Pippin
Written by: Stephen Schwartz & Roger O. Hirson
Directed by: Karen Mills
Music Directed by: Robin Stoker
July 20-22, 2006
Mount Vernon District Auditorium
Summary
At the rise of show appears the Leading Player who introduces the audience to the world they inhabit as the bare stage populated by a group of actors becomes visible; they are Players in a theatrical caravan. One by one, they all come forward, preparing the audience for the story that they are about to tell concerning Pippin, who is the firstborn son of Charlemagne. The story starts when Pippin has returned home from the University of Padua; he refuses to waste his life in pursuit of only "common things." He believes there is something much more fulfilling in life.
After four days of being back home, Charlemagne finally visits with Pippin. Father and son attempt to carry on a meaningful conversation, but it is obvious that Charlemagne has other matters on his mind. The Leading Player introduces Lewis, Pippin's half-brother, who is directly behind Pippin in line for the throne, and Lewis' mother, Fastrada. Lewis is vapid and vain, but Fastrada is intent on winning him the throne.
Pippin notices that everyone around him is preparing for the campaign against the Visigoths. He decides that he wants to be a soldier and join the campaign, but his father will not let him join the fight. Pippin argues that he is next in line for the throne, however, and might be fighting his own war someday. Charlemagne reluctantly agrees. The soldiers prepare to fight the Visigoths, but the eager Pippin keeps getting in the way of his father's meticulous war campaign strategies. As plans unravel, Pippin becomes disturbed by the language that Charlemagne uses to talk about the enemy. Charlemagne insists that the Visigoth king is talking the same way with his men.
Then, time for battle has come. Pippin and Lewis follow their father onto the battlefield. A bloody battle is waged, much to Pippin's horror. In the end, Charlemagne and his men win the war. Declaring victory, the king tells the men to rape and sack. Left alone, Pippin walks among the dismembered body pieces. He eventually realizes that war is a terrible thing and cannot agree to partake in the victory celebrations. Charlemagne chastises his son for this.
The Leading Player enters to reflect on a man who had all of the earthly possessions that he desired, but still felt that there was something missing from his life. Pippin has unexpectedly become this man. We shift to the countryside to find Berthe, Pippin's grandmother, enjoying all of the simple joys in life. Pippin appears and confesses his confusion and frustration with life. She advises him to stop thinking and just enjoy life. Alone again, Pippin realizes that his grandmother is right. He takes off his shirt and begins to bask in the sun. Soon after, attractive and seductive women appear and slowly surround him. At first, Pippin is enjoying the romanticism, but the mood quickly changes, and the women bombard him; he screams out and demands to be left alone. The Leading Player comes forward to inform Pippin that his father is now slaughtering those of his own people who choose to speak out against him. Pippin decides that it is time for the tyrant to be overthrown.
As Pippin leaves a secret meeting where plans are made to eliminate the King, Fastrada and Lewis are eavesdropping. Fastrada prepares her husband to go off for his yearly prayer at Arles, and promptly informs Pippin that his father will be praying there. She does not tell the King that Pippin wishes him harm.
In the Chapel at Arles, Charlemagne is praying. A disguised Pippin enters and confronts his father about the harm that he has brought to his subjects. He then takes a knife and strikes him to the ground. The monks all rise and bow to their new king. Pippin has now become King of the Holy Roman Empire and prepares himself to hear petitions from the many people in his kingdom. He gives money to the poor, gives land to the peasants and abolishes taxes for everyone. He also abolishes the army. Unfortunately, when the Infidel Huns attack, Pippin's kingdom cannot fight back. Soon, he is forced to revoke all of the promises that he made and, as a result, becomes very unpopular. Lost and confused, Pippin goes to pray at the body of his dead father. He asks his father if he can have his knife back, and Charlemagne appears. He takes the crown from Pippin and leaves. The Leading Player tells Pippin that it's time for him to think about his life.
And that is only the first act…
Summary courtesy of Music Theatre international.
