Having gone to see Godspell earlier this afternoon and for the first time, I have to say that I was a little disappointed. The overall production was performed very well. However, because of the high volume of the music, the lyrics were at times drowned out, and I could not understand what the performers were singing. This happened quite a bit and the lyrics seemed lost in a sea of dissonance, which made my mind wander. The classic songs "Day by Day” and “Prepare Ye - The Way of the Lord” were crisp clear exceptions.
The modern interpretation of the original 1970 musical score by John – Michael Tebelak with hip-hoppers instead of hippies was delightful, unexpected, and fun. Done in two Acts, the musical is based primarily on the Gospel of Mathew with the baptizing of Jesus by John the Baptist, and follows Jesus’ teachings of the parables, to his ultimate betrayal by Judas Iscariot and the finale with Jesus’ crucifixion. However, the parable of the Prodigal Son and of The Rich Man and Lazarus comes from the Gospel of Luke.
All in all, I truly like the production and would like to see Godspell again, but because of the dynamics of the music in the small Jaeb Theater within the Tampa Bay Performing Art Center, I will buy an older performance on DVD.
Evelyn out
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