The journey to discover his purpose in life is a long adventure. As Charlemagne's son Pippin tries to find his purpose through war, sex, and politics, he stumbles upon love, which ultimately fills his empty heart. All the elements, from the music and choreography to the set design, make this production a success. Pippin is a wonderful and heroic musical drama that contains elements of humor that show a disconnect between fantasy and reality, as well as a recurring theme of family reunification. The production begins with dimmed lights and a pit orchestra playing. Hands slowly move through the fading darkness like a magic show. Eventually, Ben Vereen's face appears almost as if it were an "appearance" act of a magic show; which fits perfectly with the opening, "Magic to Do", played throughout the beginning of the first act. As "Magic to Do" plays, the lights gradually brighten and the characters appear fully dressed in shimmering peach-colored costumes with faces painted with heavy makeup. Vereen is also fully seen in a tuxedo and top hat as the narrator and as the lead actor. This role is a vital driving force for both the play and Pippin's influence in finding his way in life. The background scenery and lighting also change simultaneously and Pippin, played by William Katt, appears on stage dressed in a normal chain like top and tights. Other characters are introduced throughout the play one by one; this creates a build-up of varying levels of tension in the plot and characters. The more characters there are, the more drama and suspense there is, as each character adds more to the storyline. For example, first the main player, Vereen, and the other fictional players who are presumably "in" Pippin's head are the intro...... middle of paper ...... and could possibly -be played by another person in the background and left Vereen to focus on her role as leader. With more narration between scenes and acts, this will serve as a bridge for the audience to fully understand what is happening. Another element to add is more historical context on Charlemagne. This could have been included in the narration since only a brief history was presented. On a brighter note, the costumes reflected the characters' roles and the fact that the characters connected the story through song; the music is seamlessly integrated into the performance, not to mention the humor and comic relief in some of the tragic parts. The frankness of Pippin's discovery of what truly matters to his heart is a beautiful ending and gives a warm and fuzzy feeling to the audience. This musical is well worth your time and has all the elements of a great production.