Carly Censi, Grant Alexander Brown, Conor Jordan, Gabe Salazar, Malaika Wanjiku, Morgan Milone, Gabriel Argate, Errol Service, Jr., Tori Tiernan, and Gabriela Hernandez in Godspell
More than 50 years after its debut, Godspell continues to find new audiences with its blend of biblical storytelling coupled with ensemble comedy.
The Timber Lake Playhouse’s production, directed by Sawyer Coffin, captures the spirit of the original while finding fresh moments of humor and humanity along the way. Featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John-Michael Tebelak, this musical draws inspiration from the Gospel of Matthew as a group of followers learns lessons about compassion and community through a series of parables and songs. Errol Service, Jr. anchors the production as Jesus, while Grant Alexander Brown brings a memorable presence to his dual roles of John the Baptist and Judas. We attended the performance on Saturday, May 30.
Kitty: I think that Godspell is a highly underrated musical. It’s the secret, more heartfelt version of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Mischa: And without Andrew Lloyd Webber’s malevolent influence! On the other hand, there are not as many tunes you’ll find yourself humming against your will as you leave the theatre.
K: I don’t know. As you can attest, I was humming “Day by Day” for most of the way home on Saturday. But then again, that was against your will … .
M: As you say, though, the real thematic contrast is that Godspell is heartfelt and earnest, whereas Jesus Christ Superstar is more cynical and consciously revisionist. It’s no coincidence that a large part of Godspell consists of versions of Jesus’ teachings – skit-like and even cartoonish, but definitely didactic.
K: And with that in mind, I thought that Coffin’s choice to give the setting an outdoorsy, summer-camp atmosphere was a good one. Whether or not it was intentional, I immediately associated it with the feeling of church camp, in a very positive way.
M: It worked well from a design standpoint, too. Designer Ben Lipinski's set consisted primarily of a backdrop supported by large wooden poles, a cabin-type atmosphere that opened up to show a view of a partly cloudy sky behind, and on the ground, rustic wooden benches that were rearranged to use the space differently at different times.
K: It allowed for a lot of variation but still delivered a very specific aesthetic. Loved it. The clouds were clusters of balloons! I have to mention that because I thought it was so clever. And the costumes matched the overall style very well, too. Costume designer Thomas J.C. Gluodenis gave each of the cast members a distinct visual look that coordinated with the wilderness-camp theme: a scout, a park ranger, a mountain climber, a fisherman (wink wink), et cetera.
M: The performers were all very strong. The show was billed as an “alumni” show, meaning all the cast members had been on stage at Timber Lake in prior years. They had great ensemble energy, starting from the opening a cappella number “Tower of Babble,” which featured not only engaging vocal gymnastics, but also intricately choreographed flashlights turned on and off to illuminate specific faces in the otherwise unlighted space. It was fun and engaging, and also showed off the actors' precise togetherness as a cast.
K: So much of this show hinges on that ensemble energy. We talk a lot about how an ensemble can make or break a show, but for Godspell, if you don’t have an energetic ensemble with strong comedic timing that can play off of each other, you don’t have a show at all. You have a series of songs strung together with some moral lessons. And that’s not theatre; it's a liturgy. So watching this cast play together and react to one another in big and small ways throughout the show, while never letting the energy drop, was a real joy.
M: The ensemble vocals were always well done. One of my favorite examples was the simple, contemplative “On the Willows,” with Brown singing lead and the rest of the cast providing emotional resonance with their added harmonies.
K: I also really liked “Learn Your Lessons Well,” which featured Malaika Wanjiku as the lead soloist. She had seemingly limitless vocal range paired with a warm, resonant tone. Her stage presence also grabbed me, with expressive gestures and confident movement that made every note feel intentional and compelling.
M: Really, though, we were stressing the ensemble before; most of the performers were top-notch as soloists, as well. Naturally, since Service was playing Jesus, he had the most focus time. And again, one of his quieter numbers impressed me most: the first, solo version of “Beautiful City.” That demonstrated his quiet intensity, but everywhere else he was a charismatic ball of energy, not to mention a bit of an acrobat!
K: He was pretty much exactly what I want from a performer playing Jesus. He didn’t pull focus, he was upbeat and energetic the whole time, he let his costars shine, and he exuded a fun energy. Like you said, the acrobatics were great – who doesn’t want to see Jesus do a handstand?—and Service provided this huge, excited smile. He definitely had the charisma necessary for the role.
M: Another highlight: Morgan Milone’s “Turn Back, O Man.” This was a nice change of pace, giving us a sultry, more dangerous moment. But really, each performer pulled out an A-game for their featured solos. Less attention-getting, but equally important for the show’s overall cohesiveness and rock ’n’ roll sound, was the impressive live band, led from the keyboard by Matthew W. Surico.
K: Lastly, I do want to mention the lighting, designed by Cameron L. Strandin. There were a lot of mood changes throughout Godspell's various numbers, and the lighting definitely helped with that. The dramatic red lights during the crucifixion scene were especially effective in driving home the raw pain and tension. But then the ethereal lighting at the end also left us with a message of hope. It was really lovely.
Godspell runs at the Timber Lake Playhouse (8215 Black Oak Road, Mt. Carroll IL) through June 7, and more information and tickets are available by calling (815)244-2035 and visiting TimberLakePlayhouse.org.
