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DILLON — What a theater picks to do for its season says as much about it as the quality of the shows it produces. So when the Lake Dillon Theatre Company announced it was doing the venerable musical “Godspell” this summer, I had to ask artistic director Chris Alleman why. After all, this is the company that's tackled racy stuff like “Equus” and “Hair.” Even this summer's other big show, “Tommy,” is pretty edgy.
“I think ‘Godspell' does push some boundaries, but in the other direction,” Alleman said. Summit County, he noted, isn't exactly the Bible Belt, and a show like “Godspell,” with its unvarnished message of Christianity and greatest-hits take on the New Testament, may not fly with everyone.
A fair point, but it's also true that there are plenty of faithful among our locals and visitors — and you need not be a Christian to enjoy “Godspell.” Sure, the familiar elements are there: the parables, the disciples, the betrayal, the whole story of death and resurrection. But the show goes beyond the words in the good book to highlight the friendship, camaraderie, love, doubt and confusion that assuredly would exist among Jesus and his followers.
As director Josh Blanchard pointed out, this 40-year-old show is so familiar and done so frequently that, like “Hamlet,” people go to it not to see “Godspell,” per se, but to see how it's being done.
And, Christian or no, we could all use a few reminders about how to live a more virtuous life. The idea of turning one's other cheek for an enemy or forgiving a debt may not be easy to incorporate into one's own, modern American life, but in the context of the teachings of Jesus and as presented in “Godspell,” such notions have their appeal.
They also make for great jumping-off points in musical theater, and “Godspell” is loaded with familiar songs such as “Day by Day,” “Save the People” and “We Beseech Thee” which punctuate the parables as taught by Jesus. In Dillon's production, Blanchard uses a stripped-down set in muted colors offset by colorful ribbons and banners. The actors are in the simplest of clothes and appear mostly barefoot. There are some more updated elements: a cellphone call, a bit of rap and a modern allusion or two, but mostly this is fairly traditional take on “Godspell.”
And this is an extraordinary cast. While I saw this same repertory group do a great job performing “Tommy” — the theater's other big summer musical — “Godspell” seems to showcase all their individual talents more. This is a true ensemble, and each of the 10 actors — five men and five women — are hugely gifted singers, dancers and actors. As they cycled among them for solos, I found myself looking forward to who would get the spotlight next and wondered if they all would meet or exceed the skill of the last. Indeed, they did, and it's also great fun to see how they employ the small space of this theater to perform the dance numbers choreographed so well by Blanchard. As actors, they're all so very present at all times in the moment — a testament not only to their professional chops but Blanchard's direction. The genuine smiles, the rapt looks, the spirited atmosphere they create as a troupe, it all speaks to a level of performance quite above the ordinary.
There may be some big musicals best suited for a large theater and proscenium stage, but “Godspell” is best told right up in your face, and the Dillon theater really lets that happen. With a live band behind the screen, the actors sweating before you and a powerfully delivered series of messages, here's theater the way it was truly meant to be: moving, passionate, affecting.
As Jesus, Garret Bruce is tremendous, taking on the gravitas of the role at the same time he has fun interacting with his disciples and rolling out one parable after another. We see his shift, as betrayal looms, from a more care-free Jesus to one who's both accepting and reluctant regarding his fate. Bruce also shows Jesus as jealous, angry, annoyed and resigned even as his followers seem oblivious to the forces moving around and against them.
For those who haven't seen “Godspell,” know that it's suitable for all ages and a respectful telling of the story. Lake Dillon Theatre Company has hit another one out of the park — don't miss it.
Summit Daily editor Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@summitdaily.com or (970) 668-4618.
“I think ‘Godspell' does push some boundaries, but in the other direction,” Alleman said. Summit County, he noted, isn't exactly the Bible Belt, and a show like “Godspell,” with its unvarnished message of Christianity and greatest-hits take on the New Testament, may not fly with everyone.
A fair point, but it's also true that there are plenty of faithful among our locals and visitors — and you need not be a Christian to enjoy “Godspell.” Sure, the familiar elements are there: the parables, the disciples, the betrayal, the whole story of death and resurrection. But the show goes beyond the words in the good book to highlight the friendship, camaraderie, love, doubt and confusion that assuredly would exist among Jesus and his followers.
As director Josh Blanchard pointed out, this 40-year-old show is so familiar and done so frequently that, like “Hamlet,” people go to it not to see “Godspell,” per se, but to see how it's being done.
And, Christian or no, we could all use a few reminders about how to live a more virtuous life. The idea of turning one's other cheek for an enemy or forgiving a debt may not be easy to incorporate into one's own, modern American life, but in the context of the teachings of Jesus and as presented in “Godspell,” such notions have their appeal.
They also make for great jumping-off points in musical theater, and “Godspell” is loaded with familiar songs such as “Day by Day,” “Save the People” and “We Beseech Thee” which punctuate the parables as taught by Jesus. In Dillon's production, Blanchard uses a stripped-down set in muted colors offset by colorful ribbons and banners. The actors are in the simplest of clothes and appear mostly barefoot. There are some more updated elements: a cellphone call, a bit of rap and a modern allusion or two, but mostly this is fairly traditional take on “Godspell.”
And this is an extraordinary cast. While I saw this same repertory group do a great job performing “Tommy” — the theater's other big summer musical — “Godspell” seems to showcase all their individual talents more. This is a true ensemble, and each of the 10 actors — five men and five women — are hugely gifted singers, dancers and actors. As they cycled among them for solos, I found myself looking forward to who would get the spotlight next and wondered if they all would meet or exceed the skill of the last. Indeed, they did, and it's also great fun to see how they employ the small space of this theater to perform the dance numbers choreographed so well by Blanchard. As actors, they're all so very present at all times in the moment — a testament not only to their professional chops but Blanchard's direction. The genuine smiles, the rapt looks, the spirited atmosphere they create as a troupe, it all speaks to a level of performance quite above the ordinary.
There may be some big musicals best suited for a large theater and proscenium stage, but “Godspell” is best told right up in your face, and the Dillon theater really lets that happen. With a live band behind the screen, the actors sweating before you and a powerfully delivered series of messages, here's theater the way it was truly meant to be: moving, passionate, affecting.
As Jesus, Garret Bruce is tremendous, taking on the gravitas of the role at the same time he has fun interacting with his disciples and rolling out one parable after another. We see his shift, as betrayal looms, from a more care-free Jesus to one who's both accepting and reluctant regarding his fate. Bruce also shows Jesus as jealous, angry, annoyed and resigned even as his followers seem oblivious to the forces moving around and against them.
For those who haven't seen “Godspell,” know that it's suitable for all ages and a respectful telling of the story. Lake Dillon Theatre Company has hit another one out of the park — don't miss it.
Summit Daily editor Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@summitdaily.com or (970) 668-4618.
