Godspell
GODSPELL ( 20 March to 11 April, 2009) The Company Theatre, 30 Accord Park Drive,
Norwell, MA 1 (781) 871-2797 or
www.companytheatre.com
Company Theatre's current show is "Godspell" with music and new
lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by John-Michael Tebelak,
originally opened Off-Broadway on May 17,1971. It is a loose account
of the life and death of Christ and is structured as a continuous
stream of stories and told through the parables, many taken from the
Gospel According to St. Matthew. The show lives on in the minds of
many as one of the "hippie" musicals and is performed in two
acts. Also "Godspell" is the Old English spelling of the
word, gospel. The book of "Godspell" is sketch-like in nature,
meaning that the show is particularly suited to improvisation and
ad-libs. Keeping Tebelak's basic structure but updating the pop
references and language, the show comes humanly and heartenly alive
in a groundbreaking and unique new production. This joyous
contemporary piece of musical theatre will be a passionate new
reflection on the parables of Jesus, told with vibrant creativity by
a large ensemble. The show is global in nature where Jesus tells the
crowds his message in around the world theme. It depends a lot on
the chemistry of the characters, in constant unflagging,
inspired movement. Godspell's timeless message has always been about
finding your quiet, unshakable faith amid a very loud, very cold,
very shallow modern world. An overhaul in this updated in the
heavily revised script. their inventive twists will delight those
overly familiar with the show. Now they are related in broadly
satirical skits that skewer social icons. Poignant and
comic moments are mixed together perfectly by directors Zoe Bradford
and Jordie Saucerman. They assemble a talented 32 member cast to fit
all these roles while musical director Michael Joseph not only
taught the different style of songs to his cast but also plays lead
keyboard while he conducts a small combo, Sally Ashton Forrest not
only taught the dances including soft shoe routine, tap and jazz but
has all 32 cast members doing the routines in perfect unison. The
harmonic blend of the cast is fabulous and fills the whole theatre
with its power. The show is a trip around the world to various
places like Italy, Ireland, India and Africa to name a few. The
heartfelt songs demand topnotch vocalists and this show is bountiful
with them. The different styles of music include rock, folk, pop and
Broadway. The vocals have to be combined with the acting ability and
vitality needed to enliven the biblical subject matter. The show is
usually performed with 10 people but this creation delivers the
goods on a grand scale level which the audiences of Company Theatre
have grown used to. Their epic presentations reach audiences of all
ages and this show is rewarded with a spontaneous standing ovation
at the close of the evening.
Zoe's concept for the set is a two story structure with stairways
on each side which cast members easily ascend and descend. A pathway
from side to side on the second level with beautiful stone structure
design. The cross is built with pieces of the set and is pieced
together so skillfully, so well hidden that when they assemble
it, it will astound you. Marc Ewart who is also the stage manager
and in the show constructed the impressive set. He gets to show off
his lariat trick from "Will Rogers Follies" in the Noah and the Ark
sequence and is the evil servant who is forgiven of his debt by his
master but he refuses to forgive his servants debt and is severely
punished for it. The lighting affects in this show are astounding,
making the Crucifixion scene terrifying while the Resurrection scene
is electrifying. The lighting by Michael Clark Wonson is as
excellent as Broadway. The lightening that opens the show with smoke
and fog helps set up the mysterious nature of the show. As the
characters enter from all parts of the theater whether thru the
audience or onstage, Michael keeps them well lit at all times. The
massive amount of costumes are by Shirley Carney. Not having a Jesus
until two weeks ago, didn't stop Zoe and Jordie from rehearsing the
show with the other performers. Searching high and low they finally
found the perfect fit for the role. Scoop Slone, an equity actor
from New York, stars as Jesus and he is excellently cast in this
role with dark brown hair, blue eyes and an angelic face with a rock
singers vocal range. Clad in white and with a spot on him at all
times since he is the central figure in this tale. Scoop has
performed in productions ranging from opera to heavy metal and now
the pop influenced "Godspell". One of his most powerful numbers is
"Alas for You" where the words "This nation, this generation shall
bear the guilt of it all! Alas, alas alas for you! Blind fools!!"
