Pippin
at Aliso Niguel

Reviewed on April 25, 2019

Mina Farahbod
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Aliso Niguel dazzles with "Pippin"
written by Mina Farahbod, a senior at St. Margaret's Episcopal School

Somersaulting and cartwheeling across the stage are players in a whimsical acting troupe, each of them donning a brightly colored mask. Among them is Pippin, a young boy who is desperately searching for his purpose in the world he lives in. With vibrant technical elements and lively actors, Aliso Niguel breathes life into a colorful and timeless coming-of-age story in their production of "Pippin".

The Leading Player (Kaitlyn Elpedes) beckons to the audience with an inviting hand flourish, an unnaturally wide grin on her lips underscoring her true sinister nature. Sleek and snake-like in movement, she sneaks throughout the shadows and leers at Pippin from afar as he embarks on his journey to find himself.

Mateo Yepiz as Pippin embodies the innocence and excitability of youth, reaching out to grab the "corner of the sky" he longs for with a dreamy look on his face. As he begins to struggle in forming his identity, Yepiz's voice tone becomes more harsh and his movements become more restless in nature.

Luke Colombero commands the stage as Pippin's father Charles, barking orders to his soldiers and swinging around his sword in a fit of bloodthirsty passion. Slyly stroking his arm is Annie Chapman as his two-faced wife Fastrada, who details her schemes to overthrow the king in a sugary tone of voice.

Emilie Manville keeps the show grounded in her portrayal of Catherine, a simple and caring farm girl who falls in love with Pippin. Manville exhibits tenderness in her interactions with Yepiz, smiling at him in adoration as she clasps his hand tightly.

Hayley Frame's makeup design is vibrant and incorporates a colorful variety of commedia dell'arte-inspired masks. While they do obscure the makeup at times, the masks reflect each character's whimsical persona and illustrate Pippin's changing identity throughout the show. A shiny metal mask conceals Pippin's face when he fights in his first war, while a lacy red mask is used as he indulges in pleasure for the first time.

Lighting by Skyler Otis and Ian Little reflects the show's fanciful nature and successfully incorporates every color on the spectrum. Different colors are used to illuminate each character's entrance, such as purple for the mischievous Leading Player, red for the bloodthirsty Charles, and yellow for the cheerful Catherine.

All in all, Aliso Niguel's "Pippin" is a fantastical extravaganza filled with mayhem, mischief, and magic.

Delaney Schultz
Fountain Valley
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

Aliso Niguel High School is extraordinary in "Pippin"
written by Delaney Schultz, a junior at Fountain Valley High School

A hush falls over the room and scarlet curtains fly open on the Aliso Niguel High School stage, immersing the audience in the world of "Pippin:" one of illusion, irony, and intrigue.

Eldest son of Charlemagne, Pippin (Mateo Yepiz) yearns to find his place in life. The Leading Player (Kaitlyn Elpedes) guides with ulterior motives Pippin, the eldest son of Charlemagne, on a desperate and winding quest to find his place in the sun.

The enticing host and driving force of the show, Kaitlyn Elpedes as Leading Player executes a truly magical performance. Throughout the show, Elpedes flips across the stage and performs magic tricks, connecting her character's both psychological and physical tricks in a cunning and creepy fashion. In her love song to war, "Glory," her entire body moves with consistent energy, her eyes wide and unblinking.

Mateo Yepiz portrays Pippin with boyish charm. He proves his range and begins "Corner of the Sky" (Pippin's objective song) with a wistful and frustrated yearning that progressively becomes adorable, energetic determination.

As refreshingly ordinary Catherine, Emilie Manville is bubbly and maternal. Though often comedic, Manville displays heartbreaking vulnerability when she laments her lost love Pippin in "I Guess I'll Miss the Man," sung with an intoxicatingly sweet voice.

Together, Manville and Yepiz have indubitable chemistry, whether awkwardly figuring out their physicality in "The Bed" or gazing lovingly at one another and harmonizing in "Love Song."

Lighting designers Skyler Olis and Ian Little drive the meaning of the production to fruition. Each lighting choice is purposeful, using colors from all areas of the spectrum to convey mood and character. In "Morning Glow," the stage is illuminated to reflect the warm, golden glow of the sunrise.

Inspired by the intrigue of the commedia dell'arte style, the costumes of the production (designed by Vanessa Perez and Isabella Tavakkoly) add yet another level of magic. The ensemble, as well as key characters such as Fastrada (Annie Chapman), don glittering and colorful leotards that play with Olis and Little's lighting choices to make for an enchantingly cohesive creative narrative.

Through daring choices made by both the talented crew and cast, Aliso Niguel High School's production of "Pippin" proves that happy endings can be found in the least expected of places.

Sophie Nenninger
Dana Hills (SOCSA)
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

Aliso Niguel's Pippin has got Magic for You
written by Sophie Nenninger, a senior at Dana Hills (SOCSA) High School

A glimmering spotlight drips onto the silhouette of an enchanting magician, her smokey voice echoing through the theater as performers flood the stage in an explosion of color, dance and magic. Yet as Pippin's desperate journey to find his own glory within this troupe unravels, the darkness lying beneath the glitz soon uncovers the wicked in all that is glorious.

The whites of her eyes glowing as she watches the boyish Pippin, the Leading Player [Kaitlyn Elpedes] prowls about the stage like a cat, her hypnotic voice surging through the space as she belts out "Glory". Her predatory smile glistens from behind her mask as she prepares to pounce on the innocent Pippin [Mateo Yepiz].

In contrast to the dark Leading Player, Yepiz embodies the boyish Pippin with bright eyes and a grin, jumping with excitement when his father allows him to be a soldier. Yepiz brings an air of innocence to the role, revealing the tumultuous journey of growing up as he becomes more desperate to find where he belongs, lashing out at Catherine with a bitter glare and a strained voice.

Standing alone in a single dull spotlight, Emilie Manville as Catherine fills the silent air with her pure angelic voice, reaching high notes with ease and softly gazing out into the darkness as she begins to disobey the Leading Player.

Not your typical grandmother, Ariana Nin as Berthe embodies the seductive older woman as she sways her hips and flirts with the male dancers on stage, waving at them with a smirk. Yet, Nin stays true to the character of a loving grandma, waddling about the stage, hunched over and petting at Pippin with a palpable adoration for her grandson as she pinches his cheeks.

Inspired by Commedia Del Arte, an array of colorful masks, vibrant costumes and a mobile wooden set add another layer to the visual grandeur of Pippin.

Hair and makeup designer Hayley Frame constructs expressive masks, which assist in portraying the extremities of emotion, allowing the performers to inhibit bold characters and creating an aura of mystery around the players.

In bold primaries and striking checkered patterns, costumes by Vanessa Perez and Isabella Tavakkoly present silhouettes reflective of Commedia styles which meld to the stage to create a visual spectacle of color.

The cast and crew of Aliso Niguel's Pippin present a spectacle that excites.