"And wouldn't you  rather be a left-handed flea, a crab on a slab at the bottom of the sea, a newt on the root of a banyan tree, or a fig on a twig in Galilee, than a man who never learns how to be free?" ~stephen schwartz, pippin

Last weekend I went to see the Broadway musical Pippin. Oh my goodness, it was absolutely wonderful. It just won more Outer Critics Circle Awards than any other show, and I'm betting it will win a bunch of Tony Awards as well. I really hope Patina Miller wins Best Actress in a Musical. She's playing the Leading Player (the role played by Ben Vereen in the original production), and she's giving a great performance. You can see her sharp edges behind the brilliant smile she displays. Andrea Martin should also win a Tony (for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical); she brings down the house in her one big number. The production's acrobatics are astounding, and it's a well-done show all around. The cast recently performed "Simple Joys" on The Late Show with David Letterman, and although it's an incredibly scaled-down performance that doesn't showcase what they really can do (and it's not the song I would have chosen), it's still fun to watch. I really hope they do "Magic to Do" at the Tony Awards.