[Angel-of-Music*]

So, godspell is coming to a theatre near me, and i've heard of it but never seen it. Is it worth going for a look or should i save up for the next big show to pass my way?

[kozafluitmusique]

Yes, I really think "Godspell" is a good show, and if you like Steven Schwartz's works, you'll like this one!

[lovesinging]

I'd say see it. But just so you know, this IS the Godspell forum. I think you'll get most postitive responses here

[what_the_heck013]

Well, do you know what the "next big show" will be? Is it something you really want to see? How off-budget will seeing Godspell put you?

It's a good musical but not the greatest on Earth and it is rather overdone.

[SuperKabob]

If its done well, then it can be absolutely great.

If its done badly, the badness and the Schwartz music will make it seem even worse.

So I'd say if you want to see it, then see it.

[Robinflamingo]

[DramaRobin2002]

I say give it a try. It really is hard to say with Godspell because of the freedom one has with the material, but it's worth a look.

[Hammond]

Angel,

I guess you saw, or didn't see, the show by this time. I hope if you did see it that the director stuck pretty much to the way it was written.

I've played keyboards for nine productions of the show since 1973 and in my opinion, at least, the show is fine as it is. I have seen directors absolutely destroy the show.

I did the show two years ago for a local high school and the director put the entire cast in red tee shirts and black pants, crucified Jesus near the very back of the stage where no one could see him, had the blazing guitar solo intro to the Finale begin before Jesus did the cue line that starts the Finale (making him scream it and sound ridiculous), and had, I believe, nearly 50 people in the cast. If I'd known of any of this beforehand, I'd have had nothing to do with it.

Another production was done locally and the director decided to make the show a political statement. She cut several songs (!!), one of them because it "offends Palestinians and Jews" (??!). It was ridiculous. I thank God I had nothing to do with that one.

I saw it done in London many years ago. Everything about it was perfect except that it had no heart. I've found that when I've done it with Christian groups it's been better because the cast is heavily emotionally into it. The actors need not be excellent except for Jesus and John/Judas.
If they're good, and if the musicians really nail the score, it's a truly wonderful show. I always measure the success of the production by how much sobbing I hear during Jesus' singing of the Finale.

Mike

[Robinflamingo]