The Stage

Godspell

Published Monday 18 April 2011 at 09:59 by Scott Matthewman

As we enter Holy Week, it must seem an apposite time to revive Godspell, the musical which sees a number of uplifting songs interspersed with parables re-enacted, with no small degree of humour, by Jesus and a very Seventies-inspired set of disciples.

A scene from Godspell at the Union Theatre, London Photo: Roy Tan

Unfortunately, no amount of calendar-related scheduling can escape that, as a musical, Godspell just isn’t all that good. Michael Bradley and Iain Vince-Gatt’s arrangements lift the numbers substantially, helped by some excellent vocal performances led by Madalena Alberto, but in the first act especially there is no sense of story progression, more of a sketch revue. The parables are lifted by some great comic performances, with Sophie Isaacs in particular stealing every scene, and Steve Miller’s lighting adds atmosphere throughout.

Billy Cullum’s Jesus, who should be charismatic enough to inspire followers for millennia, instead feels one of the least impressive of the ensemble. And that hinders the second act, where Judas’ betrayal and Jesus’ eventual crucifixion lose the context that would otherwise make them highly emotional moments. Where the show does work is in the second act musical numbers, with Turn Back O Man and By My Side proving particularly effective.

The entire team at the Union have obviously worked their hardest to breathe life into this revival. Ultimately, though, this is a telling of the Passion which, despite their efforts, remains passionless.