Theatre is one of my post proud possessions. It has shaped my life in ways that I could never imagine, and has turned me into the person I am today. Theatre seems to play an important role in many of our lives, even you as audience members taking the time to leave the ‘real world’ for a few short hours to watch our production. This show, in particular, has been one of my favorites since I saw the broadway production back in highschool, and I am incredibly proud to present it to you all as one of the first amateur productions of the 2013 revival.
Pippin tells the story of a young man on a search to find something to fulfill his life as he embraces the adult world. Naturally, this show stands out as a perfect piece to perform here, as many of us at the University of Delaware are looking for that same sense of fulfillment as we stand on the precipice of of post-grad life. While originally written back in the late 60’s, Pippin’s message and themes still remain just as relevant today as they did then. We look at Pippin’s desires, wants, trials, and tribulations, and can empathize with some, if not all, of what he goes through.
This overarching theme of ‘fulfillment’ is the one thread that ties all the scenes in this show together. In contrast to most musicals with the stereotypical build, climax, and resolution, this production operates in a much less structured manner. Similarly, our lives are not one story that develops, peaks, and resolves itself; our lives consist of vignettes like our childhood, undergrad, careers, and above all our relationships. While this story could have adhered to that traditional structure, it would lose the relatability to our lives.
The idea to take this show, a traditionally large proscenium production, and out it in the round was inspired by the recent production of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, which closed this past summer on broadway. Pippin, similar to Great Comet, is about human experiences. Because of this, I believe this show is not meant to be watched, it is meant to be experienced. You as audience members play just as important of a role as the performers do on stage, which is helped by the show-within-a-show storyline. Walls and boundaries put a limit to how we experience the world, and in a show about life's ultimate quest, it seems almost counterintuitive to do it any other way.
I sincerely thank you all for joining us tonight, and hope that we can bring you as much joy as this production has brought me. Theatre shows us many things, but more than anything it teaches us about ourselves. When we see these characters on stage with whom we can slightly identify, we see our own lives played out before us. We can see our own hopes, fears, desires, and emotions in an manner unparalleled by anything else. In this show, specifically, we may even get a glimpse into what it means to lead a fulfilling life. As I mentioned before, theatre is one of the most important parts of my life, and while there are many reasons for this, the most important is the people. I owe everything to those who I have met through theatre, from the Blakefield Players and my high school friends who got me started, to my HTAC family who have given me more happiness than I could imagine. I’m unsure what my future holds, but with the people in my life, I know I will find my corner of the sky.
Elliot Queale
Director
