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Regional Reviews: Florida - West Coast Godspell Also see Bill's reviews of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and The Addams Family
Director/choreographer Cory Boyas directs an energetic production, but it starts a bit weakly as everyone is dressed in hospital whites, perhaps suggesting a mental health center setting, which I found off putting. Musical director Michelle Neal at the keyboard remains in a nurse's outfit throughout. After the prologue and opening song "Tower of Babble," which is often cut to good effect, the scrub whites come off and we are in colorful costumes much more attuned to the overall upbeat nature of the show. Godspell's strength has always been its score, the book by John-Michael Tebelak has not worn quite as well and can seem stuck in another era. This is a bit of a problem in this production, as the dialogue sequences lack any real subtlety. At the performance I attended, there were some issues with sound levels; the men were always audible, the women of the ensemble not so much when singing solo. But when they joined together, that improved. Godspell was conceived with microphones and light miking of the women might have worked wonders. All in all, though the singing is on a high level. Brian Chunn, a Manatee Players stalwart, does outstanding vocal work as Jesus. I could always understand what he was singing (ok, I know all the lyrics almost by heart). At my performance, his "Alas for You" went off the tracks, either because Ms. Neal got off to a too fast start or the volume level on the keyboard was too high, but he recovered nicely to deliver a very moving death scene in the finale. Jay Morgan as Judas has much less to do vocally. He opens the main part of the show with a strong solo in "Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord" and rattles off his patter lyrics beautifully in "All for the Best." One of the great things about community theater is the way it brings families together. After the show, the cast receives the audience and I enjoyed talking to mother and daughter Linda and Miriam Roeming-Engle. Also in the cast are another mother daughter team, Laurie and Emma Diner. What a wonderful way to spend quality time with children. Other members of the ensemble are Noelia Altamirano, Sarah Martin, Miranda Wolf, and Amy Woerner. Aside from the mishap discussed above, Michelle Neal played Stephen Schwartz's endearing score well. The fine singing through most of the evening attests to her skills. Costumes designed by Georgina Willmott, Scenery by Ralph Nurmela and Lighting by Patrick Bedell all help make this an enjoyable evening for audiences. Amy Ferrell as Stage Manager keeps everything in order. Manatee Players presents Godspellat Manatee Center for the Performing Arts through November 16, 2014, at 502 3rd Ave W., Bradenton; 941 748-0111, manateeplayers.com. Cast:
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