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Pippin
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
The Leading Player tells us the tongue-in-cheek story of Pippin, son of the 8th-Century King Charlemagne, who is on a quest to find his true calling in life. He goes through war, love, politics and other pursuits before settling down with a decent woman (Catherine) and her son. Growing restless with family life, he leaves and the Leading Player tries to seduce him into committing suicide. Pippin decides he loves the simple life with his new family: trapped, but happy." "
Opened 10/23/1972 Ran for 1944 performances.
Version: Original Broadway Version
Credits: Book by Roger O. Hirson
Music by Stephen Schwartz
Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Based on The story of Pippin, son of Charlemagne.
Type: Book Show
Acts: Two
Rating: PG
Cast Size: Medium (11-20)
Orchestra Size: Medium (12-17)
Chorus Required: small
Dancing Required: Yes, heavy dancing
Difficulty: Easy to learn
Easy to sing
Style: Broadway
Contemporary
Pop/Rock
Category: Comedy
Romance
Historical
Ideal For: Colleges
Community Theatres
Dancers
Families
Festivals
High Schools
Fund-Raising
Low Budgets
Regional Theatres
Concerts
Cast Size: Medium (11-20)
6 Men & 6 Women
Casting Notes: Children in cast
Star vehicle - male
Star vehicle - female
Characters: Min.: about 12 Max.: about 50
Leading Player, dynamic, magnetic (male or female); baritone
Pippin, earnest, attractive, misguided; baritone
Fastrada, Pippin's conniving step-mother, mezzo
Catherine, an attractive, sharp woman, mezzo
King Charlemagne, military, imposing; bass
Pippin's saucy Grandmother; mezzo
Lewis, Pippin's foppish stepbrother
Catherine's 8-year-old Son
The ensemble dances, sings, and plays a variety of roles, places and objects.
Special Requirements: Moderate to light: Appropriate for a black box. Suggetive sets and costumes are more than enough. Special prop: a duck (may be fake)
MAGIC TO DO
LEADING PLAYER
Join us........ Leave your fields to flower
Join us........ Leave your cheese to sour
Join us........ Come and waste an hour or two
Doo-dle-ee-do
Journey....... Journey to a spot ex-
citing, mystic and exotic
Journey........ Through our anecdotic revue]
We've got magic to do........ Just for you
We've got miracle plays to play
We've got parts to perform.... Hearts to warm
Kings and things to take by storm
As we go along our way
FASTRADA
Intrigue.... Plots to bring disaster
BERTHE
Humor.... Handled by a master
GIRLS
Romance.... Sex presented pastorally
LEADING PLAYER
Dee-dle-ee-dee
LEWIS
Illusion.... Fantasy to study
CHARLES
Battles.... Barbarous and bloody
LEADING PLAYER
Join us....... Sit where everybody can see
ALL
We've got magic to do........ Just for you
We've got miracle plays to play
We've got parts to perform.... Hearts to warm
Kings and things to take by storm
As we go along
We got Our way
Magic to do We got Magic to do
Just for you, We got Magic to do Magic to do
Magic to do Just for you we got Magic to play
Just for you, We got Magic to do We got
Magic to do Just for you we got Foibles and fables to
Just for you Magic to do Portray
As we go along As we go along As we go along
Our way Our way Our way
CORNER OF THE SKY
PIPPIN
Everything has its season
Everything has its time
Show me a reason and I'll soon show you a rhyme
Cats fit on the windowsill
Children fit in the snow
Why do I feel I don't fit in anywhere I go?
Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
I've got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky
Every man has his daydreams
Every man has his goal
People like the way dreams have
Of sticking to the soul
Thunderclouds have their lightning
Nightingales have their song
And don't you see I want my life to be
Something more than long....
Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
I've got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky
So many men seem destined
To settle for something small
But I won't rest until I know I'll have it all
So don't ask where I'm going
Just listen when I'm gone
And far away you'll hear me singing
Softly to the dawn:
Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
I've got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky
WELCOME HOME
CHARLES
Hello, son
PIPPIN
Hello
CHARLES
You look thinner
PIPPIN
I know
CHARLES
So, son
PIPPIN
So....
