Lakewood Playhouse, one of the South Sound’s most venerable theater organizations, opened its 86th season on September 13 with a rollicking rendition of Godspell, Stephen Schwartz’s 1970s musically-punctuated retelling of key scenes and parables from the Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Directed by Joseph C. Walsh, the Lakewood Playhouse production brings the original conception into contemporary times by presenting a cast that embodies a glorious dynamism of diversity. The minimal use of props allows the cast to maximize its use of space as the performers whirl and twirl joyfully through the whole performance sphere, often spilling into the zone of the audience.
The space is enlivened by a floor that is scrawled with multicolored graffiti. Sticks of chalk suspended on string allow theatergoers to add their own marks to the black walls. The ongoing accumulation of these visual vestiges will no doubt transform the playhouse interior into a house of the written word by the end of the run.The stage props also accumulate their fair share of chalk marks during the course of the performance and these markings get transferred onto the costumes of the performers to interesting effect. All of this is well done by Tacoma’s longtime fixture on the arts community, Jeremy Gregory.
The lighting design by Michelle Weingarden-Bandes amplifies the emotional content of the performance. There are moments in which only strings of colored lights create a mood of mystery. There are moments in which the cast members move around with tiny handheld lights. And there are times when a bloody red glare accents scary anger or devilish intent.
The minimal use of props means that the scenes and stories within the show are presented via mime, dance, narrative and song. Much of the music has been so much part of the cultural fabric (for Baby Boomers, at least) that many of the individual songs appear as old friends. “Day by Day,” and “Prepare Ye the Way,” for example, have been current in daily life dating back to Godspell’s Off-Broadway beginnings in the 1970s. The instrumental parts are performed live by music director and pianist Elijah Bellis, guitar and bass player Micah Curtis and drummer Travis Larson.
Choreographer De’Shawn Morton’s talents are more than evidenced by the buoyant and engaging dance performances that blow through the show like the winds of change.
Throughout the performance, the audience comes to delight in and become cozy with the members of the cast.
Mykahla George beams like a lighthouse and somehow seems to incarnate the Christ figure, the illuminated teacher at the center of it all.
Melvin Rouse Jr., whose rich deep vocal tones flow like a sleek boat on still waters, handles the dual role of John the Baptist/Judas.
Brad Alemao is good natured and willowy and Austin Barnett is malleable and zany.
Alonna Hall, Courtnee Ramos (the dance captain) and Adrian Roberto, meanwhile, are stalwart pillars of the performance.
Theater veteran LaNita Hudson Walters is blessed with a richly textured voice and knows how to brandish a fan.
Brittany D. Henderson, another veteran of the stage, gets to show off a lot of her body ink as she makes a sultry appearance and spouts out some sweet vocal moments.
Nia Marie comes across as an especially sweet presence, her gem-like eyes able to project an earnestly felt emotional response to the events in the story.
This Lakewood Playhouse performance of Godspell flows along with lively good humor punctuated by moments pregnant with pathos. There are plenty of surprises evocative of laughter, as well as moments for reflection. By calling for a beautiful variety of personalities for its cast members (seemingly so reflective of the characters that they play) Godspell continues to hold its relevance in a world so different from the 1970s. But then again, the story of the teacher and his motley band of disciples has seemed to maintain its relevance now for a couple of millennia.
Photos by Ashley Roy.
What:
Godspell
When:
Through October 6.
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.
Where:
Lakewood Playhouse, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd., Lakewood
Cost:
Adults $32, Senior/Military $25, Student/Educator $25
Learn More:
lakewoodplayhouse.org, (253) 588-0042