REVIEW: Vibrant production revives gospel story

Several were based on Bible stories and among the most successful (more than 2,500 performances off and on Broadway) was Godspell, which offered a modern musical take on Christ’s teachings and Passion. Culled mainly from St Matthew’s gospel, the show proved a lively but generally respectful version of Easter week events in a 20th century setting.

It has recently been enjoying a great revival of interest in the USA, and Littlehampton Players’ Operatic Society has been helping to regenerate its appeal on this side of the Atlantic with its vibrant production at the Windmill Entertainment Centre last week.

With new lyrics added to his music by composer Stephen Schwartz and a cleverly scripted book by John-Michael Tebelak, it has been updated so that the characters are no longer hippies of the flower power era (although still very colourfully garbed).

For director Veronica Cringle and her hard-working cast, the production must have required complete dedication to the project – and quite an emotional experience, too – but they rose to the occasion splendidly.

Parables such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son were enacted in a mainly light-hearted and entertaining way before the darker scenes were reached as the play progressed through the last supper, the betrayal, the crucifixion and death.

Considerable acting skills were required for the linchpin role of Jesus and throughout Ben Cassan showed himself to be the perfect choice for this demanding assignment. With the support of the rest of the cast, he made the final scenes very moving indeed.

The exhilarating score, embracing a myriad of styles and rhythms from jazz and folk to rock and pop, must be a challenge. It certainly gave musical director and keyboards wizard Daniel Paine and his fellow musicians a chance to demonstrate their various talents.

Those all-important musical numbers were put over extremely well in the vocal department, too. Highlights included Simon Smith (as John the Baptist) urging followers to Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord, while Ben Cassan and Sarah Smith (Sonia) opened the second act with the bluesy Turn Back, O Man.

The show’s rousing hit song, Day By Day, was given a powerful performance by Louise Bennett and company before being reprised several times to the obvious delight of clap-happy members of the audience.

Other leading cast members were Sue Knight, Mandy Dukes, Frances Bennett, David Martin, Jimmy Lynch and Richard Howell.

Brian Shewry