Pippin: A Review

This weekend, everyone has the opportunity to watch a bunch of ridiculously talented teenagers have the time of their lives on stage at Highland’s production of Pippin, and it is definitely an opportunity to take advantage of.

Darkly humorous, Pippin is a play that follows a young prince — a role masterfully taken on by senior Harrison Lind — as he searches for meaning in his life with a snarky troupe of performers alongside to narrate his journey. Pippin is the son of King Charles, and in order to impress his father, he goes to war. However, the performers convince him to fight the rule of his father, and he ultimately takes over as king but cannot deal with the responsibility. Full of hilarious innuendos and very catchy (and at one point interactive) songs, Pippin is quite fun to watch.

One of the highlights of the show is when Pippin goes to seek advice from his grandma — who is, ironically, played by Lind’s younger sister, Hayley. Hayley perfectly captures the idiosyncrasies and personality of the spunky, young-hearted old woman, making the scene perhaps the funniest of the entire play. Her favorite part about performing the role is that she “get’s to put on the persona of an entirely different person.”

The diverse range of characters, sets, and musical numbers shows off the multi-faceted talent and maturity of Highland’s performing arts department, something that is often overlooked. However, the thing that truly makes this particular interpretation of the classic play stand out is the cast. Not only is the show full of incredible singing and acting, but the cast is having so much fun that it’s impossible not to smile and laugh right along with them. The passion that each student has for their part (be it lead, ensemble, dancer, or musician) shines through in the performance, making the entire show come together nearly impeccably. Additionally, the strong friendships that exist between the actors make the connections between the character’s that much more believable.

“I’ve really enjoyed the friendships that I’ve made,” Lind said. “I’ve bonded a lot with the other cast members, and made friends I never would have otherwise.”

Though it handles some darker themes, it does so maturely, and the play is light-hearted overall, carrying a great message about the importance of family and love over fame. On top of that, it’s very refreshing to see so many students doing what they love.