That's probably because it's really difficult to direct. At a lower-level theater, like at a community theater, it's extremely easy to come up with a show that is simply impossible for an audience to follow. The play relies on a ton of nonverbal communication. That style of writing is fantastic for film, but not so great for theatre. That's because it's being trusted with 1,000 different directors. Most of those directors probably aren't going to be particularly skilled. It takes a very skilled director to come up with a Pippin show that makes sense to a first-time audience member.
It kind of frustrates me how the audience always laughs at this scene not understanding what's really going on. Its so dark and disturbing. This whole play is like the Dont Hug Me I'm Scared of Musical Plays
Same totally. I don't get how some people don't at LEAST understand that something very wrong is happening. If you realise something is wrong and try to break the cycle, you're next. And by next I mean we all remember what happened to the green bird when he noticed the red man was gone.
The shows a dark comedy and some of the leading players lines are comedic here. The one about the mole, the kid, or the DaMn keyboard are all supposed to be laughed at. It's not that they don't understand the shows dark undertones, it's that it is also a comedy as well as a drama. There are other points of extreme tension in the show that are eased with a joke as well. Like when Pippin is about to kill his father and says "Thank you I brought my own" when his father offers his knife.
OMG it totally is! Especially with all the happy go lucky songs having dark lyrics and the Lead Singer going all satanic and evil at the end like the teachers in DHMIS haha
Fun fact I saw from Wikipedia, the Theo Ending was only conceived in 1998, 26 years after it debuted as a musical. The music writer Schwartz also expressed they liked this ending better.
Right? Isn’t the original ending just Pippin saying “Tadaa!” and blackout? Both are great endings, but since Pippin is a representation of a struggle every young man goes through, seeing the cycle repeat itself really drives home the universality of it.
There's alot of dark humor and beauty to this scene because pippin finally realized his extraordinary life was just right there he just had to wake up and look with his eyes and reach deep into his heart.
The instant I saw this ending back in 2014, I knew it was my favorite show. I saw myself and my life in it like in nothing else I’d ever experienced. The darkness, the humor, everything about it, I knew his life….. it became my dream role in that moment. A role I will probably never play. But that’s okay, cause just like in the show, it might’ve destroyed me. I’ve rebuilt my life since then. I’m still here. That’s what I hold onto. I made the same decision Pippin did, it’s not always easy, but I’m here and happy for that at least
I'm unbelievably saddened that this show is no longer on Broadway, I as someone who very recently learned about this show and now loves it, wishes that it would at least make a trip across the U.S.
Both MJT and KDM have such great voices and super hot bodies! Woof! 🥵 And if for nothing else, this revival gave us another side of our powerhouse Queen, Patina Miller. She is a force and reminds me of the “IT” factor I saw in Heather Headley. Can’t wait to see her originate more roles and win more Tonys... could Patina be the next Audra?!
Doing this musical for my highschool and I haven't had the chance to actually view the ending (we're far from over with the rehearsals) and I got actual goosebumps watching this. I read it all in the libretto I just never got the chance to truly view it until now.
Patina is extremely talented, but something is missing. I'm not getting the build up of sheer panic in the leading player "failing" to get Pippin to follow the LP's demands. She's coming across as just pissed. Ben Vereen's chilling portrayal was a master class of sinister manipulation and deception, and ultimately, failure.
This is a nice show but I prefer the 1973 finale. Pippin (and anyone else) will never be totally happy whatever he does. So pick a lane and do your best with what you have. "Nothing ever turns out the way you hoped"
In the two versions I've seen(film version and a magnificent performance by a local high school drama club), the actual ending of the show was Pippin , Catherine, and the boy standing on the stage; Catherine asks Pippin how he felt at that moment Pippin looked at the audience, paused for a moment, then said "TRAPPED!" All three threw up their hands, and said "TAH-DAA!" And the show was over
Lightning Larry Luciano The Entire show is a performance put on the Lead Player, and she has a certain way she wants it to go. but Pipin opts for you go off script and be ordinary and normal with Catherine and her young son Theo. however in the end Theo sings a small snippet of corner of the sky to show how “history is repeating itself” or the lead player is prying on the extraordinary hopes of another young boy like she did with Pipin in the beginning of the show, as seen through the eerie rendition of “Magic to Do” the opening act starting to play again. I hope that kind of clears it up :)!
So, the entire thing is Pippin’s dream. In real life, Pippin is a hunchback with thoughts of committing suicide. In the end, he backs away and finds satisfaction in continuing to live his ordinary life rather than an extraordinary one.
I liked when they were more vague with it. I still think Ben Vereen gives the best performance as the leading player because of how discreet they are about it in the ending, she just kinda came right out and said he's the finale, it's kinda boring to me. I liked the real build up, it was more sinister, more convincing. This one just kinda seems like, yeah ok I'll do it. Not very convincing. It's supposed to be depressing, it's supposed to make you feel uncomfortable
