Godspell - First Preview Tonight- Page 13

[krispy kreme]

Posted: 10/26/11 at 5:13pm

I'm okay with his opinions of the show. It's an opinion and I want to hear from people that like the show and don't like the show. But this is the Broadway World forums, not the Kyle blog forum. I think that is a fair assessment.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 10/26/11 at 5:56pm

labwyfan --

The dictionary definition for "young" (used in adjective form) is "having lived or existed for only a short time." The popular definition is "whenever we damn well say it is" (witness "60 is the new ___" -- I've heard 20, 30, 40, 50, and even 51 at the end of that sentence).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 12:20am

Saw it last night. I have to say that the topical references didn't bother me as much as I thought they would. Sure the "Facebook" join is a dud, and a few of the other references seemed to be trying to hard, but whatever, to me, that's sort of what I expect with a production of Godspell. At best it will always be the 9 year old daughter to Jesus Christ Superstar.

My biggest complaint with the show is the star, Hunter Parrish. He's just a bore. His voice is fine, it's not great, but it's not cringe-worthy either. But his acting is just boring. He should be the focal point on stage and the one you want to watch, but I found myself so bored whenever he was doing anything. During his big solos I kept watching the ensemble behind him because they were actually engaging and real. I saw him in SA as well, and he was just as bad in that. I like him on Weeds, but something just does not translate onto the stage. I think his is the productions biggest problem. Without a great Jesus, what's the point?

The rest of the cast is fine. I just think they all took the word "earnest" and ran with it. It's a little too "young" for me, and I'm young. The mismatched prints, the "clown" gear, the obligatory riffing; it was all a bit too much. If everyone else is riffing their faces off and singing to the high heavens, and then you have this Jesus who is just so boring, something just feels off. The men are not as great as the women.

The girl who is playing Morgan James' track is BRILLIANT. Someone get her into a better show. She is just hilarious. Her adlibs, her voice, her choices - just great. I loved her, and I couldn't wait to see what she'd do next. She was just having fun, and wasn't trying too hard.

I think the direction is def. lacking. I don't get why the set was an "old theater" type feeling with the lights and the ropes and stuff. Didn't really understand the reference. Didn't really care for the ending. It just felt underwhelming. The music is great, but the direction is just so lackluster at that point. Also, why does every number need to be a "Spring Awakening" style song complete with handheld mics.

The choreography is just astoundingly bad. It all just reeked of "wedding" dancing. I mean, was this actually done by somebody? It honestly looks like when you go to see a community theater show and the director just adds some choreography. Did someone actually sit down and plan this out? It's awful. The trampolines should be so amazing and fun, but it's so boring. It's just people going up and down. It's lame. And does every song need to "rock out?" It just seems repetitive.

Overall the show isn't AWFUL, but it just seems so "ho-hum." I feel like it's a mash-up of past season hits. It's some Spring Awakening, some HAIR, some Rent, and a touch of Wicked. I get that they all have amazing voices, but do we really need a piano ballad at the start of Act II with people just having a riff off? Or do we need to serve "wine" at intermission? It just seems to be trying far too hard.

[thismyshow]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 1:13am

still don't get what riffing means.....

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 1:36am

RippedMan, the handheld mics were a nod to the original production of Godspell, which did utilize handheld mics (with cords of course). Even Grease used handheld mics before Spring Awakening did. Not saying that they work in this production (I was just as confused), but I think that's why they're there.

Also, I'm glad you enjoyed Julia Mattison. When I saw it, you never would have guessed that she was an understudy, and I saw it the first weekend of previews. I thought she fit in seamlessly and really stood out as well. Updated On: 10/29/11 at 01:36 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 7:48am

I don't know where you get your info HeyMr, but I don't remember any hand held mics in the original GODSPELL and the ones in GREASE were props I believe not live mics.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 9:11am

The ones in Grease when it first played in London (with Richard Gere) were not props but real microphones

[hyperbole_and_a_half]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 11:48am

Regardless, this is 2011. If you are using hand mics in your show, you are making a statement, and that statement usually is "desperately want to be viewed as 'rock' and not 'showtune', but can't trust the music to make that distinction by itself".

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 12:00pm

s&dman, I didn't think you were old enough to see the original GREASE!
From what I remember on Bway, Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel may have had mics on stands but I didn't think they were practical.
Learn something everyday.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 2:13pm

I mean this music is "rock" about as much as Wicked is considered "rock." I mean it's just showtune rock. So trying to make to have the cast "rock out" is just a stupid idea. I think the only people really buying into this production were the kids in the "pillow seats." I guess only time will tell, but I don't think this production really says anything. I mean the roses were put on the piano, jesus is strung up on a wire, there is water pouring on the stage at the top of the show, but what does it all add up to? Not a lot.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 3:34pm

^ And now we come to the middle ground I expected. Let's do that math again, folks, shall we?

No concept
+ middling talent
+ strong backlash giving way to mixed-to-indifferent word of mouth
+ barely holding on financially at 50% of the gate
_________
no show.

The odds are close, but I'm with massofmen on this. I give it two months, maybe an extra day. I think the critics are going to have a field day massacring this sucker. I can see the headline now: "LAMB OF GOD A TURKEY." (Nah, somehow that's too cutesy. They'll be much nastier; it's a slaughter, after all.)

That said, I'm willing to be proven wrong, and I wish them the best.

