"Godspell," the musical that John-Michael Tebelak wrote while a student at Carnegie-Mellon University, marks its 40th birthday this year. Birthday presents for musical comedies usually include a Broadway revival, which opened earlier this month and apparently fussied things up with a lot of contemporary jokes, though there were many kind words for Stephen Schwartz' score.
Director Deanna Jent went more for the original ingenuous style in a Mustard Seed Theatre production that opened last night (Nov. 18) at Fontbonne University — and it's absolutely dazzling. With J. Samuel Davis simple, restrained and simply wonderful as Jesus and a delightful, talented, eager cast to surround him, the show seemed as fresh as tomorrow's sunrise to this often-curmudgeonly critic.
There are a few contemporary references, but the freshness of the '60s remains in Jent's staging, which uses Dunsi Dai's set to toss a bit of "Rent" here and there, including what appeared to be a rescued, venerable Phil's Bar B Q sign from yesteryear. Dai's two-level, two-element set, bringing a balcony/fire escape into the action as a chance to stretch the eye muscles, includes a windowless storefront at stage right, with Joe Schoen at a piano inside. He's The Band, and he turns Schwartz' score into tasty marshmallows of melody.
Besides Davis, Schoen and the delightful Charlie Barron as John and Judas, the cast includes Justin Ivan Brown, Laura Ernst, Justin Leibrecht, Isabella Liu, Amy Loui, Khnema Menu-Ra, Deborah Sharn and Anna Skidis. Without a weakness in the group, they bring skill and style, talent and zest, all in perfect proportion.
As the audience enters the theater, someone is lying under the balcony, apparently a homeless person sleeping on the street. Turns out to be Loui. Brown, wearing a hoodie and carrying a can of paint, comes on next and goes to work. The sign "Suggestion Box" appears on the storefront above a garbage can. He then moves to the balcony and paints a plea for more poetry. Maybe graffiti, maybe a statement of fact or a wish for tomorrow.
The plot involve Jesus' final days, but there are scenes that tell Biblical parables in song and dance. Julie Venegoni, Ernst and the members of the ensemble are credited with the choreography, which is simple and brisk. We see Judas' act of betrayal, the crucifixion and, eventually, a symbolic resurrection. This is necessary in terms of the story, but I've always wondered why a staged Jesus was not allowed to live out his life, becoming a venerable scholar and teacher. I know that religion needs martyrs, but wouldn't it be nice to try another approach? Davis, by the way, didn't need lines. His expressions, ranging from peaceful understanding, to the bringing of comfort, to quizzical disbelief, to stern discipline, to a calm understanding of all that was going on, were staggering in their simplicity. Davis has done a great deal of splendid acting over the years. This was one of his finest evenings.
Jent has brought a spark to the production; Barron and Davis do a soft shoe, with fedoras and canes, as they sing "All for the Best," and in the story of the Prodigal Son, Schoen tosses in a few bars of "If I Were a Rich Man," at the absolutely perfect moment to crack up the house. Menu-Ra delighted as he started "We Beseech Thee," with the ensemble joining in, and Brown and Ernst charmed in "All Good Gifts," with Ernst doing a bright flute solo.
Jane Sullivan's costumes all arrived on stage in a shopping cart, and cast members pulled one or another shirt, scarf or hat to provide a different look for a particular number. And when it was time for "We Beseech Thee," everyone had donned a perfectly ridiculous hat which made the song a perfectly wonderful moment.
"Godspell" will run at Fontbonne University through Dec. 11; it's perfect theater for the season.
Godspell, a production of Mustard Seed Theatre, will play at Fontbonne University through Dec. 18
— Joe
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One response
Isaac Eldredge
Enjoyed every bit of your blog post. Great.