which rings true for the world today as well as back in biblical
times and in the 1970's when the show was first written. His
charisma shines through from the first moment he appears onstage as
well as in his first dynamite song "Save the People" where the cast
does a circular dance around him. The Last Supper tableau and the
death scene are beautifully portrayed not leaving a dry eye in the
house, including mine. The directors have divided the role of John
the Baptist and Judas which helps the audience understand who is who
more easily. Alex Valentine who has a powerful gospel sounding
voice, enters the theatre thru the audience, making them pay
attention to "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord" and other solos
throughout the show. He shows his wonderful acting in the parables,
too. Jim Sullivan is dynamite as Judas. He is a topnotch director
having reviewed "The Music Man" which he directed in 2007 but he
shows off his acting prowess in this show. The comic duet "All For
the Best" stops the show with Scoop and Jim dancing and singing with
the cast in counterpoint on opposite sides of the stage. They also
do two separate dances including a soft shoe routine and a jazz
style for Jim's group. The betrayal scene is stunning too as Jim
runs up the stairs of the audience in the darkness. He also plays
the unjust judge and the rich man who is condemned to the fires of
hell.
Since the cast is enormous, I will try to hit on a few of the
shows many highlights. Paula Markowicz opens the show as Socrates
with her powerful soprano voice singing "O Man of Athens, sings a
verse of "Light of the World" and is the devil throwing Jesus into a
pit of vipers right before Scoop sings "Alas For You". John Porcaro
and the men's chorus send chills up your spine with the "On the
Willows" song where Jesus is crucified. The powerful "Long Live God"
and "Prepare Ye" done in counterpoint portrays the joyousness of the
Resurrection scene perfectly. Bethany Boles plays Sartre in the
Prologue where she sings his atheistic dogma and does imitations
of Janis Joplin in Act 1 and Cher in Act 2 while she
wonderfully sings "Learn Your Lessons Well". She also plays the
ukulele in "All for the Best". Sara Seals belts out the "O Bless the
Lord" with a her powerful. Amazing thing is she just returned to the
show after being in a terrific car crash where she broke her pelvis.
Matt Melo uses his tenor voice in "All Good Gifts" and plays the
father in the prodigal son scene. The prodigal son takes place in
the tundra in Alaska so there is a very hilarious joke about Sarah
Palin in it where the character states she can see Russia from here.
"Day by Day" is sung beautifully by Melissa Sepulveda who returns to
the stage in triumph after a five year hiatus. Her bluesy style of
singing carries this well known song across the footlights
enthralling the audience with its powerful message once again. Karen
Cavallo as Mary Magdalene descends the long stairs thru the audience
to flirt with them and Michael Joseph is one of her foils in the
"Turn Back O Man" song. (Scoop uses his high tenor range in his
verse of the song.) She plays many diverse characters including
Maria in "The Sound of Music". She goes from nun to vamp in this
show. 18 year old Michael Iemma who I reviewed as the lead in "Bat
Boy" last year and who recently played one of the Chinamen in
"Thoroughly Modern Millie", appears as Marianne Willliamson in the
Prologue but also shows off his strong singing voice in "We Beseech
Thee" with the chorus dancing in four columns. James Valentin plays
L. Ron Hubbard in the opening (Hubbard founded Scientology), does
the Irish segment about the scattering of the seeds, dances up a
storm, walks on stilts in another sketch and plays the snooty
Pharisee. Another tender song is the ballad "By My Side" performed
by Jill Akins and Caitlin Ford as a duet first then as a choral
selection later in the song. Jill appears in the scene of the woman
being accused of being an adulterer right before this song. (She was
one of the 16 finalists in Popsearch in 2007) The most important
lesson is "Love the Lord your God above all others" which is the
greatest commandment and the second is Love your neighbor". The
outstanding production displays the great love the cast has for each
other and their powerhouse performances knock your socks off and
with their awesome talent should fill the theatre every night. The
show's ending will leave you emotionally drained at its intensity
but uplifted because Jesus left us hope for the future. In these
trying times who could ask for anything better for the world. Kudos
to everyone who make this the sensational show that it is. So for a
trip back to an old favorite with a new twist to it, be sure to
catch "Godspell" at Company Theatre.
