By: Anna Clark
On Thursday March 20, “Godspell” premiered to a sold-out crowd at Harrison Theatre. Inspired by the gospel of Matthew, the musical portrays Jesus’s teachings to the disciples and the final days leading up to his crucifixion through song and dance.
Samford’s production of “Godspell” certainly didn’t shy away from the disco-hippie attire featured in the original theatrical run or the movie. Performers sported vibrant jumpsuits, painted jeans adorned with flowers, geometric patterns and glittery, neon makeup.
However, Samford’s production also fell victim to some of the problems plaguing “Godspell” since its original release, most of which can be blamed on hippie Jesus and the narrative execution.
“Godspell” can unfortunately come across as an overly simplistic, watered-down version of the gospel. Its ‘we can do all things through the power of love’ undertone and high-five giving, fist-bumping, jovial Jesus often makes it hard to take the subject matter seriously.
The tonal shift between the first and (much shorter) second act exaggerates this pitfall as well. The second act, which is much more compelling than the first, manages to balance the serious nature of the topics at hand with the musical’s comedic, upbeat style (for example Ilsa Messner’s performance of “Turn Back, O Man).
The narrative within the second act is also much easier to follow. Compare this to the first act, where the dialogue and music are often moving so fast that the narrative is hard to follow or completely lost.
I found myself turning to my friend on several different occasions within the first act to ask if she knew what was going on. She didn’t. I also don’t fault Samford’s production for this, it seems to be a recurring issue in every version of “Godspell.”
Some audience members have even expressed that “Godspell” is sacrilegious, including audience members at Samford. On Fizz, the anonymous posting platform where good Christians unleash devilish opinions, one user called the musical a “hot heaping mess of heresy and disrespect towards the gospel…”
Another user wrote about how “Godspell” changed their opinion of Samford University: “After watching Godspell, I don’t think ‘for God’ is their number one priority at all…” However, besides the few negative comments the production received, the reception from many members of the audience was overwhelmingly positive.
Many comments on Fizz noted the great ability of the performers, and equally as many made others aware of their attraction to Yianni Rokas who portrayed John the Baptist and Judas.
The saving grace of Samford’s production of “Godspell” was its brilliant performances. Although “Godspell’s” dated score and lyrics could be considered camp and usually border on corny, cast members managed to take an uncool, dying musical and revive it through their talents.
Jackson Griffee’s gripping portrayal of Jesus was nuanced yet riveting. From his beautiful falsetto in “Turn Back, O Man” to his impressive acting skills seen when Jesus is in the garden, Griffee’s strong performance provided a pillar for his castmates to rely on.
Yianni Rokas’s performance as John the Baptist and Judas was equally impressive, particularly his ability to sing “Prepare Ye” while navigating the cramped aisles of Harrison Theatre (he should also genuinely consider entering an Avan Jogia look-alike contest).
The song highlights of the night were Micah Swain’s stellar performance of “All Good Gifts”, in fact after watching Swain perform on two different occasions, I have concluded that it is physically impossible for him to hit a wrong note (particularly in complicated runs), and Yianni Rokas, Carter Nelson, and William Sabonis-Chafee’s performance of “On the Willows”. Rokas, Carter, And Sabonis-Chafee’s hauntingly beautiful harmonies brought many, including myself, to tears.
Some honorable mentions include Carter Nelson and Maddie Athearn’s rendition of “Learn Your Lessons (reprise)” and Lucy Lammons’s performance in “Day by Day”.
Although “Godspell” often finds itself in the corny hallows of the late 60s and 70s hippie “Jesus Movement”, Samford’s production of the musical was filled with vibrant and engaging performances that showcased the talents of its cast. While the show may not resonate with everyone, the powerful performances make the experience worthwhile.
