[NEohioPAL]Berko Review: GODSPELL at Porthouse

[Roy Berko]

‘GODSPELL’ IS  “ALL FOR THE BEST” AT PORTHOUSE

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	


‘GODSPELL’ is one of the biggest musical theatrical
successes of all-time.  Based on the “Gospel According
to St. Matthew,” the musical tells the story of the
last seven days of Christ's life. The parables have
been contemporized, and Christ's followers are free
spirits who sing the likes of "Day By Day", "All Good
Gifts", and "Turn Back, O Man."

The show is perceived to be the creative child of
Broadway super-author and composer Stephen Schwartz,
the conceiver of such hits as ‘PIPPIN’ and ‘WICKED.’  
‘Taint so.  Schwartz was a late-comer to the project. 


The story goes that in 1970, while attending college
in Pittsburgh, John-Michael Tebelak went to church on
Easter Sunday.  A theology student before he decided
he wanted to be a theatrical director, he found the
service to be devoid of feeling.  Afterward the
long-haired Tebelak was stopped by a policeman and
searched for drugs.  Tebelak confided that this
experience provided him the inspiration for
‘GODSPELL.’  He produced the show as his senior
project at Carnegie Mellon University.

The original score consisted of a song written by a
cast member and old Episcopal Hymns, played by a rock
band.  To this point, Schwartz had nothing to do with
the project.  

John Michael left school without graduating.  The show
was eventually staged at the off-Broadway Cafe La Mama
Theatre.   A producer saw the production and said he
would finance it if it had a new score.  Enter Stephen
Schwartz, who wrote all the songs in 5 weeks.  (The
only tune to remain from the original production is
"By My Side"). The newly conceived show  opened
Off-Broadway on May 17, 1971.  Tebelak was 22 years of
age!  ‘GODSPELL’  moved onto Broadway where it ran for
2,124 performances.  Hundreds of professional and
amateur productions of the show continue to be done.

Besides the Schwartz connection to the project,
another fact that is generally overlooked is Tebelak’s
Cleveland connection.  He is a Berea product.   As
related by Bill Allman, the former producing director
of Berea Summer Theatre, “John-Michael cut his
theatrical teeth at BST where he acted, designed
scenery and directed.  In 1980 he returned to his
roots when he directed a revival production of
‘GODSPELL’.”  

The show’s other connection to the area is that in
August of 1971, before it became a mega-hit,
‘GODSPELL’ was produced at Great Lakes Shakespeare
Festival, the predecessor to Great Lakes Theatre
Festival, which, at the time was housed in Lakewood
High School’s auditorium.   The show’s director was
non-other than Tebelak, himself.    

The show is not without controversy.  It has been
called blasphemous.  Religious leaders have stated,
“Surely no Christian who believes the Bible would
approve of the perversion of ‘GODSPELL’.”  The
Wexford, Pennsylvania School Board banned a production
of it after “complaints about its religious message.” 

Any director of ‘GODSPELL’ has a number of choices to
make.  Should the production center on the religious
message, forsaking the humor or take Tebelak to heart
and make this a production of joy with the philosophy
of Christ being carried though warmth and humor? 
Terri Kent, the Porthouse Theatre’s director, decided
to go with the latter interpretation.  It was a wise
choice!   

Given a great deal of leeway with a script that
doesn’t prescribe visual or staging images, Kent left
behind the show’s  traditional  notion of Jesus
dressed in a Superman t-shirt and his followers
clothed as clowns.  She updated the language and
nonverbal gestures, incorporating rap and contemporary
musical sounds.

All in all this is a good production.  It builds to an
emotional conclusion without adding more preachiness
than the script already has.  It conveys the message
to “be careful not to make a show of your religion
before man.”  It also invokes thought as to why some
followers of Christ preach hatred against others
instead of following the dictum, “Ye shall love thy
neighbor as thyself.”  

The cast is strong.   Especially effective were Ryan
Bergeron whose “All Good Gifts” was emotionally
involving; Sandra Emerick whose big voice and
seductive looks were well used in the delightful,
“Turn Back, O Man;” and Andrew Crus whose “We Beseech
Thee” was highlighted by some clever choreography and
a let-loose attitude.  W. James Koeth did a fine job
of making Jesus a real character rather than a
caricature.  Coleen Longshaw built “Day by Day” to an
emotional peak.  

Though often delightful, Matt Lillo, as he has done in
other productions, failed to pull back when necessary
and sometimes upstaged other performers.  Cute Emily
Pote was often difficult to understand.  Joshua Gordon
failed to ignite the character of John the Baptist.

MaryAnn Black, who for some reason was given no bio
space in the program, created some very clever and
well executed choreography.  Highlight numbers
included “O, Bless the Lord, My Soul,” “All for the
Best,” and “We Beseech Thee.”

Brian Laakso’s musical direction was excellent,
playing backup rather than drowning out the singers. 
Steve Pauna’s constantly moving scaffold set worked
well though it may have been overused at times.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  It’s been done time and again, but
with a good production  ‘GODSPELL’ can still be a fine
theatrical experience, even if you aren’t into the
religious message.  Terri Kent has crafted a
well-conceived and audience-involving production.

(Thanks to John Nolan, theatre buff extraordinare and
a member of the 1980 BST “GODSPELL” cast for
background material used in this review.)

The show runs Tuesdays through Saturday evenings and
Sunday matinees through June 26 at the Porthouse
Theatre, located on the grounds of the Blossom Music
Center in Cuyahoga Falls.  The 500-seat, outdoor,
covered pavilion theatre is a wonderful setting. 
There isn’t a bad seat in the house.  For tickets,
which range in price from $17 to $23 call
1-800-304-2363 or 330-929-4416 or visit
www.porthousetheatre.com.


=====
Roy Berko's web page can be found at royberko.info and many of his theatre and dance reviews appear on artscleveland.net.


	
		
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