Winthrop theatre department students performed “Pippin” after attending rehearsals since February. The show is based on the book by Roger O. Hirson. The performances were held from Wednesday March 29, 2023, through Sunday April 2, 2023.
The show depicts the life of Pippin, a man who has just returned home to his royal family after completing college and is searching for his life purpose as he wants something that is “fulfilling.”
The lead player, performed by junior theatre major with concentration in musical theatre, Sydney Largent acts as a guide for Pippin as she encourages him to engage in various activities that do not always line up with Pippin’s interests.
For example, the lead player encourages Pippin to become a soldier in his father’s army, to lead a political revolution, and in the end, as the grand finale that the audience “will remember for the rest of their lives,” she and her followers encourage him to jump into a fire.
“My favorite part about my character is the shift from being the really fun, likable character to the manipulative cult leader,” Largent said. “I make sure to put my own flair to the character and it is so much fun hearing the audience react to the shift every night.”
The show ends with Pippin realizing that being with his newfound family, Catherine and Theo, is what is most fulfilling in his life and would rather stay with them instead of giving his life “purpose” by sacrificing himself by jumping into a pit of fire.
Joe Overton, a junior theatre major with a concentration in musical theatre and the actor that played Pippin said, “My favorite part about playing Pippin has been working with my directors to build the character and explore how he interacts with this fantastical world we exist in on stage.”
Since they have been involved in the theatre department starting in 2020, Overton has found that he has grown as an actor.
“As an actor, I’ve grown in my ability to truly dive headfirst into a production and bring that world into reality,” Overton said. “Putting on the emotions of the characters and displaying that to an audience in a way that they can receive it.”
Senior theatre major Harper Kirk acted as Fastrada, the Queen, the stepmother of Pippin and mother of Louis. Kirk performed as this character in 2018 when acting for River Bluff High School.
“The first time I played it I was in high school, and I had not learned about acting theory, so my process was very baseline, and the performance was fine, but I do not think that it was believable,” Kirk said. “This time my process was different and instead of going line by line I tried to get to know the character. Learning more acting theory helped me get to know the character. I do think it was believable this time because I felt less like someone reading lines and playing dress up.”
This was the third musical at Winthrop University for Cameron Vipperman, a junior theatre major with a concentration in musical theatre and actor of Catherine. Starting in Act 2, Catherine is Pippin’s love interest and the mother of Theo, played by Zachary Cunard.
“My favorite part of my playing Catherine is that she is so goofy,” Vipperman said. “I never really considered myself a comedic actress, even though I laugh at my own jokes on the daily, so I am really excited to be the cause of the audience’s laughter for the first time. I like to use my natural mannerisms in my acting, so a lot of Catherine’s physicality are things that I actually do.”
Vipperman’s favorite part of the show is Catherine’s monologue that overlaps Pippin’s reprise “Corner of the Sky.”
“It is such a beautiful juxtaposition of their individual dreams in my opinion,” Vipperman said. “My favorite thing about the show overall is how the breaking of the fourth wall allows the audience to see the Players’ journey.”
Rayshawn Simuel, a sophomore theatre major with a concentration in theatre education acted as the stage manager for Pippin, which was his first-time stage managing a show.
“This is my first-time stage managing and it’s been a beast of an experience,” Simuel said. “I’m taking the stage management class as I’m actively in the role which typically does not happen. I think that speaks for the validity in our theatre department and how focused they are on getting students working and adding to their resume as much as possible.”
Henry Barry, a sophomore theatre major with a concentration in musical theatre and the actor playing Charlamagne favorite part of the show so far has been the cast.
‘The actors in this show are so freaking funny,” Barry said. “Getting to work with them for the last two months has been the highlight of my year.”
Congratulations to all students and faculty who were involved with ‘Pippin’ for putting on a professional, comedic and enjoyable show!
“The actors never cease to amaze me with how much talent they have and how much they give each night,” Simuel said. “I have never not been pleased with their efforts or how much they’ve given and dedicated to the show.”
A special thanks goes to the director Rachel Dawson, a visiting professor at Winthrop, the choreography Kelly Ozust, the music director Ashley West-Davis, the lighting designer Biff Edge, the costume designer Paula Garofalo, the set designer Daniel Gordon, audio designer Jay Forst and photographer Bill West-Davis.
