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Godspell
by Christian Community Theater  Christian Community Theater closed out its summer shows under the cross on Mt. Helix with a show that they better be good at – the Seventies Christian rock musical Godspell. Guests, who start arriving early as shuttles deliver them up the mountain, first get treated to some good pre-show entertainment by way of Christian Youth Theater’s Stage Door consisting of a bunch of young singing and dancing talents who perform a wide range of music including Abba, West Side Story, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and You Can’t Stop the Beat. Then the show begins, and we are presented with a graffiti-tagged alley as well as text displays of some ominous court verdicts via video – verdicts concerning religion not being taught in public schools and the Ten Commandments not being displayed in public courtrooms. Surely if the government can’t endorse specific religious beliefs, then it’s just a matter of time before all personal religious beliefs are outlawed! A matter of 26 years, to be exact. This show is set in 2032, in a police state that has banished all religion. The show imagines what would happen if Jesus brought his message to such a place. And under the direction of Jeremy Lapp, that message is delivered with remarkable creativity, humor, and some poignancy. Just a few of the many highlights: * A lesson in forgiveness. Mr. Bilton, owner of a hotel chain, forgives his daughter, London, for accidentally sinking his yacht. But when London’s assistant accidentally breaks her cell phone, she fires him and promises he’ll have a hard time finding another job – even at PriceMart. Daddy punishes her for her lack of forgiveness, and she ends up an assistant to her former assistant now working at PriceMart. * The Good Samaritan – the Musical! Beginning when Nico Ramirez easing on down the road, with the cast humorously telling the story of what it truly means to be a good person, using variations on songs from Fiddler on the Roof, Miss Saigon, Evita, Jersey Boys, Oklahoma, etc. * Various skits that include Noah on a Carnival Cruise, little-known facts about Batman’s obscure sidekick Marco, and Celebrity Jeopardy. The show features an extraordinary amount of talents. The versatile Eric Jennings is a hit throughout as Judas. He provides all the hilarious voices of the characters in the Prodigal Son, and joins Jesus (Justin Kent) in leading a great vaudevillian scene of All for the Best, while also nailing his dramatic persona as the betrayer. Justin Kent is comfortable with the comedic and serious sides of Jesus, and he can play Stairway to Heaven on the guitar. Kristi Hannink is a hoot in various guises, from an obnoxious grade school student who rubs it in when she gets a gold star from Jesus, to singing the sultry Turn Back, O Man. Kerianne Rice is also a comedic hit and leads the hit song Day by Day, the soulful Dana Vincent heads O Bless the Lord My Soul, Lynzy Gowing is the soloist for the hauntingly beautiful By My Side after Jesus saves her from the stoners, and the sonorous Patrick Ortiz leads All Good Gifts. The ensemble impresses with their singing, comedy, and energy throughout, as well as their dancing to Amy Kiley’s imaginative choreography that includes the cast dancing in the dark with flashlights to Light of the World, performing All Good Gifts in American Sign Language, and the spirited We Beseech Thee.Performed August 10-26, 2006.
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