For weeks now the preparations have been well underway all over campus for the spring performance. This time the Edwardian players are putting on Pippin, the story of a young prince who struggles to find meaning in his life. Wanting to be a part of something bigger and having grand aspirations, his journey takes him down a number of unexpected paths. Pippin is a feel good story with an underlying dark twist that is revealed to the audience in the final scene. It is a rather ambiguous ending that leaves the audience with many questions and is open for interpretation. Needless to say this show is not for the faint of heart. 

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend one of the first showings on Saturday, April 2. It was an excellent performance and overall great experience. The show completely lived up to the incredibly high standards that the Edwardian players have set for themselves over the years. The work that has been put into the production of the show does not go unnoticed and the many working parts contribute masterfully to the production as a whole. From the amazing technological work going into the lights and the sound to the welcoming and knowledgeable ushers, the Edwardian Players have left no stone unturned in this production. 

The show is particularly special to the members of the crew and cast as well as the St. Edward community in general because it marks the final production of Mr. Burns. He has been directing the Edwardian Players’ shows for upwards of 30 years and has left an amazing mark on the St. Edward theater program that will not soon be forgotten. His shows have been nothing short of phenomenal for as long as anyone can remember. He has given such a great experience to so many students who have been a part of the performing arts program. Tribute to this is the amount of alumni that come back to see the show and catch up with their mentors and each other every single year. The relationships that some of the students make and the experiences they share are truly lifelong and memorable. I have had many relatives and a sibling go through the Edwardian Players and they all have nothing but positive things to say about the experience. 

Much of the continuing success of the shows can be attributed to the hours of hard work and dedication from the cast, crewmembers, the whole production team, and the supervisors who have countless years of experience and passion for the program. Everyone who is a part of the production is always so proud of their work year after year and appreciate wholeheartedly the support and praise that they receive from the community and their classmates. It means so much to the Players to see familiar faces cheering them on at the show and their production is perennially top tier. I would urge any and all students to attend if they have the opportunity. 

All things considered, Pippin was an incredible production and an excellent crowning performance for the legacy of Mr. Burns who has been able to develop the theater program into the unbelievable production team that it is today. It will keep you engaged and entertained until the final scene and it is an excellent reminder of the joys of a simple life and that sometimes all we need is right there in front of us. There is still time to see the show for those who missed it on the first weekend. There will be additional showings this coming weekend on Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 at 7:30 pm. The final show will be on Sunday, April 10 at 3:00 pm. Tickets will be available for purchase at the box office 30 minutes prior to the start of each show and pre-sale tickets are available at sehs.net/pippin up until midnight on April 7. 

Check out photos from Pippin and past Edwardian Players performances here: Pippin Performance Photos