GODSPELL....WOW...

[steven22]

Posted: 1/17/12 at 11:44pm

I was all excited to see Godspell tonight. Wow. Ask me what the show was about....Not a clue....Ask me what the story involved...Not a clue. Other than the cast (which was amazing, Hunter was out, Corey was great, the show is just something like Pirate Queen...a mess (in my opinion). Anyone else agree?

[emilyfaye48]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 12:24am

if only the pirate queen could give Godspell some of its plot they'd both be better off

[massofmen]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 1:46am

and yet somehow people are still buying tix to it...amazing

[Kad]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 1:54am

To be fair, Godspell has lacked a plot for 40 years. The revival didn't jettison it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 3:40am

Godspell has neve been plot driven. It's simply the supposed teachings of Christ (his parables) and his demise/rise.

Personally, (and as a Jew) I have always loved this show. Mostly because it's all heart and spirit. I haven't seen this yet (got snowed out in October) but will likely bring my spawn next month.

[steven22]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 6:56am

dramamama,

As a jew as well, I was confused as to what was going on

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 6:58am

As a fellow jew, but more so as someone thats no longer totally religious, I greatly enjoyed it, even though its about jesus its not totally in your face religious .....

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 10:44am

Godspell may be unconventional, but how is it confusing? I grew up in a non-religious household and I never had a problem with what was happening in the show. Jesus Christ Superstar is the straightforward narrative of the final days of Jesus and Godspell is the essence of the teachings of Jesus. At any rate, the show itself can't be too much of a mess since it has been in near-constant production for 40 years. Perhaps it is just this particular production that came across as confusing.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 10:52am

Evangelical Christian...love the show Godspell...hate this production.

Here's the thing about Godspell: the music is fantastic, the book is not good (it's out of the 1970s improvisational theater genre). The thing that absolutely must happen during the non-musical sections is that the cast must come together and act as a community (or to borrow a phrase from Hair -- the tribe). The problem with this production is that I never felt the cast came together. Everyone is doing their own thing instead of working together as a team.

Updated On: 1/18/12 at 10:52 AM

[labwyfan]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 11:57am

Did you have any cocktails before you went? Sometimes that alters my perception of a show. Who did you think they were hanging at the end?

I loved this production as well! Can't wait to get back to NY to see it again.

[steven22]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 12:11pm

Nope, not old enough to drink, legally...haha almost though

[WestVillage]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 12:54pm

I'm in the "love Godspell, hate this production" camp. It truly was an absolute mess.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 1:31pm

I'm not a Jew and I haven't seen this revival. But doesn't the text tend to treat Jesus as a great philosopher and de-emphasize the question of whether he is Lord and Savior?

It's been awhile, but my memory is that the show gives the impression that Jesus was executed because his teachings threatened the established power structures. This of course does nothing to prevent Christians from seeing him as the Christ, and church groups have been doing the play since the 1970s.

Personally, the book isn't one of my favorites, but there's no reason for it to be incomprehensible.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 1:44pm

"But doesn't the text tend to treat Jesus as a great philosopher and de-emphasize the question of whether he is Lord and Savior?

It's been awhile, but my memory is that the show gives the impression that Jesus was executed because his teachings threatened the established power structures."

Godspell is based on the book of Matthew. The opening has always compared him to the great philosophers. However, because it was the 1970s, he is portrayed more as a good natured hippie hanging out with his friends.

In the show, the John the Baptist and Judas characters are combined. He is betrayed by Judas. I think the threatening of power structures is more JCS.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 2:01pm

One wonders what would have happened if a more timely, germane production with a more connected narrative had made it to the Broadway stage. Guess we'll never know.

On a related note...
Harlem "Godspell" Fighting Media Indifference Day by Day (1997)

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 2:14pm

I also think that adding Beautiful City does nothing to improve the show. It comes when the show begins to take a darker turn and to me it's not as good of a song as the others in the show.

[labwyfan]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 2:34pm

I think Beautiful City does more than On the Willows, personally.

And after reading that article on the Harlem version, it sounds like no one wanted to work with that producer. It's odd that no reviews were ever posted...but there must be a reason. Reading between the lines, something is not right!

[DAME]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 2:42pm

I did enjoy it. But I had a great 420 buzz going on. It is the only way I can tolerate anything with religious undertones these days.

[wonkit]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 2:57pm

I went to the matinee a week ago. Love the movie, love the music, love Lindsay Mendez, but I am living proof that it is possible to physically cringe for a solid 2 hours. I do not think there was a single moment that actually felt either spontaneous or well considered. Ouch.

[PopAria]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 3:04pm

I can see why you thought it was a mess. But that's what was so interesting to me. I mean, imagine what a bore it would have been of it wasn't so schitzo... But that's why it was so fun. And I think it's really smart what they have done with the parables. Grade A theatre. Also, the arrangements are BEAUTIFUL, as well as the voices singing them. Personally it was a great time. I recommend it to everyone.

[WkdBARN]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 3:25pm

I LOVED it! I've been to see it 4 times already! Generally I don't enjoy shows without plot, but I don't mind it with this so much because there is an overarching story of Jesus. And I'm not religious by any means - and part of why I love it so much is because I don't feel like it is shoving religion down my throat. The words may be connected, but the feeling is something of joy and community not "Be a Jesus lover or die." I plan to go back many, many times.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 3:56pm

Isn't the show's composer, Stephen Schwartz, a Jew?

[DAME]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 4:01pm

Isn't Jesus ?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 4:06pm

Well, his mother was.

[DAME]

Posted: 1/18/12 at 4:11pm

Isn't Stephen's?

Updated On: 1/18/12 at 04:11 PM