by Lisa Steiner
Godspell, Community Players, Friday June 7, 2024
Community Players in Beatrice is closing out their 48th season with the ever-catchy Godspell, directed by Noelle McVicar. Telling parables from the Gospel of Matthew of Christian bible fame, Godspell takes an approach of theater and improv games for the company to teach the audience that loving this god will bring about goodness and hope to their lives. There are also warnings of pitfalls to watch out for while living on Earth, so as not to end up in cahoots with the devil. While this is the basic premise, McVicar makes an insightful non-religious message with the show. In the Director’s Notes, she states, “The actors may have different perspectives on love, trust, and religion. Still, the process reinforced our belief in the power of theater to bring people together and to find joy even in moments of adversity.” I could definitely tell that this cast did come together and supported one another on stage throughout the production.
I’ve seen various productions of Godspell before, and what I’ve noticed is that there is some flexibility for how it is staged, including the location, time period, what characters are going through, different personalities and situations, etc. CP’s version included a group of folks costumed in hippy-inspired clothing, hair, and makeup, in a nondescript location decorated like a peaceful place to gather and relax. Color was used amply, as well as flowing drapes and cardigans. This particular script of Godspell is an updated version, and includes up-to-date references (as recent as the last week or so), and hilarious celebrity impressions. The vocal arrangements were updated as well, to include background vocals akin to those on the TV show Glee. You know, bah-bahs, doo-doos, and la-las in syncopated rhythms.
The cast of Disciples works just wonderfully as an ensemble, which is the heart of the show. There is not a weak link among them, and the energy is non-stop. The group is led by Jacob Vanderford, who directs the storytelling as Jesus. Vanderford’s big presence and dedication to the joy and heaviness of playing Jesus is highly evident. Other stand-outs were Anna Hageman and Zach Hartwick. This script has the possibility to become very hokey and corny when translated to stage (think Michael Scott and his improv troupe in The Office), and Hageman and Hartwick did a fantastic job of grounding themselves while still portraying the happy-go-lucky and free-spirited vibe spirit the production is known for.
The score by Stephen Schwartz has always been a staple in my playlists. Again emphasizing the high-level talent of everyone involved, there were several vocal performances that stood out to me in particular. Josh Erikson’s smooth vibrato was showcased on CP’s stage again (“Prepare Ye”). Amy Koepke’s rich lower register was lovely to hear (“By My Side”). John Francis with his guitar added a richness to the score (“All Good Gifts”). Fun and edgy performances were given by Mike Fox (“Light of the World”), Marissa Saure (“Turn Back, O Man”), and Missy Marlatt (“Bless The Lord”). Natalie Frahm showed us her wide range with her vocal stylings (“Day By Day”). My favorite moment of music was when two unidentified voices provided an ethereal-like trio with Erikson in “On The Willows”. The blending of those voices was absolutely luscious. Let’s give it up to Music Director Jean Spilker for her role of guiding and supporting everyone with their performances. The band under her direction was also filled with skilled musicians, although at times I felt like they could’ve been louder in the sound system. I wanted more of these folks!
One of my favorite scenes was directed as a snake pit. Lighting, sassy snake portrayals, and strong set and staging choices all brought about an appreciated contrast to many of the other scenes. It would’ve been cool to see more of this intentional variance throughout the rest of the show, as occasionally one story would all of a sudden be another story. Working very well was the concept of the narrators taking on voices of the characters they were talking about, and then the character acting out the part mouthing the words. I can specifically recall some of the stylistic choices of Fox, especially when he was carrying out the vivacious undertones of one of Hageman’s characters.
Other occasions that I jotted down to tell everyone about included Hageman’s and Francis’ duo at the top of Act 2, the various featured instruments (melodica, slide whistle, bongo drums, and maybe a wood block?), and celebrity impressions by Koepke and Saure.
I do not want to leave out the choreography by Matt Osmotherly of KASH Choreography. There was never a dull moment, and “Light Of The World” was “chef’s kiss”, as the kids say. Very touching were just a few seconds during “By My Side”, where same-gendered actors were paired up palm in palm, walking around each other. This was a beautiful nod to McVicar’s vision to “create a vibrant and inclusive world on stage.” I don’t know if the social impact was intentional, but in general it was nice to see a fresh concept of who can move together in tandem through space.
This company of Godspell has done a remarkable job of doing what all companies at CP have done in my experience: Join up to really have a good time while being dedicated to the story-telling process. I’m always entertained at CP and that’s because I can tell that the casts are always happy to be bringing you a fun, energetic show.
If you go: Community Players continues its run of Godspell with performances June 8-9 and 13-16, with shows starting at 7:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2pm on Sundays. Ticket information at: https://www.beatricecommunityplayers.com/.
Lisa Steiner is a long-time lover of theater and the arts who enjoys performing, music directing, and filling the role of patron. She has a Bachelor of Music degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University, where she was also a staff writer, layout designer, and production editor for The Reveille newspaper. During the day, Lisa is a case manager for the Department of Health and Human Services. Through this great position, she is able to combine her strengths of working with people and completing paperwork. In her free time, Lisa enjoys trying to keep up with her two cats, Lucy and Francine.
As always, if you liked this content and want more, please join our email list and like us on Facebook!