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| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 09:17 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - lordofspeech 08:57 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
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| Carnegie Mellon University per Wikipedia. It was a time when off-Broadway was commercially viable. Long-running shows like The Fantasticks, Little Mary Sunshine, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!", Your Own Thing, Godspell, Little Shop of Horrors, and others were the result. I agree that Godspell is a terrific musical. |
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| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: andyboy 11:39 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - BroadwayTonyJ 09:17 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
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| It is indeed a terrific musical, except for that murder at the end. Yes, I know that to people of faith, that murder is meant somehow to bring redemption to mankind. But to us non-believers and atheists, it's just very bizarre to watch a murder followed by a great celebration. | |
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| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 01:07 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - andyboy 11:39 am EDT 08/28/22 | |
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| You would have really been confused by a summerstock production I did back in the 80's, which we nicknamed "Beach Blanket Godspell." I think, in the original production, the starkness of Jesus being "crucified" to the very plain, perhaps slightly forbidding chain link fence was still dramatic. But in this version, having a "Frankie Avalon" Jesus dying upon a surfboard (yup) was just unintentionally comic. To me it took all the potential drama out of the scene. And I'm Jewish, btw. And btw, I think the "murder followed by a great celebration" is still done very respectfully. The music (in the original version, somewhat reworked in the recent revival) gradually shifts from the tragedy of the death and the mourning ("Long live god" etc) to a very beautiful, prayerful layering of "Prepare Ye" - even for someone who doesn't believe in the resurrection, there's something very profound in that moment. (I ALWAYS get chills hearing that part.) Then yes, the music does finally move to the joyous uptempo beat of the originally sung "Prepare Ye." But maybe you've never seen a New Orleans-style funeral either? :-) |
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| re: Godspell and the Tonys | |
| Posted by: pecansforall 07:40 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - Chromolume 01:07 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
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| having a "Frankie Avalon" Jesus dying upon a surfboard (yup) was just unintentionally comic. In the recent tour of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Jesus died as the result of a glitter overdose. |
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| re: That ending.... | |
| Last Edit: bway1430 11:15 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
| Posted by: bway1430 11:15 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Godspell and the Tonys - Chromolume 01:07 pm EDT 08/28/22 | |
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| There was a great article in the Washington Post about the legendary Toronto cast of Godspell and a funny story re the ending (which may not be detailed but based on memory): One night Gilda Radner and a cast mate (I think Martin Short) went to see pal George Carlin perform after their show had ended. Carlin assumed GODSPELL show was a long show,so was really surprised to see them in the audience when he took the stage. When he asked them how they made it over to his show so quickly, Gilda quipped "Tonight, we shot him." |
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| Link | They all starred in GODSPELL then went on to become comedy legends |
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