CHARLES
Last night didn't you miss dinner
PIPPIN
No
CHARLES
Welcome home, son, welcome home
I'm so glad to hear there's nothing wrong
Welcome home, son, welcome home
Will you be staying long?
Welcome home, son, welcome home
Well, I've got to go, it's almost noon
Welcome home, son, glad you're home
We'll talk again soon
WAR IS A SCIENCE
CHARLES
War is a science
With rules to be applied
Which good soldiers appreciate
Recall and recapitulate
Before they go to decimate
The other side
(spoken)Now, gentlemen, this is the plan for tomorrow's skirmish
The army of the enemy is stationed on the hill
So we've got to bring them down here, and this is
How we will
Our men in the ravine (That's this area in green)
Will move across the valley where they plainly
Can be seen
And the enemy (in blue) will undoubtedly pursue
For that's what you depend upon an enemy to do
Then to guarantee their folly
We'll bring bowmen into play
Who will fire just one volley
And retire to point "A"
And then, and then
And gentlemen, and then....
PIPPIN
And then the men go marching out into the fray
Conquering the enemy and carrying the day
Hark! The blood is pounding in our ears
Jubilations! We can hear a grateful nation's
Cheers!
CHARLES
Pippin, sit down immediately!
Now, where was I? Ah, yes....
War is a science
A breeding ground for brains
For though I cannot write my name
The men whose pens have brought them fame
Write endless paragraphs explaining
My campaigns
Now when the foe see our soldiers marching
Through the lea
They will mount a charge and meet us at the point
I've labeled "B"
And their bowmen on the hill (In yellow on the map)
Will leave their posts to join the rest and fall
Into our trap
Then we'll cut off reinforcements and retreat of
Any kind
Bearing principles of enfilade and defilade in mind.
And if all the ploys we pick to really
Work to bring to pass occur
We won't just have a victory
We'll have ourselves a massacre
And then, and then
And gentlemen, and then....
PIPPIN
And then the men go marching out into the fray
Conquering the enemy and carrying the day
Hark! The blood is pounding in our ears
Jubilations! We can hear a grateful nation's....
CHARLES
Pippin....!
In conclusion gentlemen....
Now listen to me closely I'll endeavor to explain
What separates a charlatan from a Charlemagne
A rule confessed by generals illustrious and various
Though pompous as a Pompey or daring as a Darius
A simple rule that every good man knows by heart
It's smarter to be lucky than it's lucky to be smart
And if the fates feel frivolous
And all our plans they smother
Well suppose this war does shrivel us
There'll always be another!
And then....
ALL
And then....
CHARLES
And gentlemen, and then....
(Spoken)Now... gentlemen... now!
SOLDIERS
And then the men go marching out into the fray
Conquering the enemy and carrying the day
Hark! The blood is pounding in our ears
Jubilations!
We can hear a grateful nation's cheers!
GLORY
LEADING PLAYER
Glory! Glory!
Glory! Glory!
Praise be to Charles or Lord
Triumphant is his sword
Allegiance is his word
Glory! Glory!
Glory! Glory!
Blood!
Blood is red as sunset
Blood is warmer than wine
The taste of salty summer brine
Uh huh
Steel!
ALL
Steel is cold as moonlight
Steel as sharper than sight
The touch of bitter winter white
SOLDIERS
Shout it out from the highest tower
shout it out in the darkest hour
Charlemagne, you lead us on to
ALL
Power!
LEADING PLAYER
War!
LEADING PLAYER SOLDIERS
War is strict as Jesus War
War it's finer than spring War
LEADING PLAYER AND TWO SOLDIERS
Service to Christ and to our
ALL
King!
Shout it out from the highest tower
shout it out in the darkest hour
Charlemagne, you lead us on to power....
ALL
The gates of heaven await
Thrown wide by Charles the Great
We follow him through by serving his state
ALL
Glory! Glory!
Glory! Glory!
Glory!
SIMPLE JOYS
LEADING PLAYER
Well I'll sing you the story of a sorrowful lad
Had everything he wanted, didn't want what he had
He had wealth and pelf and fame and name and all of
That noise
But he didn't have none of those simple joys
His life seemed purposeless and flat
Aren't you glad you don't feel like that?
