Musings on a Terribly Depressing Musical Comedy...

So last night I saw Pippin with a friend of mine. I had just recently discovered the music for it, and was intrigued, and then I found out that a national tour which started VERY near my hometown and it came here to Philly, he invited me and I jumped at the opportunity...I always jump at the opportunity to see theatre at student-rush prices. Anyway, it was PHENOMENAL. I say that because that is the strongest word I can think of to describe it. Of course, I had never seen it before so I have nothing to compare it to, but it was big and flashy when appropriate. I left thoroughly satsfied.

But then my friend and I got talking about what was really going on in the story.

And I got terribly depressed. I mean, if you've never seen it...you should...and I won't spoil it by talking about an analysis of it...which is that we all have dreams, and that they are good things, but that we will never really fulfil our dreams. But they'll always be there. They'll stick with us, in our mind, until we are tempted to kill ourselves or suffer some long, painful, horrible death.

Now that you REALLY wanna go see it, let me tell you...it is VERY powerful and very much worth it. And, at first I got that message, but ever-the-optimist, I took the message to be that we should strive to be exception and live our dreams. Not quite so, explained my friend (whom I consider the expert on anything musical theatre). But, read what you will when you see it.

Whatever...just see it.

But not the high school version (says my friend) since that one gives you a happy-sappy-ending. See the cynical version from Fosse, himself.

Anyway, my favorite song (cliche as it is), is the show-stopping, audience participation, sing-along, No Time At All. I'm going to leave the lyrics here so that you can read them. Take them to heart. I think there is very good philosophy herein.

[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 forI
s 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....