The journey to discover his purpose in life is a long adventure. As Charlemagne's son Pippin tries to find his purpose through war, sex, and politics, he stumbles upon love, which ultimately satisfies his empty heart. All elements, from the music and choreography to the scenography, make this production a success. Pippin is a wonderful, heroic musical drama that contains elements of humor that show the disconnection between the imaginary and reality, as well as the recurring theme of family reunion. The production begins with the lights dimmed and the orchestra playing. The hands slowly emerge through the fading darkness as if in a magic show. In the end, Ben Vereen's face appears almost as if it were an "appearance" act from a magic show; which fits perfectly with the opening, "Magic to Do", played throughout the opening part of the first act. As "Magic to Do" plays, the lights gradually brighten more and the characters appear fully dressed in shimmering peach costumes with their faces painted in heavy makeup. Vereen is also seen in a tuxedo and top hat as the narrator and as the protagonist. This role is a key driving force in both the show and Pippin's influence in finding his path in life. The background and lighting also change simultaneously and Pippin, played by William Katt, appears on stage dressed in an ordinary chain as a top and tights. The other characters are introduced over the course of the show one by one; this creates a buildup of different levels of plot and character tension. The more characters there are, the more drama and suspense increases as each character adds something more to the plot. For example, first the main player, Vereen, and the other fictional players who are supposedly "in" Pippin's head are introduced... in the center of the paper... and perhaps they could be played by another person in the background and leave that Vereen focuses on his leadership role. With more narration between scenes and acts, this will serve as a bridge so the audience can fully understand what is happening. Another element to add is the historical context on Charlemagne. This could have been included in the narrative as only a brief background was presented. A more positive aspect was that the costumes reflected the characters' roles and that the characters connected the story through the song; the music is incorporated seamlessly into the performance, not to mention the humor and comic relief of some of the tragic parts. The candor of Pippin's discovery of what is truly meaningful to his heart is a fantastic ending and gives a warm and fuzzy feeling to the audience. This musical is very worthwhile and contains all the elements of a great production.