limelightmagazine.com.au: Prepare ye for a fresh take on the musical Godspell, that keeps the show’s exuberant, improvisational feel, but boots it out of the 1970s and into the modern era, giving it a contemporary, rock ‘n’ cabaret vibe, new jokes and a female Jesus (Billie Palin). And yes, it’s (mostly) all for the best.
4 comments:
I know I say this a lot, but one of my favorite things about theatre is how versatile it is as a medium. Even when looking at the same show, two different productions could be completely different. This can boil down to things as simple as some script changes, some different set detailing, etc., and can range up to a complete reimagining of the setting, theming, cast composition, and more. There is a wide range of artistic choices that everyone in the production can make to create an identity all their own. Even with a long-running show like Godspell, no two productions will feel truly the same. I'm also interested to read about the much more grunge dive bar aesthetics that this production went for, since we are also doing Godspell next semester. I'll be extremely interested to see what the team for our production will come up with, since it's sure to breathe some fascinating life into a show that has just celebrated 50 years since it's opening.
Some shows are written in such a manner that they don’t have to mimic the original production. While it’d be hard to do Wicked without flying broomsticks and green makeup, Godspell has space to make it ones own. The Hayes Theatre’s take feels a bit darker than the original, tying in “contemporary issues such as identity, capitalism, and climate change,” through their various technical elements. However, the concepts of identity, greed, and the destruction of the earth have been issues for a long time. Not only are these notions important, but they are not so rigidly a symptom of 2022. From the photographs, I also feels like the stage has a very intimate vibe, where the audience can feel quite close to the performers. While I cannot see the distance from the house, the actors are close to the ground and close to each other, so the intimacy is there. I’d be interested in seeing how these various elements come together.
It’s so fun reading about Godspell while being at the school is started at. I know I take pride in the fact that that musical had its beginnings here and still largely affects this school, and now I’m here. Each production of Godspell is so different and unique and I think that’s the beauty of the show. I’m really glad to see a female Jesus in this production too. That role has always been one on my list to play. The production pictures make this show look fascinating. I would totally go see it if it weren’t in Australia. The lighting is very unique, and the description of the set is completely new and unique! I love how the article describes the set and even mentions how you could smell the carpet stains. I think that’s a wonderful thing for a scenic designer to hear.
Godspell is a such a paradox of a show because on face value its about Christianity and Jesus, and that is going to put off a lot of agnostic, secular audience members who don’t want to be preached at. On the other hand, it’s actually about Jesus’s teachings which is not necessarily what comes to mind when people think of modern evangelical churches. There has been such a link between Christians and the political right made, that “love thy neighbor” is not what Christians are known for anymore. That said, if you get past that and can find your audience, you can put on a pretty good show. It’s very interesting to read about the direction the creative team at the Hayes Theater took the show. It makes me eager to see where we’ll take it. I’ve started seeing set designs and those have been very promising so here’s hoping we put on a good show.
Post a Comment