? Well, "cast all previous misconceptions aside" and "join us" for Justice High School's playful production of Pippin!

Integrating the signature style of Bob Fosse and iconic elements of Commedia in an eccentric circus extravaganza, Pippin features a book by Roger O. Hirson and a score by Stephen Schwartz. The production premiered on Broadway in 1972 and quickly earned critical acclaim and additional adaptations, including appearances on the West End and several other national touring venues. Presented by the Leading Player and her theatre troupe, this mystical musical tells the story of Pippin, a kid-turned-king who quests to find his "Corner of the Sky" in the form of a fulfilling life--a life that becomes absorbed by war, women, and even murderous mayhem.

From comedic fourth wall breaks to cartwheeling farm animals, the energetic ensemble immersed audience members under The Big Top. While no circus performance is perfect, the cast and crew's commitment to telling a cohesive story helped make sense of the show's nonsensical nature. The result: Tada! A performance that reflected passion and perseverance, exemplified by the crew's attention to detail and the actors' collective ability to balance comedy and complexity.

Every sensational story needs a star. Enter: Pippin. From the hilariously heartwarming "Extraordinary" to the hysterically heartbreaking "Prayer for a Duck," Elijah Kassa embodied the playful persona from head to toe, featured in both physical flamboyance during dances and fidgety footwork during the kiss scene. Furthermore, Kassa demonstrated a dynamic emotional depth to personify all of Pippin's epithets: the positive, powerful, peaceful, push-over, and Theo-pleaser (although he was unfortunately unable to revive Otto). Fueling the rampant pace of production was the one and only Leading Player, executed by Valeria Peterson with considerable stamina. Whether directing the theatre troupe or dancing in countless consecutive numbers, Peterson's unwavering presence helped cultivate a connection between the characters and their audience.

No medieval masterpiece is complete without a royal family. John Blackadar III displayed his royal and humorous highness in "War is a Science" as King Charlemagne; Angel Stanfield dominated the family and audience alike as the flagrantly flirtatious and anything but an "ordinary housewife," Fastrada; and Aimen Leja demonstrated the duality of masculinity by mixing macho mannerisms and teddy bear talk as Pippin's silly stepbrother, Lewis. While his family failed to provide fulfillment, Pippin ultimately discovered contentment in Catherine, endearingly embraced by Sofi Hemmens. In an impassioned performance of "I Guess I'll Miss the Man," Hemmens matched her exemplary vocals with emotional versatility, as she managed to convey crying without sacrificing vocal technique.

Immersing the audience in the excitement of the circus, many technical enhancements helped "Spread a Little Sunshine." From a flambing pot (complete with dancing flames) to a flying bunny (nobody/nobunny was harmed in the making of this production), Jasper Geer, Lelia Meeks, and the Pippin Prop Masters employed a vast array of props to instigate intrigue. Likewise, Elizabeth Cheek and Benny Ward innovatively incorporated silhouettes to help spotlight (pun intended) striking final poses and flood the auditorium in a colorful fervor. Finally, Charlie Boucher, Makayla Freeman, and the Makeup Mavens' implementation of mime makeup unified The Players as a captivating collective while also accentuating individual facial expressions.

Beyond its fantastical facade of dancing grannies and dying ducks, Justice High School's whimsical rendition of Pippin reminds us that although we long for the grand finale, sometimes satisfaction is found in simplicity.