“Pippin” comes to The Bushnell Jan. 6 - 11.
On Stage: Pick a Pair of Productions--Pippin or Private Lives
MIDDLETOWN - Pippin is pure magic. No, really, right from the opening number, â€"Magic to Do,” you just know you are in for a treat,--a show with breathtaking acrobats mixed with the dancing style of Bob Fosse.

       You couldn’t want more, because if you did, Pippin would pull it out of a hat.

       I saw the original version on Broadway way back when. Like 1973 when I was 12. Yeah, I wish. Even back then I knew something was up with Pippin. The musical is based on a true story about the son of Charlemagne who goes off on a quest to find himself and, in the meanwhile, finds everything he could never imagine was even out there. Love, beautiful women, war, adventure, women, more love.

       Back in the ‘70s, the show did win a lot of awards, like Best Actor in a Musical for Ben Vereen. But this new (and only) revival has taken in a wagon-full of awards, Best revival of a Musical included.

       Oh yes, and the music is super memorable, written by Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz proved himself to be a contender, especially many years later when he wrote the music for a little show you may have heard of--Wicked.

       This revival retains the dancing and movement of Fosse while bringing to the stage a circus full of fun. And no, that’s not an exaggeration--the show has a circus full of fun in it!

       With great songs and great dancing, why has Pippin waited 40 years to be revived? I wish I knew. I read in the trades that the original Pippin, back some 40 years ago, was played by John Rubenstein and that he is now joining the tour to play the role of Pippin’s father, Charlemagne. How fitting and what fun! Thanks for the opportunity to see you again; let’s hope we get to see Rubenstein when the tour hits Hartford in early January.

       But fear not, it’s coming to The Bushnell right after you take down the tree and finish the last of the eggnog, Jan. 6 – 11. Tickets and more information is available at www.bushnell.org or call 860-987-5900. Or you could stay home and get your income tax papers ready. Me? I’d see Pippin any day.

       Meanwhile over at the Hartford Stage, they are bringing in the New Year with a joyous show of their own Private Lives.

       Written by Noel Coward and directed by the Hartford Stage man himself, Darko Tresnjak, this show is one of the finest and funniest comedies Coward ever wrote. It focuses on a divorced couple who, while honeymooning with their new spouses, discover that they are staying in adjacent rooms at the same hotel in France.

       First opening on Broadway in 1930 with Coward and Gertrude Lawrence, this play has had several revivals, films and more revivals. One of the most highly anticipated revival occurred in 1983 on Broadway when Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor took on the title roles. It ran for a limited engagement before going on a very short tour.

       Private Lives, having been written over 80 years ago is still a strong production today. It won no awards when first presented because awards for the theater simply were not in existence at that time. I’m greatly looking forward to seeing this at The Hartford Stage when it plays from Jan. 8 – Feb. 8. For more information, visit www.bushnell.org or call 860-527-5151. Try it out and enjoy.

       Jeffrey LaGrange can be reached at jefflagrange@yahoo.com
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