Theater Review: Pippin

                 Pippin at North Coast Repertory Theatre

Drifters in search of meaning sing, dance, and cavort and a for connection in Roger O. Hirson’s 1972 “Pippin,” on stage at North Coast Repertory Theatre. It has been extended through August 20.

In an abandoned theater, a mysterious performance troupe converges to tell the story of Pippin (Brendan Dallaire), a young prince in search of meaning and “My Corner of the Sky.” Along for the ride are several other characters, actors, players – or perhaps ghosts – who join in as Pippin sings and dances his way toward connection. Are any of them real or are they figments of our imagination too?

The original run of the show is the 36th longest-running Broadway show, so it’s been around a while.

This production sparkles with talent, humor and dance (by choreographer Roxane Carrasco) and benefits especially from Dallaire’s North Coast Rep debut as the young seeker. Pippin is delighted to find that his father is King Charlemagne (local regular Jason Maddy), and when Dad decides to battle the Visigoths, Pippin begs to be allowed to come along, and is silly enough to chime in out of total lack of knowledge about how to fight this battle.

When Pippin ends up talking to a severed head, he begins to realize the futility of battle. 

Are you getting the idea? The stage is filled with several women as well, who tell him to stop worrying about this future and enjoy the present, and you can guess where that leads (several women are involved, in case you aren’t in tune with the goofiness).

The cast is full of fine actors such as Gracie Moore, James Oblak, Katy Tang, Robert Zelaya and an adorable kid named Spencer Kearns (playing Katy Tang’s son Theo).

Nick DeGruccio directs with a steady a hand as one can. Kudos also to NCRT’s scenic designer Marty Burnett and costumer Zoë Trautmann for making the show look fine (and silly).

The problem with the show is that it goes on a piece too long. The songs after a while sound rather alike, and there are too many of them. And poor Pippin gets downright tiresome with his moaning about finding his place in life.

Then again, don’t we all?

The details

“Pippin” plays through August 20, 2023 at North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach.

Shows Wednesday at 7 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.

Tickets: (858) 481-1055 or northcoastrep.org