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CCT's Pippin is a journey of self-discovery

Cranbrook Community Theatre's musical Pippin, debuts Oct. 4 at Studio Stage Door

When Pippin steps out into the spotlight at Studio Stage Door, he's filled with uncertainty and overwhelmed by all of life's possibilities.

Pippin (Cedar Gross) is the protagonist of Cranbrook Community Theatre's latest musical, a young man who is undecided about his future and is desperately trying to find his place in the world. He journeys far and wide in an attempt to figure out who he is and what he wants from life, and encounters plenty of memorable characters along the way.

His story is told through a ragtag group of travelling circus performers, headed up by actor Courteny Green, whose theatricality and lively wit temper the plot's cerebral nature.

As the circus troupe sing and dance, Pippin ventures off on adventures to try and find meaning in his life.

Like many youth, Pippin finds himself at odds with his family. His father Charlemange (Denis Senecal), brother Lewis (Calex Ritson) and step-mother Fastrada (Jordyn Miller) are preoccupied with wealth, power and influence. He tries his hardest to toe the line, but ultimately decides there must be more to life than superficial displays of status.

His grandmother Berthe (Navy Gross) reassuringly tells him that he shouldn't worry about the future and encourages him to focus on living in the moment. While he takes up her advice initially and adopts a hedonistic care-free attitude to life, he ultimately finds this leaves him feeling empty.

He later pivots and finds work on a farm with widow Catherine (Joelle Carlisle) and her son Theo (Serenity Fisk). He lives an idyllic peaceful life in the country, but secretly wonders whether the daily humdrum of planting seeds and caring for animals is enough to satisfy him long-term. 

Pippin appeals to our intellectual side, offering philosophical commentary on life. Everyone who watches will see something different since the show effectively acts as a window that we can use to reflect and observe on our own lives.

Director Sanjay Fisk notes that we've all been Pippin at some point. We've all searched for meaning and purpose. We've all experienced longing, difficulties and self-doubt as we travel the road of life.

As the plot unfolds, we come to realize that Pippin is not the brave heroic protagonist that is typical of many shows. He is a flawed person, who stumbles and makes mistakes; and he develops a dark side, that pits him directly against his family and threatens their well-being. Despite his efforts to distance himself from his roots, he continues to harbour his family's ruthless streak and desire for prestige and honour. He's more like them than he would like to admit.

The end of Pippin's story leaves more questions than it does answers, which is fitting for a show that muses philosophically about life. Pippin has a grass-is-always-greener existential crisis and wonders whether he's made the right decision to stay at the tranquil and peaceful farm. He lives a good life in the country, but could it be better? Is it worth it to give up a descent life in the pursuit of greatness?

One is left with the impression that Pippin will continue to seek greener pastures beyond the next hill. 

Pippin, directed by Sanjay Fisk and produced by Vaughan Dumanian, is a take on the 1972 Broadway musical composed by Stephen Schwartz. It was one of the very first productions Cranbrook Community Theatre ever performed after the group moved into Studio Stage Door in 1980 and it's making a resurgence this year for the theatre group's 60th anniversary and studio's 50th anniversary.

The musical runs Oct. 4 to 5, Oct. 10 to 12, and Oct 16 to 19. at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. at Studio Stage Door. 

Tickets are available at www.cranbrookcommunitytheatre.com.



About the Author: Gillian Francis

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