Students at South Hunterdon Regional High School will perform the play "Godspell" March 8, 9 and 10.
By: Gwen Runkle
WEST AMWELL Get ready to laugh, cry, rock and roll with South Hunterdon Regional High School’s cast of the musical "Godspell" when it performs tonight, Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. at the high school.
The play, based on the Gospel according to Matthew, presents the parables and scenes from the last seven days of Jesus’ life in a whimsical modern light as an energetic rock musical.
Senior John Dunn captured the lead as Jesus, and with his Afro-like tresses and clown getup presents anything but the traditional character.
Sam Rocco, also a senior, will play the combined part of John the Baptist and Judas. A role he describes as "kind of weird" because the play does not officially announce his split in character. "I have to play two completely different personalities, but nobody knows it."
Other seniors Aaron Buchsbaum, Cari Force, Heather Hemphill, Dave McClaughan, Molly Nadelson and Erin Rose are disciples, along with junior Kendra Thatcher, and freshman James Bellamy. Except for James and Dave, all are repeat performers from last year’s "The Mikado."
For two months the cast has been working under the direction of Joanne Bunce, music teacher, who for 10 years has been involved with the school’s musical plays, but mostly in an assisting position as musical director.
She helped out in that position when South first put on "Godspell" in 1979. "I saw ‘Godspell’ when it first opened in 1971 and loved it. I wanted to be in it," she said.
The musical originally opened off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre in 1971, a film version was made in 1973, and it premiered on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre in 1976.
Her enthusiasm for the play and its message has not faltered, but while "we had no problems (with the religious content) then," she said, "times have changed." However neither she nor the school has received any complaints yet, she said.
She said the sends messages using the teachings of the parables and emphasizes "friendship between the kids and Jesus."
"It doesn’t matter that it’s Jesus," she said "The play is not talking about theology at all. It deals with a much bigger picture."
"If you look at the Gospel of Matthew, it is relating messages like ‘love your neighbor,’ ‘love God,’ and ‘turn the other cheek,’" values that are the center of Judeo-Christian beliefs our society is structured around, she said. "The parables are used to teach how to be a good person. That’s something that transcends any one particular religion.
"The play is more about friendship, a feeling of community, and growing." A message Mrs. Bunce thinks the cast has really taken to heart and one the entire student body can benefit from.
"South Hunterdon is a small community of students so this play is very identifiable" she said. There have been times when "all (the cast) has been crying at the end of rehearsal. If they’re moved themselves hopefully the audience will be too."
"Godspell" is the fifth show Mrs. Bunce has directed and feels it is the hardest play she has ever done. She pointed out that Stephen Schwartz, author of the play’s music and lyrics, prefaced the script with a discreet warning: "This is a deceptively difficult show to direct." She now understands that to be the truth.
The cast agrees. "It is the hardest play we’ve done," Kendra said, and for a variety of reasons. First, the entire cast is on stage for the whole performance. "The one time the cast goes off stage is in the first act before intermission," John Dunn said. "So much goes on and we have to react to everything for two and a half hours," Kendra said, leaving no time to catch a breath or take a break.
Another obstacle is "keeping the order of the parables straight," Heather Hemphill said.
Choreographer Karen Martin, who teaches dance at Pennington Dance and the Mill Ballet School in Lambertville, explained "(the play) is difficult for the cast for the fact that everything is in different parables and stories and they have to tie them together. The play is not set in a logically chronologized order."
Also the only two defined characters are Jesus and John the Baptist/Judas. The other eight, as disciples, are "only given hints as to what to be like," said Mrs. Bunce, so those actors have to develop their own characters and go by their own names.
But while this play may be "the hardest, (it’s definitely) the best," Heather said. "The cast is all friends and we’ve been focused on the work," and unlike other plays where the cast is delineated into main parts and the chorus, in "Godspell" everyone has their own solo and equal stage time, she said.
Also Erin Rose felt that the contemporary music and choreography make the show great. Dave McClaughan agreed. "It’s really fun and the music is spectacular," he said.
To accompany the vocals Mrs. Bunce will be playing piano.
The Rev. Raymond Force of the First Baptist Church in Lambertville and a special education aide for South, will be on drums, and graduates Matt Wiley and Kyle Pittore will be playing guitar and bass.
Others who have helped with the play are Ruth Mazujian, home-economics teacher and costume coordinator; Kate Wilson, student director; Kyle Bannerman and Matt Pittore as stage crew; Dan Schulze and Blake Larsen at sound; Matt Moraski and Emily Siglin at lights; and Dennis Tillet and Richard Warwinsky, parents of students at South, planned and constructed the set.
"Godspell" will also be performed March 9 and 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets will be sold for $5 at the door.