- May 3, 2024
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Let’s cut right to it: "Godspell" is an absolutely “must-see” production. How did CRT’s maestro, John Sbordone (and staff of choreographers and production assistants), manage to find, recruit and inspire such super-talented singers, dancers, mimes, who dazzle you with their pure performing joy, staging it intimately, magically, in-the-round, up close?
“Godspell” opened off-Broadway in 1971. It’s been revived and revised many times since, in theatres throughout the world. Structurally, it’s a series of parables based on the Gospel of Matthew, told by a roving troupe of nine young, funkily costumed actors and singers via song — R&B, ragtime, rap. Instrumental accompaniment, principally soft rhythmic guitar, keeps the focus on the performers.
Each number is choreographed by Diane Ellertsen; technical direction by Jim Lynam; Sandra Silva was a key assistant director.
The cast of nine — all local talent — deserves to be named: Andre Maybin. Joshua Fagundes, Carrie Ann Thornton, Chrystal Joy, Frank Anello, Gerald Kitt, Jaime Irvine, Nando Rivera, Racquelle Maybin and Laniece Fagundes, who also served as musical director.
This “Godspell” marks the beginning of CRT’s fifth season of top-quality, inspiring theater in Palm Coast. It’s a treasure not to be taken lightly.
This show is a phenomenon. A musical with an allegorical story, it opened in 1960, ran for 17,162 performances over a period of 42 years in a tiny theater in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, and continues today as one of the world’s most frequently produced shows.
In her Director’s Notes, Judi Ernst examines why this musical, with such a small cast and little scenery, has so much appeal. Her answer: because it takes us back to that first illusion of love that made us feel we owned the world. “Ah, but the world has lessons we need to learn because, as El Greco reminds us, ‘Without a hurt, the heart is hollow.’”
As told by the on-stage narrator/character, El Greco (Andrew Trotter), two next-door parents — Hucklebee (Richard Nowell) and Bellomy (Chelsye P. Ginn) — concoct a scheme to trick their children, Matt (Marcus Roberts) and Luisa (Abigail Andrade) into falling in love.
They hire two extravagantly costumed traveling actors — Henry (Rich Lacey) and Mortimer (Bruce Popielarski) — who miraculously emerge from and disappear into an out-sized, on-stage wooden trunk to stage a mock abduction of Luisa so that Matt can rescue her. Love must follow, and most assuredly it does, as the curtain falls on Act One.
Is this the end of the story? Most assuredly not. The ruse is discovered. El Greco makes a move on Luisa, who initially agrees to his amorous advances. There’s much swordplay, accusations, recriminations and finally reconciliation. True love does conquer all.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t cite some wonderful songs rendered by the cast, particularly, “Try to Remember,” “Much More,” “Never Say No” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” accompanied by Musical Director Curtis Powell at the keyboard.
A tip of the hat also to Logan Hagan, who plays The Mute in derby and white face, always at hand with needed accoutrements.
