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Godspell by Lamb's Players Theatre 
Need a little brush-up on the Bible? You have several options available: church, Bible school, a Religious Studies course at a local college, reading the Good Book on your own. But, as is usually the case, theatre provides by far the most entertaining method! And who could do it better than the always-polished performers of Lamb's Players Theatre?
Godspell is the Early 70's musical sensation that tells the story of the Book of Matthew from the beginning of Jesus' ministries to his subsequent crucifixion and resurrection, but it tells it in a hipper and more humorous way than has been done in the past 2,000 years. And Lamb's has improved it even more with brilliant and hilarious little additions throughout the production including Mr. Rabbi's Neighborhood (a takeoff of Mr. Rogers), having the hick farmers of the "prodigal son" parable set in Santee (but now just wait here a cotton-pickin' second, they be talkin' 'bout the sticks where me lives!), a parody of Jeopardy and Dragnet, a Hell whose torments include an eternity of having to listen to Barney singing his trademark song, and numerous references to The Wizard of Oz and other musicals including Oklahoma, The Sound of Music and, of course, Jesus Christ Superstar. The best and riches of these may have been the highlight of the entire show, featuring Mary Miller as the hysterically smart-aleck Glinda-like Good Witch of the North angel who tells the parable of two men who died. Mary greets the recently departed by first asking whether they were a good bee, or a bad bee. The good one finding himself in Heaven and the bad one finding himself in Hell, separated from each other by an impassable chasm. But in this case the characters were all bees: one of them a Pee-Wee Herman-like rich bee, the other one poor and having no comb to call home. Clever puns and amusing acting had the audience, including myself, buzzing with uproarious laughter. Each member of the cast shined in both their singing and acting. The character of Jesus is not terribly well written in the play, but Rick D. Meads rises above the script and somehow manages to make him both humorous and, when necessary, powerfully dramatic. Ryan Drummond's highly expressionable face makes him an exceptionally comical John the Baptist. Mary Miller (the Good Witch mentioned above) was great throughout, including her tender and stirring Day by Day, the show's biggest musical hit, as well as her lovely duet of By My Side with Tracy Hughes. Tracy leads the jazzed-up, soulful singing of Oh Bless the Lord My Soul. Kathi Gibbs delights as the elderly religious woman who stumbles upon the beaten (and naked!) traveler before the Good Samaritan finds him. Season Marshall gives a standout performance both with her engagingly childlike behavior and with her much more adult, sultry singing of Turn Back O Man to open the second act. And Victor Chan demonstrates his smooth vocal skills in the singing of All Good Gifts. Backing all of them up throughout was a tip-top four-man band, hitting just the right rhythm and volume for the rock numbers and the more gentle ballads. Having nearly hit its total expected sales the day before its opening, Lamb's has pushed back its next scheduled show to an unknown date to continue Godspell. No doubt all theatres would like to have to do that from time to time! This high-energy, charismatic production is going to delight many during its extended run. Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
Victor Chan Ryan Drummond Kathi Gibbs Tracy Hughes Jeremiah Lorenz Season Marshall Rick D. Meads Mary Miller Chris Reber ~ Band ~ Keyboards: Justin Taylor Nixon Guitars: Rik Ogden Drums: David Rumley Bass: Oliver Shirley Director: Robert Smyth Music Direction: Vanda Eggington Choreography: Pamela Turner Scenic Design: Mike Buckley Costume Design: Jeanne Reith Lighting Design: Nathan Peirson Stage Manager: Tisha Tumangan |