So he ran from all the deeds he'd done, he ran
Things he'd just begun
He ran from himself, now that's mighty far to run
Out into the country where he played as a boy
He knew he had to find him some simple joys
He wanted someplace warm and green
We all could use a change of scene
Sweet summer evenings, hot wine and bread
Sharing your supper, sharing your bed
Simple joys have a simple voice:
It says why not go ahead?
Wouldn't you rather be a left-handed flea
A crab on a slab at the bottom of the sea
Than a man who never learns how to be free
Not 'til he's underground
Sweet summer evenings, sapphire skies
Feasting her belly
Feasting her eyes
Simple joys have a simple voice:
It says time's a living prize
And wouldn't you
Rather be a left-handed flea
A crab on a slab at the bottom of the sea
A newt on the root of a banyan tree
Or a fig on a twig in Galilee
Than a man who never learns how to be free
Not till the day
Not till the day
Not till the day
Not till the day dies!
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
NO TIME AT ALL
BERTHE
When you are as old as I, my dear
And I hope that you never are
You will woefully wonder why, my dear
Through your cataracts and catarrh
You could squander away or sequester
A drop of a precious year
For when your best days are yester
The rest'er twice as dear....
What good is a field on a fine summer night
When you sit all alone with the weeds?
Or a succulent pear if with each juicy bite
You spit out your teeth with the seeds?
Before it's too late stop trying to wait
For fortune and fame you're secure of
For there's one thing to be sure of, mate:
There's nothing to be sure of!
Oh, it's time to start livin'
Time to take a little from this world we're given
Time to take time, cause spring will turn to fall
In just no time at all....
I've never wondered if I was afraid
When there was a challenge to take
I never thought about how much I weighed
When there was still one piece of cake
Maybe it's meant the hours I've spent
Feeling broken and bent and unwell
But there's still no cure more heaven-sent
As the chance to raise some hell
Everybody....
ALL
Oh, it's time to start livin'
Time to take a little from this world we're given
Time to take time, cause spring will turn to fall
In just no time at all....
Now when the drearies do attack
And a siege of the sads begins
I just throw these noble shoulders back
And lift these noble chins
Give me a man who is handsome and strong
Someone who's stalwart and steady
Give me a night that's romantic and long
And give me a month to get ready
Now I could waylay some aging roue
And persuade him to play in some cranny
But it's hard to believe I'm being led astray
By a man who calls me granny
ALL
Oh, it's time to start livin'
Time to take a little from this world we're given
Time to take time, cause spring will turn to fall
In just no time at all....
Oh, it's time to start livin'
Time to take a little from this world we're given
Time to take time, cause spring will turn to fall
In just no time at all....
Sages tweet that age is sweet
Good deeds and good work earns you laurels
But what could make you feel more obsolete
Than being noted for your morals?
Here is a secret I never have told
Maybe you'll understand why
I believe if I refuse to grow old
I can stay young till I die
Now, I've known the fears of sixty-six years
I've had troubles and tears by the score
But the only thing I'd trade them for
Is sixty-seven more....
Oh, it's time to keep livin'
Time to keep takin' from this world we're given
You are my time, so I'll throw off my shawl
And watching your flings be flung all over
Makes me feel young all over
BETHE AND BOYS
In just no time at all....
WITH YOU
PIPPIN
My days are brighter than morning air
Evergreen pine and autumn blue
But all my days are twice as fair
If I could share
My days with you
My nights are warmer than firecoals
Incense and stars and smoke bamboo
But nights were warm beyond compare
If I could share
My nights with you
To dance in my dreams
To shine when I need the sun
With you
To hold me when dreams are done
And oh....
My dearest love
If you will take my love
Then all my dreams are truly begun
And time weaves ribbons of memory
To sweeten life when youth is through
But I would need no memories there
If I could share
My life with you
SPREAD A LITTLE SUNSHINE
FASTRADA
Back in my younger days, when things were going wrong
I might sulk, I might pout
Now I've learned if I just pitch in and do what's right
Things will always work out
And if we all could spread a little sunshine
All could light a little fire
We all would be a little closer
To our heart's desire
Lord know's we've seen enough troubles already, we've
Had our fill of grey skies
So put down the vinegar, take up the honey jar
You'll catch many more flies
And if we all could spread a little sunshine
All could think before we strike
We all would be a little closer
To the world we'd like
I know the parables told in the holy book
I keep close on my shelf
God's wisdom teaches me when I help others, I'm
Really helping myself
And if we all could spread a little sunshine
All could lend a helping hand
We all would be a little closer
To the promised land.
