The Gospel at Colonus

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 9/5/04 at 1:16am

After seeing Camp, I'm interested in the show, The Gospel at Colonus, the opening number,"How Shall I See You Through My Tears,"comes from? Does anyone know anything about it because there isn't a great deal of info on it anywhere.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/5/04 at 1:27am

Brilliant show, one of my all-time favorites. A retelling of Sophocles' "Oedipus At Colonus," the third part of the Oedipus trilogy, where Oedipus tries to return home and die, but cannot because he has been banished. Lee Breuer, the avant-garde director, reinterprets the classic Greek tragedy by telling the story using the black baptist church tradition. In the original production, Morgan Freeman was the preacher/narrator, Clarence Fountain and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama portrayed Oedipus, and several major gospel groups and choirs played other main characters in the story. An amazing score and amazing performances highlight one of he most original and creative musicals of the last few decades. It isn't done often because it requires a cast of 60+ extraordinary singers, but it was filmed for PBS, so be sure and look out for that production.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/5/04 at 1:31am

Margo -
There was a revival in DC last summer that utilized a much reduced cast - but by all accounts, was still as powerful. It's hard for me to imagine this piece without all those voices, but if it were done well, I'd like to see it done no matter what.

http://www.theateralliance.com/Gospel%20of%20Colonus.htm

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 9/5/04 at 1:37am

Thank you for the information. I'm now off to hunt for a copy of the PBS production.

[temms]

Posted: 9/5/04 at 10:31am

Just to clarify, "Colonus" is actually the second of the "Oedipus" plays. "Antigone" is the third.

About seven years ago, most of the original cast did the show at University of Michigan for which I made a rather long road trip, and I have to say it is one of the single most exciting things I've ever seen in a theatre. How Bob Telson and Lee Breuer managed to take a 2,500 year-old play and make it that immediate, that gripping, and that exciting was mind-blowing to me. And that cast - there were only four blind boys of Alabama total (including Clarence), the Steeles are down to two and I think there may be one less Soul Stirrer, but it didn't matter.

I'm happy I got to Tivo it when it was on NYC's PBS a couple of weeks back, so I'm back on a "Colonus" kick right now. A truly original, beautiful, passionate piece that I am so thrilled to have experienced in person.

(And Bob Telson, the composer, is a white guy! I just assumed that only a black person who had spent his life in the Pentecostal church could have written the score to this - but Telson played piano for the performance I saw, and I have never been more proud to be a dorky white boy than when Telson came out to take his place at the piano, and I discovered for the first time that he too was a white boy. Not that it should make any difference, of course - I'm just proud when I see my white brethren manage to hold their own when it comes to funk and gospel.)

Thrilling show, all around.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 5:34pm

According to tomorrow's Arts & Leisure section of the Times (which contains the Fall Theatre preview), apparently there will be a revival of "The Gospel At Colonus" this fall at the Apollo Theatre starring Charles Dutton, the Five Blind Boys, the original Soul Stirrers and others. Performances are October 25th thru November 7th.

I cannot wait for this!!!

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 6:29pm

Another reason I wish i lived in NYC. It's right after my fall break when I plan to be in NYC! I just ordered the cast recording from amazon. I might have to make another trip.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 6:31pm

Margo - for the sake of all of us who can't just pop into New York to see this, please enjoy it for us - twice if you HAVE to! I bet Charles will be phenomenal!

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 6:44pm

Goodness, this is very exciting. Charles Sutton is always terrific. Here's a small bit of information from the Apollo Theater website.
Gospel at Colonus at Apollo

[Dessaso]

Posted: 9/20/04 at 9:30pm

I've been looking for either a DVD or VHS recording of the PBS broadcast of this play. Yes, I know I should have taped it, but I didn't!! Has anyone seen this program for sale??

Thanks!

Deborah

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 9/20/04 at 10:45pm

I too have been looking for a video of this b/c I think it might be good to put on at my school, but alas no luck.

On a brighter note, I just got my cast recording in the mail and I must say,the music is great as is the book, which we had at our library (surprise!) (WOW that was a run-on sentence!)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 11:54am

Just want to get this thread out of the mothballs so it's ready for Margo when it's time for the review

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 12:09pm

Bob Telson once wrote the songs for an original musical at my high school, and I was always rather amused by him. He would sit at the piano swaying and saying things like "Yeah, maan...yeaaaah..." when people sang well.