Pippin has set up its big top at the Boston Opera House, and before the show’s opening night last week we met up with some of the cast, including Nico Maffey.
It’s a homecoming of sorts for Maffey, who graduated from Harvard in 2013.
"Yeah, lived in Cambridge for 4 years. It was like amazing, I love Boston, I love Cambridge, and I have a lot of friends that are still here. So it’s like amazing coming back," Maffey said.
On stage he performs many stunts, but one of Maffey’s specialties is handbalancing with canes.
"I started very young and I’m naturally flexible, so that helps," Maffey said.
Brian Flores plays the title role of Pippin. He says coming into the circus-inspired show as a non-acrobat was intimidating.
"Pippin has to throw knives, and he has to jump through hoops, and he has to do backflips, and he has to stand on people’s shoulders. I was so uncomfortable doing all this stuff, but at the same time I just had to trust and let go," Flores said.
While Sarah had never seen Pippin before it’s Boston run, her mom did have a special connection. She once lived in Boston and actually starred in a local production of the show.
Sarah may not have been able to be in the show, but before she left our behind the scenes tour, she had to test her circus skills with help from another castmember, Nicolas Jelmoni. He is a man of many talents, including the cyr wheel, which Sarah got to take for a spin.
The national tour features some well known actors, including John Rubinstein. He plays Pippin’s father in this production, but he actually originated the role of Pippin on Broadway in 1972.
The show will be at the Boston Opera House through February 14th.
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