The cast of Godspell: (L-R) Miguel Cadoy III, Elitei Tatafu, Alex Lanning, Mike Dupre, Miguel Pa’ekukui, Kodee Martin, Kim Anderson, Alison Aldcroft, Callie Doan, and Kimee Balmilero.
There’s not much out there that can polarize a crowd like religion. It seems fitting then that one of the most polarizing shows I’ve ever come across is “Godspell.” A well-adored, successful Off-Broadway musical, “Godspell” was resurrected as a Broadway revival. Though of the people I’ve spoken to about this musical, I’ve met in nearly equal amounts people who love it and people who can’t stand it. Instinctually you’d suspect that the line would be drawn between Christians and non-Christians. However, the division is not for the reason you’d think.
“Godspell” isn’t a traditional musical. For those who enjoy musicals for their story and character development, you will find this musical extremely lacking. It’s important to understand what “Godspell” is. It’s is a collection of parables and a synopsis of a portion of Jesus’ life, focusing mostly on his persecution and death. I would like to emphasize, it’s a synopsis, not a story. Those who aren’t familiar with the story of Jesus will likely find the play a bit confusing and abrupt.
Where “Godspell” focuses, is in playful presentation and music. In fact, it wouldn’t be too big a jump to call this a very well done Christian teen revival. The music, while varied a bit in genre, takes a significant portion of its lyrics from hymns and samplings from the bible. There are several well-loved Broadway hits in this production. The show has an energetic and very free flowing feel to it, likely brought on by the often-improvised side interactions between the players. In fact, one of the biggest draws of this play is that due to the long leash the script gives the players, each production you see has the potential to be very different from the last. There are people out there who will love Godspell, but there are also people out there who will be sorely disappointed. It’s important to know what to expect.
Regarding this specific production of Godspell, I found it to be quite well cast. Elitei Tatafu does quite well as Jesus, bring a confidence and charisma to the stage that was casual and effortlessly divine. Naturally his was the most solid character, likely because he had the time and platform needed to develop. Actually, I might even say that Jesus was one of the only two characters in the show. The apostles formed something of an aggregate character, every now and then stepping forward to perform a somewhat brief showcase of personality associated with a parable or lesson to be learned. I’d liken it to a Greek Chorus.
Vocally, this was one of the most impressive shows I’ve seen in recent memory. There were some truly powerful voices in this production. Specifically, I was most impressed with Miguel Cadoy, Allison Aldcroft, Kim Anderson, and most of all, by Alex Lanning. Lanning’s song gave her a great opportunity to really show off her talents. It was a difficult song and she conquered it completely.
The performance of the apostles was impressively enthusiastic. Unfortunately the enthusiasm did at times feel a bit monochromatic. Despite this, they managed to keep up the energy and commitment, something that can be quite difficult but exactly what you have to do when the situation calls for it. Though the moods did change every now and then, the changes were somewhat confusing and seemed quite abrupt, like a change for the sake of the song, instead of for logical, story-related reasons. Although this might have just been the intended style of the show, it was a bit off putting at times.
The improvisations of the troupe were convincing and free flowing, giving the show a uniquely organic feel. Among the apostles though, I most enjoyed Kim Anderson. Her song was quite commandingly performed, and even though she’s not often the center of attention, it’s worth it to watch her every now and again as she’s usually doing something quite interesting.
I’m not a fan of Godspell, but I know a good performance when I see one. There is a lot of talent in this show, and for those who have enjoyed past productions of Godspell, I believe this one will not disappoint. However, if you’re not a fan of this show or shows like it, I doubt this one will change your mind. For those on the fence about this, I’d say you should take a leap and give it a try. Whether you love or hate Godspell, there are a lot of things worth seeing in this production.