‘Godspell’

Bucks County Playhouse opens its season with the 1971 musical.

By: Stuart Duncan

Godspell, by John Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz, is a bi-annual Easter tradition at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pa.

   Godspell premiered on a warm, mid-May evening in 1971, struggled through a negative review from The New York Times ("Nauseating," Clive Barnes called it), and with the help of NBC’s Today show, began a seven-year run in New York, plus productions in major cities across the United States and scattered throughout Europe.
   It also has become a bi-annual opener at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pa., alternating with Jesus Christ Superstar. This year is Godspell’s turn and the current staging, directed by Ralph Miller and choreographed by Stephen Casey, is as energetic as ever, more fun than old-fashioned Sunday School and a nice welcome to spring.
   The origins of the show are well documented: how John Michael Tebelak, a grad student at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University, searching for a theme for his master’s degree, found it on Easter Sunday morning in the cathedral. How he wrote his "celebration" in just eight days, staged and presented as his thesis; how his professor arranged for the work to be staged briefly at New York’s Café La Mama and asked New York City producers Edgar Lansbury (younger brother of actress Angela) and his partner, Stuart Duncan (go ahead, check the name at the top of this review — they are the same), to see the show and tell him what they thought.
   And how those producers saw the show, liked it and contacted Stephen Schwartz (a classmate of Tebelak’s at Carnegie) to add music. And with only a few bumps, the rest is theatrical history.
   The Bucks County production brings Michael Brown back to New Hope to play Jesus, after Mr. Brown’s extended time in L.A. Since his last show in the East, he has added a first name — Keegan — to his official bio (apparently Actor’s Equity has another Michael Brown registered). He is a tremendously charismatic performer who immediately charms an audience and captures their rapt attention.
   Jacob Thompson, who plays Judas, is a bit too gimmicky for the role (at age 19, London’s Jeremy Irons made his first impression in the part). The women of the ensemble are wonderful: Jessica Bradish gets to sing the hit tune from the show, "Day By Day." Nicole Farina has great fun with "Turn Back, O Man." Amy Lynn Zanetto uses her big voice well as she easily handles "Bless The Lord." Tressa McCallister, back for another season, does "By My Side," and newcomer Dayla Perkins brings a bachelor’s in musical theater from Boston Conservatory.
Godspell continues at Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, Pa., through March 27. Performances: Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 4, 8 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. Tickets cost $18-$22. For information, call (215) 862-2041. On the Web: www.buckscountyplayhouse.com