"Reorchestrated and sound-designed for young, modern ears, this Godspell sounds like a born-again Glee, and several performers have moments to shine (including Uzo Aduba, Telly Leung and the wonderful Lindsay Mendez). Capering through Christopher Gattelli’s joyous choreography, on David Korins’s continually surprising set, the actors are nothing if not energetic. But for all the copious tributes paid to him, Jesus is a thankless role, and Hunter Parrish is this production’s sacrifice to it; with a voice and presence as light as his ultra-blond locks, Parrish preaches softly and wears a creepily forced smile. This is Jesus as Stepford twink, and it’s regrettably in keeping with a show that, in its combination of bathos and kitsch, is a model of bad faith."
^ Indeed. The SEC refused to comment on it, and only a handful of states allowed the circular to pass as kosher. That should've been a warning sign right there. Did they miss my Zero Mostel jokes? I all but painted them on a billboard.
"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from."
~ Charles M. Schulz
Of course, Matthew "I hate anything good" Murray LOVED IT! Warning: It's one of his cheesiest and lamest reviews.
For most of its two-hour-and-fifteen-minute running time, nothing can stop this Godspell from exploding straight into your heart and — dare I say it? — soul. If indeed spirituality is old-fashioned and outdated, someone forgot to tell everyone involved with this production. And thank goodness: The honesty, charm, and appeal everyone displays shows that, sometimes at least, theatregoers' prayers are indeed answered.
Oh my god blaxx. Just the other day, I was wondering if Matthew Murray had ever given anything ever a positive review. I didn't care enough to look, but I suspected no since he always manages to give the sole negative review to universally raved shows. Jesus Christ (literally) of course he'd be involved in this inbred mess of theatrical fangirl shilling.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never
knowing how
Honestly, I sometimes think Matthew Murray just writes what he thinks the show would be like. He just asks his friends about what they saw and thought and never shows up at the theater.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
They certainly appear to have learned nothing from Broadway’s recent Hair revival, which succeeded by respecting the integrity of a show that will always be a period piece. “Rejoice in simplicity,” says Parrish’s Jesus at one point. But that message got tossed aside in the music meetings, along with the original score’s funky Hammond organs.
Oy vey Ken Davenport and his antics make me want to barf. I'm just imagining his blog post when he falls on his face "Hey, it's live theatre you never know what's going to happen!" "We tried, and I'm so proud of what we accomplished!" "Anyone want a GODSPELL Tissue box?"
Let's do a flash mob with 500 crying Ken's drying their eyes with tissues from GODSPELL tissue boxes. The mere idea of that is more entertaining then anything he's actually produced.
Sorry to see the negative reviews because the show was great tonight. Lots of original Godspell-ers (Victor Garber, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, etc.) and the cast was incredible. A very joyous opening night performance.
"Go easy on the caffeine if you’re heading to the Broadway revival of “Godspell” that opened on Monday night at the Circle in the Square. The cast of this relentlessly perky production of the 1971 musical, which transformed parables from the Gospels into a series of singable teaching moments, virtually never stops bopping, bouncing, bounding, even trampolining across the stage and up the aisles of the theater. It’s like being trapped in a summer camp rec room with a bunch of kids who have been a little too reckless with the Red Bull..."
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.