A scene from Godspell at G Live, Guildford and on tour. Picture: Darren Bell
Godspell in Concert was reviewed at G Live, Guildford, and continues touring until 3 July.
Star rating: 4 stars ★ ★★ ★
Following last year’s West End gala concert performance of Stephen Schwartz’s timeless classic Godspell and the 2011 Broadway revival that inspired it, the show is back this year for a three-month UK tour. Audience members may be forgiven for initially supposing that a rock musical that premiered in 1971 might feel dated by today’s standards, but the reality is that this production offers a fresh, contemporary interpretation of the show – and not just because it uses Michael Holland’s Broadway revival score with additional lyrics contributed by Schwartz himself.
Headed by Tom Senior (Jesus), Andy Abraham (John the Baptist/Judas), Leanne Jarvis, and Mitch Miller, each of the ensemble cast gets their turn in the spotlight performing one of Schwartz’s succession of hit songs. There is not a weak link to be found among them, so their stellar vocal solos and harmonies are endlessly pleasing. Highlights from the leads range from Senior’s high-octane ‘Alas For You’ to Abraham’s stunningly lyrical ‘On the Willows’. Among the remainder of the ten-strong main cast, the robust performances by Laura Mansell, Maeve Byrne and Jennifer Potts stand out in particular.
The innovative production delights its audience many times over with its unexpected turns. It is difficult to say too much without giving away some of these surprises, but key moments include backing vocalists Steffan Lloyd-Evans and Ricky Johnston amusingly hijacking the show during the course of the first half, and the friendly duel of vocal pyrotechnics between several of the cast members by way of interval entertainment. James Smith’s elaborate lighting design adorns many of the numbers effectively, without being obtrusive.
One feature of the tour is the use of a different regional choir in every venue. These choruses fulfil two functions: a small choir who remain at the back of the stage throughout; and a larger group of singer-dancers who periodically populate the staircases of the rock-concert-style scaffold set. Guildford’s events featured The GSA Singers, who delivered a professional performance consonant with the very high quality of the rest of the production.
Given the semi-staged nature of the show, the principals used hand-held microphones throughout, which was understandable for solo numbers performed in concert format but started to feel strange during long stretches of spoken dialogue. Sound designer Tony Gayle did a sterling job of balancing the vocals against musical director Russell Scott’s excellent eight-piece rock band; but just occasionally, words were not picked up as the actors doubtless became tired of constantly having to hold a heavy microphone up to their mouth.
While billed as a rock musical, the show encompasses a wide range of musical styles, from gentle acoustic ballads to full-on rock numbers and even vaudeville, keeping in check those moments in which the production really lets rip so as to maximise their impact. Add the light-hearted re-enactments of Biblical passages, and the result truly is a complete evening’s entertainment, giving its audiences their money’s worth and more.
Christopher Wiley
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