[kyle4]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 10:06pm

some guy.... who i DO NOT know did a DRAMATIC READING

http://soundcloud.com/lance-jonathan/lance-chat-7-godspelled

of my GODSPELL blog post

( http://thetheaterbuff.typepad.com/the-theater-buff/2011/10/godspell-first-preview-thoughts.html )

i swear i am not making this up...

bizarre. crazy and kinda funny !!!

[binau]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 10:10pm

It's awkward that you're known as kyle4 of "Broadwayworld.com", how embarrassing.

BUT THIS IS SO FUNNY, HAHAHAHHAHAHA.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 10/30/11 at 2:02am

Grease was originally staged as a parody/pastiche of 1950s rock and roll, and to authentically produce this kind of sound, practical handheld microphones (or practical microphones on stands) were used during the musical numbers. This use of microphones is even indicated in the stage directions in the licensed libretto.

Godspell also originally used handheld microphones during numbers like "Save the People" to draw people into the rock vibe of the show.

There are examples from both shows on ThatSite.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/30/11 at 2:48am

I just don't think there will ever be a compelling production of Godspell because of it's boring book. I mean we laugh at all the jokes, but when it comes to Act II and things start to get more serious, we lose interest and engagement.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/30/11 at 4:31am

I just don't think there will ever be a compelling production of Godspell because of it's boring book. I mean we laugh at all the jokes, but when it comes to Act II and things start to get more serious, we lose interest and engagement.

Sorry to disagree. Perhaps you have not been lucky with this show, but when it works it can be very powerful, especially that second act.

"Boring" is not a word I'd ever use to describe Godspell (yes, that includes the book). An effective production can have you laught until you drop and be very moving at the same time.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/30/11 at 4:51am

Just because YOU lose interest, certainly doesn't mean the entire audience does. If that were the case, this wouldn't have been one of the most done shows of the 70s and 80s across the country. I performed in at least 4 different amateur productions as a teen/young adult. Additionally, I've seen several VERY compelling productions of this -- and that comes from one that is not a believer in Christ.

I am not speaking to THIS production -- I'm suppose to see it today (but may not be able to get into the city in time.)

[Roscoe]

Posted: 10/31/11 at 11:17am

I wanted to like it, I really did. But the comedy wasn't funny enough and the musical performances weren't strong enough to make the performance anything but an ordeal. The cast were so busy being so frantically ENERGETIC that they didn't have time to make themselves into individuals, they were just interchangeable pawns moving around and assuming roles at Jesus' direction, turning the Gospels basically into an extended editon of WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?

The proceedings are so genial and well-intentioned and inoffensive that I found myself wondering why on earth anybody would bother crucifying that Jesus guy.

I laughed exactly twice. "TWEET!" and the Prodigal's Brother's dance version of his tirade were genuinely funny. I did enjoy Mr. Parrish's performance of "Beautiful City," a song I've never liked before.

Whatever.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/31/11 at 11:44am

I saw it last night and thought the whole thing was a dreadful mess. The show's book has always been extremely problematic, and these "revisions" didn't do it any favors. Act 1 basically plods along as a series of vignettes only tangentially related to the main narrative.

Judas felt like a secondary character, and I was mystified as to why he received special billing in this production. Parrish gives it his all, but he's just not a strong enough singer to make it work. I liked him a lot in Spring Awakakening, but he's lost at sea here.

I enjoyed the performances of Ugo Adzoba (spelling?? sorry, don't have the playbill handy) and Telly Leung, though I don't understand why he was dressed like a mime. Nick Blaemire was atrocious and annoying the entire evening. This will be, what, the third flop he's going to be associated with? Poor guy.

The house was heavily papered with Broadway folks last night, so of course they chose to shoot their B-roll last night.

Stephen Schwartz was seated across the aisle from me and he looked appalled for 90% of the evening. I can't say I blame him.

The funniest line of the evening came from the understudy who was on for Morgan James. She made a joke that went something like, "That's right, I slipped into your playbill!" It got the loudest laugh of the evening.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/11 at 2:42pm

I was also there last night. I thought it was pretty awful, and I had a miserable time. It didn't help that the theater felt like a sauna.

The kids are trying hard, but the direction is not helping them. I guess it's being directed in the spirit of Godspell, but I still absolutely hate those stupid book scenes. The score is the only saving grace of the evening.

And why in the world is the prologue being sung acapella? With music, that is one beautiful underrated song. Updated On: 10/31/11 at 02:42 PM

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 10/31/11 at 6:29pm

I think it's the whole "music unifies us" approach...? People who are unfamiliar with the Prologue would probably be terribly confused.

[krispy kreme]

Posted: 11/1/11 at 6:18pm

Would love to hear from a few people that have seen both the Papermill production and the B'way Revival. Same director, but I recall the Papermill production getting strong reviews that is why the revival happened.

I don't want the hearsay because this too much in this thread. I want people who actually saw BOTH shows. (And I am finally seeing the production next week, so I will chime in then.)

Thanks!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/1/11 at 8:42pm

I hate how the show starts with everyone in a different "real person" costume and sort of intersecting each other while talking on their cell phones. I feel like it's very "I've seen this before."

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/2/11 at 12:28am

I actually have not seen many concepts for the Prologue. How is it typically done?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/2/11 at 11:47am

I guess I didn't mean "seen it before" meaning in productions of Godspell, but the idea that technology is isolating us is anything but a new concept.