Pippin: The Original Obama?
Has "Obama-the musical" already been written?
Could it be that Pippin, one of the longest running shows on Broadway presaged Obama's Presidency?
"Stage Right" (a pseudenom used by a veteran of Broadway and off-Broadway who posts in anonymity on Big Hollywood , a conservative blog focused on the entertainment industry) recently saw a production of Steven Schwartz' Pippin in Las Angeles that seemed to mirror current political times. The character of Pippin realizes that his father, the King, is a tyrant and must be overthrown. He delivers an eloquent speech to the people (book by Roger O. Hirson):
"I think it’s time for a change. We’ve got to dedicate ourselves to a better world for all people. Peace and justice must be restored to this great land. The tyrant must be overthrown. Terror and bloodshed must be ended. We need a leader with the wisdom and the courage to seep out the old order and create a better world. Down with Charles! Up with ME!"
Pippin assassinates his father and assumes the throne. Immediately, he begins to implement the changes he promised:
Come on, you know that you can picture this scene with Obama as Pippin .....BEGGAR:
Thank you, sire. I am a very poor man. I can’t find work. You have much and I have nothing. Is that fair?PIPPIN:
No. That’s completely unfair. Treasurer? I order you to distribute money to the poor:(THEY ALL applaud as the BEGGAR thanks him)LEADING PLAYER:
King Pippin, the Charitable:PEASANT:
Sire, I’m a peasant. A simple working man. I own not one millimeter of land on which I’ve worked so hard all my life. Is that fair?PIPPIN:
No. That’s terrible. But I will do something about it. I hereby decree that from now on all peasants will own the land that they cultivate.(THEY ALL applaud)LEADING PLAYER:
King Pippin, the Just:NOBLE:
Sire, now that you’ve given the land to the peasants, we loyal nobles have no source of income. Therefore, we can no longer pay taxes.PIPPIN:
Well then I hereby abolish taxes.(THEY ALL applaud)SOLDIER:
You realize sire without taxes you’ll have no money to support an army.PIPPIN:
That’s all right. I don’t need an army. That’s it. No more taxes, no more army.(THEY ALL applaud)LEADING PLAYER:
King Pippin, the Peaceful:FIELD MARSHALL:
Sire, it is my duty to inform you that the Infidel hun has attacked in the East. He has destroyed three villages, raped hundreds of women. Tortured and murdered thousands of your royal subjects.PIPPIN:
Can he do that?FIELD MARSHALL:
He has. But he will withdraw:on one condition.PIPPIN:
Well, that’s very reasonable. I’m certainly willing to make any small concession. What’s the condition?FIELD MARSHALL:
He demands your head on a pike staff.PIPPIN:
Oh. Well, in that case, I guess you’ll just have to go out and destroy the Infidel.FIELD MARSHALL:
But sire, I have no more men to wage a campaign:I have no money to buy supplies:I have no army.PIPPIN:
Excuse me a moment. Nobles? You remember that decree I made a little while ago about land and taxes?NOBLE:
Yes, sire.PIPPIN:
That’s off.NOBLE:
You mean you want me to pay taxes again and raise an army?PIPPIN:
Yes. That’s right.NOBLE:
But sire, without land I have neither money nor power over the peasants.PIPPIN:
Oh, yes, that’s a very good point. I hereby suspend land reform.PEASANT:
Suspend land reform? Why the hell should I work when the poor get handouts from the royal treasury?PIPPIN:
You’re absolutely right. I hereby revoke charity to the poor.BEGGAR:
Up thine, sire.PIPPIN:
Take that man away and hang him! No. Stop! Wait! Could you just let me think a minute, please.