Garden’s spirited ‘Godspell’ isn’t a Gospel perfect show
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, my religious observances have been made via a screen in my living room for more than a year — the longest stretch of time in my entire life that I haven’t stepped inside a church.
So a night with the musical “Godspell,” onstage at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, felt like a visit to a house of worship. And like most services in organized religion, the experience was at times moving, at times overblown and at times confusing.
Director Joseph C. Walsh has assembled a cast that collectively is full of personality, but the individual performers don’t always maintain distinct characterizations, despite Rosibel Hernandez’s fun and funky uniquely styled costumes. The same could be said for the show; as a whole, it’s full of color and spirit. But there isn’t always the variety to set each number apart.
To be fair, a lot of that criticism is because of the show itself.
Written in 1971 by John-Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz (“Pippin,” “Wicked”), “Godspell” eschews a traditional narrative structure. Jesus and Judas are identified as characters, but mostly the performers are addressed by their own names. The musical relates familiar parables from the Gospels — the prodigal son, the good Samaritan, the uncaring judge and the persistent widow — interspersed with catchy tunes.
Think of it as the ultimate sermon mashup.
Some moments are strikingly affecting: The parable of the prodigal son, in particular, is cleverly staged and emotionally real. Jesus saving the adulterous woman — “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” — also hits the heart. Both of those moments, as it happens, are less frenetic than much of this production.
Pop-culture references fly by, from Abba to the Backstreet Boys, “Titanic” to “Sweet Caroline.” There are magic tricks, scary voices and a couple of dramatic lighting effects by Alyx Jacobs.
Choreographer James Tuuao impresses with a variety of styles that pop at just the right moments — and most important, feel natural to the proceedings. Some ideas
that might work in normal times — Jesus speaking over a chorus of rasping devil voices, or encouraging the audience to clap along — aren’t the best choices when performers are masked and struggling to be heard.
But the show is full of strong voices for the enduring songs. Andrea Diaz delivers a lovely “Day By Day,” Da’Zaria Harris serves up a soulful “Learn Your Lessons Well.” And Radamés Medina Meléndez, who meshes physical performance with an expressive face throughout the show, displays a stirring tenor on “All Good Gifts.”
As Jesus, Eddie Ortega has the charisma to effectively serve as ringmaster of the chaos around him. And Shonda L. Thurman, so good in the title role of the Garden’s “Hello, Dolly,” once again uses her stage presence, this time to make Judas a powerful figure — though her best moment comes on the sidelines as she sings the haunting “On the Willows.”
Music director Chris Endsley gets a pleasing blend from the small onstage band, and Tramaine Berryhill’s free-form scenic design is a good match for the musical’s fluid nature.
“Godspell” isn’t a perfect show, and this isn’t a perfect production. But if your soul needs a jolt of energy and an injection of hope, this may be just the congregation for you.
‘Godspell’
Length: 2:30, including intermission COVID-19 precautions: temperature checks, distanced seating, mandatory masks on audience and cast
Where: Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant St. in Winter Garden
When: Through May 23
Cost: $24-$40, with senior and youth discounts
Info: gardentheatre.org