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
MORNING GLOW
PIPPIN
Why won't my hands stop shaking
When all the earth is still
When ancient ghosts are waking
So many steps need taking
So many plans need making
I think I will
I think I will
Morning glow, morning glow
Starts to glimmer when you know
Winds of change are set to blow
And sweep this whole land through
Morning glow is long past due
Morning glow fill the earth
Come and shine for all you're worth
We'll be present at the birth
Of old faith looking new
Morning glow is long past due
ALL
Oh, morning glow, I'd like to help you grow
PIPPIN
We should have started long ago
ALL
So, morning glow all day long
While we sing tomorrow's song
Never knew we could be so strong
But now it's very clear
PIPPIN
Morning glow is almost here
Morning glow by your light
We can make the new day bright
And the phantoms of the night
Will fade into the past
Morning glow is here
ALL
At last!
THE RIGHT TRACK
LEADING PLAYER
You look frenzied, you look frazzled
Peaked as any alp
Flushed and rushed and razzle-dazzled
Dry your lips, damp your scalp
Now I can see you're in a rut in
Disarray
And I'm not one to butt in
But in fact I must say
If you'd take it easy, trust awhile
Don't look blue, don't look back
You'll pull through in just awhile
'Cause you're on th right track
PIPPIN LEADING PLAYER
On the right track Uh huh Uh huh
On the right track Take it easy, sonny
On the right track Take it easy, sonny
On the right track Take it easy
LEADING PLAYER
Why look flurried
PIPPIN
Flustered
LEADING PLAYER
Keep those
PIPPIN
Hopes aloft
LEADING PLAYER
Keep cool as custard
PIPPIN
Trying hard
LEADING PLAYER
Stepping soft
BOTH
There's no trick to staying sensible
Despite each cul-de-sac
'Cause each step's indispensable
When you're on the right track
PIPPIN LEADING PLAYER
On the right track Uh huh Uh huh
On the right track Take it easy, sonny
On the right track Take it easy, sonny
On the right track Take it easy
LEADING PLAYER
Many when things get dank will feel their grip go
We stay tranquil, spirits high, pulses low
PIPPIN
But! What I've left behind looks trifling
What's ahead looks black
Am I doomed to spend my life a-lingering on
LEADING PLAYER
Lingering on
PIPPIN
Just lingering on
BOTH
Malingering on the right
PIPPIN
Oh, I'll never find it.... never.... never....never....
never!
LEADING PLAYER
Easy baby...
You're on the right track!
THERE HE WAS
CATHERINE
There he was
He didn't know where he was
And he looked so lost and exhausted
You'd almost swear he was dead
So I said:
Pick him up, put him to bed
See that he's bathed and clothed and fed
As I said, how could I foretell
He'd clean up, oh, so very well
Imagine my surprise
When I raised my eyes
And there he was
KIND OF WOMAN
CATHERINE
I'm your average ordinary kind of woman
Competent and neat
Making life a treat
Others as nice
You meet often I know
At least once or twice
Every decade or so
I'm your everyday, customary kind of woman
Practical as salt
Modest to a fault
Conservative with a budget
Liberal with a meal
Just your average ideal
My telling you this
May seem sudden and strange
It may not interest you much at all right now
But things change
Things change
Still I'll understand if I'm not your kind of woman
Anyone can make
One terrible mistake
But I've no special glamour
No bait I can twirl
For I'm just a plain, everyday
Commonplace, come-what-may
Average, ordinary
wonderful girl!
