Biblical epic casts a spell

You might expect a musical about he Gospel of St Matthew to be full of what you learned at Sunday School. There is some of that. But Godspell also contains rock and rap, country and western, a guest appearance from Ali G and more comedy than you’ll find in all the books of the Bible.
This University of Gloucestershire production overflows with vitality and colour.
It might be an amateur production by students but you could be forgiven for mistaking them for professionals.
Robbie Gardner is excellent in the lead role. He conveys the love and the frustration felt by Jesus, as well as some unexpected comedy.
His performance of All For The Best with Jamie Anderson has the elements of great slapstick.
Jade Raad is sexy, sassy and seduces half the audience with Turn Back O Man.
Steve Roberts shines as a comic as well as a fine singer. Pip Greenwood sings Day By Day beautifully and Lucy Burgess shows off her talent with Bless The Lord.
The music is provided by an excellent band that appears to hover over the stage in a space capsule.
What a good thing this superb show is doing a mini tour of Gloucestershire before heading for the Edinburgh Festival. There is a matinee and evening show at The Everyman today and further performances at The Roses, Tewkesbury on Tuesday and Gloucester’s Guildhall on Thursday and Friday.

Jill Williams

 

Picture: Mikal Ludlow E231542-11 (Gloucestershire Echo)

Public reviews available on the Edinburgh Fringe website http://www.edfringe.com/reviews/read.html?id=GODSP

Godspell | Sunday, August 10

What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon during the festival, than to hear the Gospel of St Matthew, as told through the classic rock musical of Godspell.

There are two different groups performing the show as part of this year's Fringe, but the one I went along to was the opening performance by the University of Gloucestershire. And I must say, I was completely blown away by their performance. The multi-tallented performers enlightened the stage, delivering a confident and faultless performance - delighting everyone in the nearly-full theatre.

Posted by Richard | More in Fringe & Reviews

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2 comments
Trackback recorded from bloomfield.me.uk on Sunday, August 10
Another day, another show - this one the classic rock musical Godspell, showing at C. Even with the more-or-less constant chattering of a group of teenage girls sitting behind me, I still enjoyed every moment.... [Source: Godspell]
Comment posted by Vicky on Sunday, August 10
Good stuff - I'm going to see that production tomorrow. Hope the chatty idiots don't come back for a second helping...

 

Godspell
The University of Gloucestershire
Do you need to be a Christian to fully appreciate 'Godspell', the 70's musical that gives a soulful twist to the bible, I wonder? Of course not, is the PC response, it can be just entertainment and entertain they certainly do. Jesus is suitably wholesome, with a shiny smooth, waxed chest and pearly whites that wouldn't look out of place on the West End. The whole cast sing and dance their hearts out, particularly boisterous Jade, who unleashes her inner sex kitten as she prowls the audience, husking the soulful 'Turn Back O Man', so this isn't all preaching and piety by any means. However, at the choral rallying finale, I was left feeling cold. If I don't believe I'm off to heaven, how can I share in all this exuberance? Sometimes the message does matter, and this just ain't the musical for me.
C, 10-16 Aug, 3:30pm (4:50pm), £8.50 (£7.50/£6.50), fpp 109.
twrating: 3/5 [lk]

 

Godspell

The University of Gloucestershire

If ever there is a musical that is done to death Fringe after Fringe then Godspell probably has to take that 'honour'. However in the fifteen or so years I have been attending this festival I cannot think of a version that even gets close to the quality of this one. Superb is the only word that can describe it.
The 16 strong cast from the University of Gloucestershire could all sing and dance well, the simple set was versatile and the sound quality excellent. Unfortunately, the show I saw had no programme available so I am unable to highlight the stars, but perhaps that is just as well as all sixteen were stars.
Okay it was less high- tec than a recent touring production I saw staring Jonathan Wilkes and Daniel McPherson, but the enjoyment factor and enthusiasm and talent on display was at least it's equal if not better.