MovieChat Forums > Pippin: His Life and Times (1983) Discussion > Another Question/Comment About Editing

Another Question/Comment About Editing


I'm fortunate enough to have fluorescent hands & a flawless performance by a 26 year old Ben Vereen as my introduction to live Theatre as a child growing up in NYC. Good call, Mom!

So the fabulous surprise treat to catch this in the middle of the night while channel surfing was awesome in almost every way: like other comments I've read, I agree much was missed in editing. I wish we had been treated to the, "best seats in the House" view as opposed to close-ups of one thing (the arch of his foot?!) at the expense of others.

My biggest question mark hangs over the abrupt end. Weren't we left with a stunning, "Magic To Do" Finale as well? I was only about 10, but I'm almost certain. Even so, Musicals don't end quietly! Why do you think that was omitted?! Running credits would have been butchery, but forgivable. Am I right about the ending? & if not, how did it end & what are your thoughts as to why it was left out?

Such a fabulous Classic, "Pippin" is. I'm delighted it was captured on film(in Ontario, at that), but kind of heartbroken to know something was probably deliberately left & forever lost on the floor. Any thoughts?

reply

The very abrupt ending is how the original Broadway production ended, with no final reprise of anything. It was another way to highlight the artifice of the piece by denying the audience any sense of closure at the end of the show. In the mid 2000s they added a brief reprise of "Corner of the Sky" for Theo to sing whereupon the intro music for "Magic To Do" starts playing and the company comes back on stage to give the impression the cycle of the show will start again with Theo in Pippin's place. This ending is the currently licensed version and is what the current Broadway revival uses.

reply

Thank You for the reply. My Inner Child remembered the excitement only, I guess. :)

reply