EXTRAORDINARY
PIPPIN
Patching the roof and pitching the hay
Is not my idea of a perfect day
When you're extraordinary
You gotta do extraordinary things
I'm not the type who loses sleep
Over the size of the compost heap
When you're extraordinary
You think about extraordinary things
That's the reason I'll never be
The kind of man who dwells
On how moths got into the tapestry
Or why the dungeon smells
Oh, it's hard to feel special, it's hard to feel big
Feeding the turtle and walking the pig
It's so secondary
To someone who is very
Extraordinary like me
If the moat won't stop leaking
And the goat won't stop shrieking
And the griffin keeps losing its hair
If the west wing is rotting
And our best wine is clotting
Well, I'm terribly sorry but I don't care
I've got to be someone who lives
All of his life in superlatives
When you're extraordinary
You gotta do extraordinary things
Every so often a man has a day
He truly can call his
Well, here I am to seize my day
If someone would just tell me when the hell it is
Oh give me my chance, and give me my wings
And don't make me think about everyday things
They're unnecessary
To someone who is very
Extraordinary
Like me!
PRAYER FOR A DUCCK
PIPPIN
His breath has ebbed, his pulse is low
His feet are webbed, but even so
You must know
That although our tears are poised to burst
We've kept our faith warm through the worst
We haven't cursed our luck or run amuck
To prayer we've stuck
Please reward our pluck
And save this duck
LOVE SONG
PIPPIN
Sitting on the floor and talking till dawn
CATHERINE
Candles and confidences
PIPPIN
Trading old beliefs and humming old songs
CATHERINE
And lowering old defenses
PIPPIN
Singing a
BOTH
Love song-- La la la la la la la la la la
Love song-- La la la la
PIPPIN
Private little jokes and silly pet names
CATHERINE
Lavender soap and lotions
PIPPPIN
All of the cliches and all of the games
CATHERINE
And all of the strange emotions
PIPPIN
Singing a
BOTH
Love song-- La la la la la la la la la la
Love song-- La la la la la
PIPPIN
They say the whole is greater
BOTH
Than the sum of the parts it's made of
PIPPIN
Well if it's true of anything
BOTH
It's true of love
PIPPIN
'Cause how can you define a look or a touch?
CATHERINE
How can you weigh a feeling?
PIPPIN
Taken by themselves now they don't mean much
BOTH
Together they send you reeling
PIPPIN
Into a
BOTH
Love song-- La la la la la la la la la la
Love song-- La la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la
I GUESS I"LL MISS THE MAN
CATHERINE
I guess I'll miss the man
Explain it if you can
His face was far from fine
But still I'll miss his face
And wonder if he's missing mine
Some days he wouldn't say
A pleasant word all day
Some days he'd scowl and curse
But there were other days
When he was really even worse
Some men are heroes
Some men outshine the sun
Some men are simple, good men
This man wasn't one
And I won't miss his moods
His gloomy solitudes
His blunt abrasive style
But please don't get me wrong
He was the best to come along
In a long, long while....
FINALE
LEADING PLAYER
Think about the sun, Pippin
Think about her golden glance
How she lights the world up
Well, now it's your chance
With the guardian of splendor
Inviting you to dance
Pippin
Think about the sun
LEADING PLAYER
Think about your life, Pippin
PLAYER
Days are tame and nights the same
LEADING PLAYER
Now think about the beauty
LEADING PLAYER AND PLAYER
In one perfect flame
And the angels of the morning
Are calling out your name
ALL
Pippin
LEADING PLAYER
Think about the
ALL
Sun
Think about your life, Pippin
Think about the dreams you planned
Think about the moment
That's so close at hand
When the power and the glory
Are there at your command
Pippin
Think about your life
Think about the sun, Pippin
Think about her golden glance
How she lights the world up
Well, now it's your chance
With the guardian of splendor
Inviting you to dance
Pippin
Think about the sun
Think about your life, Pippin
Think about the dreams you planned
Think about the moment
That's so close at hand
When the power and the glory
Are there at your command
When the power and the glory
Are there at your command
When the power and the glory
Are there at your command
Pippin, think about your life
Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
PIPPIN
I'm not a river or a giant bird
That soars to the sea
And if I'm never tied to anything
I'll never be free
I wanted magic shows and miracles
Mirages to touch
I wanted such a little thing from life
I wanted so much
I never came close, my love
We never came near
It never was there
I think it was here
They showed me crimson, gold and lavender
A shining parade
But there's no color I can have on earth
That won't finally fade
When I wanted worlds to paint
And costumes to wear
I think it was here
'Cause it never was there
I wanted magic shows and miracles
Mirages to touch
I wanted such a little thing from life
I wanted so much
