|
"Godspell"
preaches through music & comedy
By Laura Holland
 I
sat in a theatre in Oklahoma City in the early 70s and watched a
tour company from New York perform "Godspell." After the performance,
I was stunned by the energy and joy I had just experienced. I laughed
and cried with the characters as I saw Christ from a new perspective.
I wanted to know more about the play, so I did some research. I
found that the script originated as a master's thesis for John Michael
Tebelak. The playwright attended a church service and left feeling
"that, rather than rolling the rock away from the Tomb, they were
piling more on" (www.geocities.com/cugodspell/america.html). He
went home and wrote the manuscript for "Godspell" because he felt
the church had become grim and gloomy in its presentation of a message
that should bring joy and hope.
"I see 'Godspell' as a celebration of life," Tabelak said. "The
word 'godspell' is the Old English spelling for 'gospel' and is
reminiscent of the medieval morality plays." He also wanted the
play to "weave God's spell over its audience" (www.geocities.com/cugodspell/america.html).
"Godspell" is a form of experimental theatre that poses the question:
What would it be like if Jesus came to a group of entertainers instead
of fishermen? The play uses "parodies, sight-gags, music hall routines,
charades, visual puns and pantomimes" (www.geocities.com/cugod spell/
america.html) to communicate stories and parables from the gospels.
As I learned more about "Godspell," I hoped that I would someday
be part of a production of this play. ORU's first drama production
for the 2002-03 school year will be the third time "Godspell" has
been performed on campus. The first was in 1977 and the second in
1990. Why, then, are we doing it for a third time? There are a number
of reasons.
I would like my audience to experience the celebration I did when
I first saw "Godspell." I want them to see Jesus in a new light
and see a creative way of sharing the gospel. I also think that
this is an excellent piece for showcasing our talented students.
Bill Donaldson of the "Tulsa Tribune" critiqued ORU's original production
of "Godspell." "Religious purists could be a little shocked with
the transformation of biblical characters into comedians…but the
intent of this particular cast is obviously to spread the good word,"
he wrote. "And their attitudes, even in the most antic moments,
are totally reverent."
I hope the ORU students, faculty and staff will come and be a part
of celebrating the joy of knowing Christ.
|
){kind=link}