Review: PIPPIN 50th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle with choreography by Joanna Goodwin and set/costume design from Polly Sullivan, the enormous near 2200 seat capacity Drury Lane auditorium was crammed with expectant theatregoers on Monday evening, eager to witness the spectacle. So did it deliver?

Much has been made of Alex Newell’s participation in this production (as The Leading Player, who essentially acts as narrator). Newell became the first non-binary actor to receive a Tony nomination for their performance in Shucked on Broadway and here demonstrates a pair of pipes worthy of any musical. Taking the title lead Jac Yarrow is both suitably winning in his eager naivety while selfishly irritating by the end. The first half moments which dazzled, were provided by (fast-approaching-status-of-national-treasure) Patricia Hodge as Berthe who despite being excluded from court, is a saucy granny with a lot more to give, and Zizi Strallen as Charlamagne’s conniving and manipulative wife Fastrada who wants her hugely camp and none-too-bright second son on the throne where she can better control the kingdom’s purse strings. In their respective numbers the ladies brought down the house.

Supported by an assortment of languorous and leggy dancers each scene manages to be both cute and winsome whilst blatantly sexual which helped the pace. Catherine the widow who needs help, played with knowing confidence by Lucie Jones was brilliantly coy and hilarious and lifted the second half which can have a tendency to lag in some productions. The semi-staged nature of this show leant itself to comic jokes with the nearby on-stage orchestra and plenty were realised with aplomb - particularly through Newell’s steady stream of acerbic interjections.

Schwartz himself was looming at the entrance as this reviewer arrived, busily watching the eager audience file in. What plans he may have for mounting another production of PIPPIN, perhaps incorporating this relaxed style in celebration of 50 years, is anyone’s guess. I for one, look forward to finding out.