Like no time at all has passed

As our Weekly reviewer Caitlin Berka observed this week, the musical "Pippin" has never quite made it out of the '70s. Camp, oh yes, camp galore. Pat silliness or part of its charm: it all depends on your particular corner of the sky.

When "Pippin" opened this weekend at Foothill Music Theatre, one chap in the audience may have given theater-goers even more flashbacks. Why, it was Micky Dolenz, formerly of The Monkees, who was there to see his sister Coco playing Pippin's grandmother, Berthe. He even gamely posed for photos with the cast.

That's brotherly love, and also turnabout. Apparently Sis recently came to see her brother when he played Charlemagne in a touring revival of "Pippin."

I'm hoping to see Foothill's show, because you hardly ever get to see "Pippin" around these parts. Years ago, I danced in a production at M-A High School -- and realized only years later, watching the video, that much of it had sailed right over my head.

Rather a mature play (and I don't just mean the orgy scene, which was toned down for we youngsters). The idea of journeying around to find yourself is lovely for people of all ages. I never want to stop doing that. But the hollowness that Pippin finds in so many places -- from violence to political intrigue to sex -- is a sensation I'm glad I didn't know at 14.

Pictured: Micky Dolenz surrounded by the "Pippin" cast at Foothill Music Theatre. Photo courtesy of Carla Befera and Co.