1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS#1
Posted: 3/21/12 at 5:42pmI remember seeing a TV special on PBS back in the early 70s--around Thanksgiving---of the Godpsell cast singing songs from the show--at Plymouth Rock--and I believe they were dressed as pilgrims. I'd love to see it again..any help?
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS #2
Posted: 3/21/12 at 6:19pm
I remember seeing it, but the show was actually called "Godspell Goes to Plimouth Plantation." It was on in 1973. It was the Boston sit-down cast and the songs were repurposed into a First Thanksgiving narrative. I also have a vivid recollection of seeing a rebroadcast with open captioning for the hearing impaired, and remember the line, "And the land sinks into mellow blueness," for some reason was captioned with "And the land sinks into softly blue." I also recall "C'mere Jesus, I got something to show you," became "C'mere Captain John Smith, I got something to show you."
This has been in my brain for almost 40 years.
Oooh, I just found the complete title on WGBH's website: "GODSPELL Goes to Plimoth Plantation for Thanksgiving with Henry Steele Commager"
ta-dahhh!
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS #3
Posted: 3/21/12 at 6:47pmI remember the "Sonia" adding a weak Thanksgiving-related "Don't be so stand-offish, Miles" in her "Turn Back, O Man" asides. It's not a terrible performance, but it's basically a road company of Godspell wandering through the Plimoth Plantation reenactment areas performing musical numbers, interspersed with narration about the early settlers (there was one haunting passage during "By My Side" about the deaths at Jamestown in the first harsh winter which replaced the familiar Judas verse from the Gospel). It's easy to find if you look in the right places.
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS #4
Posted: 3/21/12 at 6:49pmOh yeah, and they sing "Prepare Ye..." on a ship clearly intended to represent the Mayflower in the opening scenes of the program. It's by no means Star Wars Holiday Special bad, but it's certainly campy.
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS #5
Posted: 3/21/12 at 7:50pmAgain, it was the cast of the Boston sit-down. I mean, I know you're an expert and the special wasn't as good as the Harlem production, but still.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS #6
Posted: 3/21/12 at 7:59pm"Prepare Ye" was probably sung on the Mayflower II. It's docked in Plymouth Harbor.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/24/03
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS #7
Posted: 3/22/12 at 11:11ami'm an ignoramoose...did "Plymouth" used to be spelled "Plimouth"?
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS #8
Posted: 3/22/12 at 11:21amThey were using the olden day spelling. I believe it was Bless the Lord, as they made landfall, but it was a long item ago.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS #9
Posted: 3/22/12 at 2:27pm
Yes, Plymouth, MA was once spelled "Plimouth" at a time when there were no organized spelling rules. The present town stands on the area where the original settlers lived. The re-constructed plantation is 3 miles down the road and uses the old (or olde) spelling "Plimouth". The original Plimouth Rock is still rests in Plymouth Harbor, but tourists and erosion have worn it down to a fraction of what it once was.
I was there this past Thanksgiving and enjoyed my visit very much.
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS #10
Posted: 3/22/12 at 5:06pmThis sounds far more interesting than the feature film version.
1970's Godspell at Plymouth Rock on PBS #11
Posted: 3/22/12 at 7:01pm
Again, it was the cast of the Boston sit-down. I mean, I know you're an expert and the special wasn't as good as the Harlem production, but still.
Eat a peach, you sweltering bitch.
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