2008 Woodie Awards
'Godspell': Re-opening of a 2,000-year-old story
Ashley Fuquay
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: Entertainment
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"Godspell" is a modern retelling of the Gospel of Matthew. The play opens with children playing in a school yard. The set is well put-together, complete with a working merry-go-round. These children are then baptized by John the Baptist and then commit themselves to the modern-day Jesus, who looks a bit like a hippie. He uses several simple magic tricks that make great leaps to lighten the mood of things. This play is famous for its simple theatrical tricks.
Many of the songs are very repetitive in lyrics, but the vocals are so perfect, no one will really care. The choreography to the music is also very fun and entertaining. The music is very diverse. There is rapping, interpretive dance and soul. There was even a little vaudeville.
The great thing about this is the actors keep moving and making the audience move their eyes to things on stage.
Most of the play is devoted to acting out the New Testament parables that most of us heard as children. It did get a little monotonous, but it isn't exactly easy revamping a 2,000-year-old story. The actors did their best to keep things lively.
There is a lot of audience involvement in this one, so don't be afraid to clap along.
Something about the betrayal that just doesn't feel real. The emotion is sort of dry in this part of the play.
The most powerful part of this musical is the crucifixion. It is extremely dramatic. The emotion is very intense. Even with a lack of props, this scene is very well done and could seem cheesy if not done correctly.
The show opened Tuesday night and continues until Saturday, Sept. 27. All showings begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students who show their Texan Card.
Auditions for the next theater production, "Stop Kiss," are Sept. 29 and 30 from 7-10 p.m. in the Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center Workshop Theater. For more information, visit www.tarleton.edu/~finearts.
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