staged at middle school;
cast excited to perform
Bob Fosse musical will be
staged at middle school;
cast excited to perform
By Larry Ramer
Staff Writer
MARLBORO — Featuring dancing, history, comedy and serious themes, the musical Pippin offers many different attractions to theatergoers.
The Marlboro Players will present the 1970s Broadway hit at the Marlboro Middle School, Route 520, on July 25-26 and Aug. 1-2 at 8 p.m. There will be matinees on July 27 and Aug. 3 at 3 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at Cards for Less in the Marlboro Plaza, Route 9 north. Tickets for adults cost $14 in advance; the price for children and seniors buying tickets in advance is $12. At the door, tickets cost an additional $2 for everyone.
Pippin was directed on Broadway by the late Bob Fosse in the 1970s. Fosse also co-wrote and directed the play Chicago, which was later turned into an Academy Award-winning film.
Reynold Forman, who is directing the Marlboro Players’ production of Pippin, said a Fosse play should be appealing to area residents.
"In light of the fact that Chicago had such a great big following, people are really raring to go see Fosse shows, and Pippin is one of Fosse’s finest Broadway productions.," Forman said.
Although Pippin is set in the days of the Holy Roman Empire, the play’s plot and themes are relevant to any time in history. The lead character is a young prince who, after returning from college, rebels against his father, King Charlemagne, and makes the proverbial attempt to "find himself." Along the way, he is tormented by a sort of magical demon, known as the "Leading Player," who tries to lead Pippin to misery and destruction. Pippin ultimately finds some fulfillment by pursuing a different way of life.
One of the show’s main themes is that people’s families can help them stay "on the right track" (which, perhaps not coincidentally, is the title of one of the show’s songs), Forman said.
With original choreography by Denise Barry, the show features modern dance, as well as jazz dancing and ballet. There are also some fast dances that are similar to the choreography in Chicago.
Most of the actors and actresses in the play are high school students. The title role of Pippin will played by Michael Gurrieri, 17, of Manalapan, who attended the Freehold Regional High School District’s Fine and Performing Arts Center at Howell High School, and played the lead in six high school plays, including 42nd Street, Kiss Me Kate and Little Shop of Horrors.
Pippin is Gurrieri’s second foray into community theater. He said the cast members have been able to work together quite well. "We were able to come together as a team and everyone had a positive attitude. That makes rehearsals much easier. This is one of the best casts I’ve ever worked with," he said.
Gurrieri said his character learns some difficult lessons during the play.
"He has to accept the people who love him, realize that nothing is perfect and stop chasing unrealistic goals," he said.
The Leading Player is played by Peter Cortelli, 25, of Aberdeen, who said he found portraying the dark, cynical character to be challenging. Cortelli, a veteran of many plays, said he was able to "get into the role more and more" as he learned his lines and worked more intensively with his fellow actors. The music in the play is very enjoyable, Cortelli added.
The "old man" of the play is Harlan Tuckman, 61, of Monroe Township, who portrays King Charlemagne, Pippin’s father. Tuckman has seen many young actors and gave the cast of Pippin high praise.
"I think this is the best cast of young actors I’ve ever worked with. Pippin is a fun show for people to see," Tuckman said, because the songs in the show are especially memorable and because it is a quality play that is not performed very often.