Godspell Online in Concert Review
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| Credit: https://www.instagram.com/hopemilltheatre/ |
Anyway... onto the topic at hand! The production I am going to be talking about today is produced a little closer to home for me. By Manchester's Hope Mill Theatre to be precise. This is the 50th Anniversary online concert performance of Godspell, written of course by Stephen Schwartz, who gave an introduction at the beginning of the show.
This is a show that I have had on my list for a while - ever since they cancelled the touring production a few years ago - and of course supporting anything produced in my neck of the woods was a huge positive for me!
It's based off the Gospel of Matthew, with Jesus (played by Darren Day (Grease)) and a group of disciples telling parables (or stories with a meaning behind them). And while like JCS, the story finishes with Jesus' crucifixion, it ends with a hopeful chorus singing a mash-up of Long Live God and a reprise of Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord, rather than the more sombre ending of JCS. Oh and Godspell is not told from Judas' perspective, though he does pop up once or twice during the show.
Though this production is produced by a theatre, it wasn't filmed in a concert format, but more like The Last Five Years and Songs For A New World were: in people's homes, gardens and sometimes wide open spaces like a woodland or the coast.
The editing did seem a bit inconsistent though sometimes: you would sometimes get a beautiful setting and have it obscured by windows of the chorus (which has been made up of Italia Conti students), and then a couple of songs later take them out completely. It's almost as if they couldn't make up their mind....
The Hope Mill have brought together a phenomenal group of soloists: not just Day, but also Ruthie Henshall, Matthew Croke (Aladdin), Jenna Russel (Fun Home), Shekinah McFarlane (Six), Sam Tutty, Ria Jones (Gypsy), Jodie Steele (Heathers) and many more! Each soloist got their chance to shine with one number each (except Day of course).
Some I would like to mention are Beautiful City sung by Steele (my personal favourite), All Good Gifts, sung by Tutty and All For The Best between Day and Croke.
But having said that though 9/10 of the songs are wonderful to listen to and so full of soul they could be included in any Worship playlist.
In fact, the only dud in my opinion is Turn Back, O Man. I know what they're getting at and I love Ruthie Henshall... not sure about it being filmed in the bath..... 😳🙈
The best thing about this musical is that the music is so soulful! It cannot help but move you whether you're religious or not. I happened to having one of those days when I watched it (if you know what I mean), and it definitely lifted my spirits up. So whether you have a faith or none, I hope it does the same for you.
If you want to get tickets, they are also showing tomorrow and Saturday (28th and 29th August); you can book by clicking here: https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/godspell
You will receive the link at 10am for the day you book, and then have 24 hours to watch it as many times as you would like. (I admit that has been useful for when I've had to double check things).
Now that I think about it, it's ironic that it is the Hope Mill Theatre that have produced this production, because the centre of this piece is hope. It's a promise that we can come back stronger and better after the devastation of this pandemic. The last song kind of sums it up:
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