A show about the parables from the Gospel of Mark could sound a bit too much like Sunday School for some people’s tastes; but when you bring those parables to life, throw in some comedy, and add amazing music, you get Godspell. And Godspell is far from a traditional Sunday School class.
The musical first took to the stage off-Broadway in 1971 after originally being performed and written as a thesis project by John-Michael Tebelak. Since then, the play has been produced on Broadway twice, most recently in 2011, and performed all over the world. Though the storyline itself is entertaining, it is the music that really helped contribute to its success. Stephen Schwartz– also known for Wicked and Pippin– combines a number of musical styles to add a modern twist to songs with biblical wording.
Like the songs, the play takes on a modern interpretation of biblical stories. The first act focuses on Jesus teaching his followers various parables. These parables, including the Good Samaritan, Lazarus and the Prodigal Son, are acted out by the company and often include great comedic moments. Act two, however, takes a more serious turn and a more linear approach to the story. The followers begin questioning Jesus, and the story takes audience members through The Last Supper, Jesus’ betrayal and his eventual crucifixion.
Becoming a Community
The Upton Players was first created three years ago as a way to provide more theater opportunities for young adults in the Toledo area. The company features actors from the ages of 18 to 22.
Michael Devon Barlos, Godspell’s director and a previous Upton Players actor, stated “This is my first time directing a musical and I’m having a blast. It’s much harder than I thought it would be, but also so much more fun and so much more rewarding. I plan to do it again very soon.”
The production features Kevin Clark as Jesus, Angelo Crenshaw as Judas, and an ensemble of eleven. The script calls for eight ensemble members, but for this production Barlos chose to expand the ensemble, creating more roles for the show. Though these eleven characters are unnamed in the script, they ultimately are the most vital aspect to the story.
“The great thing about Godspell, in my opinion, is the deceptive plot,” stated Barlos. “For a long time, I believed the storyline to be about Jesus and Judas, as they are the only named characters in the show… I realized that it’s not about Jesus at all. It’s about a group of strangers working together to become a community and doing so with guidance from Jesus.”
8pm Friday, July 17 & Saturday, July 18;
2pm on Sunday, July 19. Tickets are $12.
The Village Players Theatre, 2740 Upton Ave.
419-472-6817. thevillageplayers.org/tickets.
