“When wilt thou save the people? / Oh God of mercy when? / The people, Lord, the people / Not thrones and crowns, / But men.” Could there be a time when a revival of Godspell is more timely than right now?
Through perseverance and the watchful eye of Actor’s Equity, the Berkshire Theatre Group managed to stage the first live theatrical show in America since the pandemic shut the doors in March. The solution was to erect a very large tent outside with limited – and distanced – seating capacity. How to sing and dance? Socially apart with transparent partitions.
I managed to catch the final weekend after the show extended its sold out run. As someone who spends countless evenings in the theater, my anticipation level was high. The 2011 Broadway revival was manic and overcooked. My childhood friend, Gerry McIntyre, was the choreographer. I saw this show countless times as a teenager in schools and churches. Even staged on an altar, how radical! I could not wait to sit and see what COVID-19 and decades of my ever-marbleizing atheism would do to this nostalgic and tuneful relic from my youth.
Lovers of the Godspell cast album who know every song by heart can rejoice here. One of the highlights of this particular revival is the vocal arrangements by Music Director Andrew Baumer. Instead of using recent trends which make old school lyrics unintelligible, this Godspell allows its cast to sing Stephen Schwartz’s words clearly and convincingly. Oh bless the Lord my soul.
This Godspell, like the original 1970’s megahit, takes place today. The cast assembles on the stage far apart and behind partitions. It’s both surreal and exciting. Each opens with a personal story about the pandemic and how it impacted their life. Someone eventually gets to the “to wear or not to wear” mask battle happening in our country. “I don’t know how to teach you to care about other people.” Cue the opening song, “Prepare Ye” the way of the Lord. An opening that was somehow both sobering and magical.
The messages and parables of Jesus freely flow through this show. I found many of them jarring and intensely relevant today. “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled.” “Not to make a show of religion before men.” “No man can serve God and money.” How about this lyric? “This nation / this generation / shall bear the guilt of it all.” Heady stuff if you immerse yourself in the now.
Godspell has always reflected current times, often using humor. A parable about a Master results in the easy chide “guys, I don’t think we should use the word ‘Master’ anymore.” There are mentions of Tik Tok, Netflix, Occupy Pittsfield and tweeting. Police caps appear in Act II. Wal-Mart becomes a stand-in for Hades. That in particular came across as cultural elitism to me but the joke did land.
“When you feel sad / and under a curse” begins Jesus (Nicholas Edwards) and Judas’ soft shoe duet, “All For the Best.” Both sanitize appropriately, wear rubber gloves and use yardsticks to measure six feet of distance. There is plenty of whimsy to be had in this revival. The darker elements of the tale approaching the ending were less successful and dragged on. “Turn Back, O Man” was cleverly turned into a provocative (and overly raunchy) in-your-face gay number that was bizarrely out of sync with the rest of the show.
Hunter Kaczorowski and Elivia Bovenzi Blitz provided the inspired denim costumes. From the cast, there were some nice high points to be savored. A wistful “By My Side” from Alex Getlin. A plaintive “All Good Gifts” from Najah Hetsberger. Michael Wartella (“Light of the World”) and Tim Jones (Judas) memorably interacted throughout the tale from stage left.
Is this Godspell perfect? Of course not. But it exists and that is what’s important here. Only the team who put this show on can say what it was like in rehearsals way back in July. When the musical gets to the lovely ballad, “Beautiful City,” we get to reflect a little. “Out of the ruins and rubble / Out of the smoke / Out of our night of struggle / Can we see a ray of hope?” Will we be able to build a better and more beautiful city in the future? “Yes we can” is the answer.
This was a sad week which included the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The last time a justice died before a Presidential election, the Republicans stood up and held up the next confirmation until the people’s votes could be counted as a matter or principle. With even less time this year, they have done another 180 degree spin. I can only imagine what Jesus would think. Oh… wait a minute, he just told me. “Alas, alas for you / Lawyers and pharisees / Hypocrites that you be.”
One Reply to “Godspell (Berkshire Theatre Group)”