Godspell Review - Previous Showing 2003

"That 70's Show a Revelation" New Zealand Herald

Godspell

11.06.2003 - By SHELLEY HOWELLS

I'm well and truly over the 70s thing (the revival of hipster jeans finished me off) and the God thing has never really rung my bells.

So I was expecting to endure, not enjoy, the Real Theatre Company's production of Godspell, a musical version of the gospel according to St Matthew. But before you could say prodigal son, I was won over by the fizzingly energetic cast and snappy direction of David Coddington - the show fair gallops along.

The music has been updated a bit - it's more upbeat than the 70s original, and there are modern pop culture references littered along the way from The Simpsons to The Lord of the Rings to Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter).

Each cast member had their moment to shine - singing, dancing and some general clowning around - and they were all good.

The ensemble singing was terrific. Standouts included petite belters Fleur Louise Ritchie as Gilmer, Tanya Steen, who did a great job of Day by Day, and the very comical Trygve Wakenshaw.

It must be tough being Jesus. Everyone else gets to goof about and show off, but JC has to lecture everyone all the time, come across as wise and compassionate and holy, and be a regular Joe to boot.

The role requires buckets of charisma tamed by humility. Kane Bruce Parsons (most recently seen in The Rocky Horror Show as Riff Raff's understudy) pulls it off - just.

He has the look - all dreadlocks, beard and big sad eyes - and an appropriately sweet voice.

But the charisma/humility balance fell a touch too heavily on the humble side and he occasionally got swallowed by his vibrant stagemates.

It's a humorous, colourful, family friendly show which continues until the end of the month.

The odd bit of gentle strumpet-like behaviour is nothing compared with your average billboard, and occasional wordiness is made up for with entertaining background action.

The 7-year-old was delighted. And I got a timely reminder that critics could well bear in mind: Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.

©Copyright 2003, NZ Herald

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To the 'Amadeus' team

Last night I came home emotionally wrung out. My mind and body were still feeling the heart-wrenching drama portrayed in your magnificent production. I just have to thank you for it.

Mozart, thank you thank you. My heart sang with you when you were one with your sublime music, smiled with you when you were not able to suppress your rude cheekiness. You did it so well, and it gave such a delightful contrast to the play.
And my whole being cried with you in the depth of your despair. You were magnificent.

Salieri, when you had finally reached your last confrontation with your God, cursed out your despair, and cursed ,
and then just lay there, lay there, I held my breath wide-eyed, and felt the God, and the man, and the agony. Magnificent.Thank you.

What more can I say. It was all so perfect. The stage, the set, sober, beautiful; the smooth flow of the play.

Thank you, director, producers, and cast, for giving me such an unforgettable evening.

At the end I wanted to keep clapping and clapping, and you to come back. But, New Zealanders are not passionate, in that way. The British legacy I suppose.

Afina de Jong - Patron of The Real Theatre Company's Amadeus