By Andrea Loewen, Pacific Theatre
If Jesus hung out with the prostitutes and tax collectors, does it makes sense that he might also hang out with Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin, Eileen Brennan, Dan Rowan, and Dick Martin? Not exactly what you would picture when you think of the Apostles, but then, the original 12 probably weren’t the ones others would have expected to make the final cut either. So then it’s not so weird that director Sarah Rodgers has set Pacific Theatre’s upcoming production of Godspell inside an episode of the 1970’s sketch comedy show Laugh-In, is it?
The more you think about it, Laugh-In is the perfect fit for a show like Godspell. Godspell takes the lessons of Jesus, already conveniently written in story form, and turns them into a sketch comedy show of their own. The parables are acted out in caricatures and gags, broken up by catchy tunes (tunes that are, in my humble opinion, some of the best songs written for musical theatre ever) that slice right to the heart of each lesson. Similarly, Laugh-In cut straight to the hot political issues and current events of the day using comedy and caricatures of their own, tagging each skit with a brief musical number. Not only that, but Laugh-In was named directly after the hippy “love-ins” of the 60’s, and what show is more of a love-in than Godspell?
If you’re a little young and have no idea what Laugh-In is (don’t worry, I had no idea when I first heard about the concept either) – think SCTV or Saturday Night Live when it was funny, starring the best up-and-coming comedians of the time lampooning politics of the sexual and regular variety.
As the publicist for Pacific Theatre, I have to tell you that you should come to see this show. As a musical theatre lover I also have to tell you that you should come to see this show. If you are reading this you probably love musicals, which means that you probably already love Godspell – its beautiful simplicity, its innocence and vibrant enthusiasm for life, and its message of love before all else combine to make it wonderful.
The music, however, is for me at least, what pushes it from wonderful to extraordinary. Is it just me, or does each song quite literally lift your heart right out of your chest? I can’t help but sing and dance for joy along with such songs as “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”, “Day by Day”, and “Turn Back, Oh Man.” No matter what you believe in, celebrating that kind of unbridled joy and love is an act of worship. It’s a love-in. And that, my friends, is the whole point.
Godspell runs from May 28 to July 3 at Pacific Theatre. Visit pacifictheatre.org for full details and to purchase tickets!