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Friday, July 30, 2010

'Pippin' has plenty of substance with its sauciness

By Barry Gaines
For the Journal
          Amazingly, there are four musicals playing in Albuquerque this weekend; however, the flashiest, fleshiest show in town is Landmark Musicals' production of "Pippin" at the North Fourth Theater.

"Pippin"     WHEN: 8 tonight and Saturday, July 31, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1     WHERE: N4th Theater, 4904 Fourth NW     HOW MUCH: $16 general public, $14 seniors and students. Call 798-9036 for reservations

    The 1972 play ostensibly treats the life of Pippin the Hunchback, the eldest son of eighth-century monarch Charlemagne, but the book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz focus more on contemporary than ancient history.
        The Landmark Musicals production features an attractive cast. Their singing and dancing skills are honed and their bodies toned. The ebullient performers respond to the direction of Zane Barker and the choreography of Louis Giannini with polished sensuality and wicked humor.
        Prince Pippin (sans hump) searches for a life both meaningful and fulfilling (who doesn't?). He makes both war and love and likes love better (who wouldn't?). "Pippin's" story is not as important as its presentation in song and dance.
        Pippin's story is told and acted out by a troupe of players. Their leader is played by Travis Ward Osborne, who acts, sings and dances with marvelous authority, power and grace. Playing Pippin, Jonathan Ragsdale is as agile as he is likable. Hi Tillery lends his accomplished bass voice to the role of Charlemagne.
        Wendy Leverenz Barker plays Pippin's stepmother and performs a spectacular solo, "Spread a Little Sunshine." She is as supple and sprightly as ever. Caleb Horst plays her son in a fishnet shirt designed to catch more than fish. Jillian Foster sings the role of Pippin's love interest with insouciant clarity, and young Joshua Megill plays her son with haunting gravity. Finally, Jeannie Westwood personifies professionalism in performing "No Time at All" as Pippin's grandmother.
        The young women of the chorus, clad in scanty costumes by Lila Martinez, include leggy Meghan Bode and statuesque Maya Reese, teenagers Kenzee Donham and Alice Halter, and Andrea Rascon-Thorpe. And there are men as well: Quin Rol, JP Sisneros, and Ernest B. Zambrano.
        Music director Deborah Briggs leads the fine five-person onstage orchestra from the piano. What a treat.