Amateur in Look, Better in Action

Reviewed 9/9/05

Stephen Schwartz's Godspell is a forgiving show. I speak not just of the religious content, but of the expectation of the amateurishness of any production to be mounted. Its hippie heart and pageant roots beg for audience members to forgive a lack of polish, and theatre companies often take advantage of this to varying degrees. The latest regime of Scottsdale Community Players, CEO Sue Tormala and Producing Artistic Director Joseph Benesh, are hoping to establish a more professional company, with their first public action the generic repainting of the original, albeit kinda creepy, lobby. Because Godspell has such a wide margin of error, it's unfair to judge their progress with this first mounting. Jason Steele's cartoony recreation of a New York City subway station is a very amateurish visual element, and Bob Nelson's unsubtle lighting doesn't help matters. In fact, matters looked bleak on opening night as Kimberlee Hart's ensemble took the stage after an entertaining pre-show. The Prologue and "Tower of Babble" sequences appeared under-rehearsed while the blocking and Brent Mills' choreography came across as clunky and stilted. However, the show was reborn with the entrance of Brad Rupp as John the Baptist/Judas and Sam Lakin's Jesus. Not everyone in the ensemble recovered, but the bulk proved to be strong in voice and full of spirit, which compensated for a few larger problems.

Hart's strength comes from her subtleties of detail and eliciting heartfelt performances. You can see her creative thinking with the ever-changing billboards on each side of the stage, but there are less surprising choices onstage than she is known for. Still, the straightforward recreation of this Jesus-love-in proves entertaining. Her biggest faux pas is in her transitional moments between parables. Most just fall flat rather than propel themselves to the next, but the script is partially to blame for this. Mills' choreography becomes incrementally better as the evening progresses.

She has cast two leads in Lakin and Rupp that raise the professionalism of the evening above the usual "Let's put on a show!" mentality that often mars other productions. Lakin is angelic and likeable, and he has a beautiful voice made for this role. Rupp has a strong voice and a palpable stage presence that highlights his expansive character arc.

Though Anthony Toudjarov's costumes are unoriginal and unflattering, the majority of the ensemble is committed to bringing across the variety of emotions this show elicits. One highlight is Alison Roy, who is charged with singing the most famous song of the show, "Day by Day," and exhibits great pipes and an infectious smile. Equally impressive vocal presentations are offered by James Asimenios' "We Beseech Thee," and Kraig Amendt in his half of "On the Willows." The best vocal performance of the ensemble comes from soprano Amanda Kuchinski in "O Bless the Lord My Soul." Alicia Marie Turvin and Stephanie Pela perform an emotionally powerful "By My Side." These performers also throw themselves wholeheartedly into their emotional offerings. John Moum has a few funny choices and a few vocal flourishes in "All Good Gifts."

There most notable disappointment within the ensemble is Aimee Picquette as the Lady of the Evening who performs the second act opening "Turn Back O Man." Hart allows Picquette to make no original choices in her presentation, she rushes through her lines with a lackluster delivery, and is not the strongest of singers. In a cast of ten, eleventh-man Toudjarov is the odd man out, a throw-in character with little to do who proves undistinguished by the addition.

Music Director Irene Lopez leads a strong offstage band featuring Rex Whitte on guitar, Johnny Garcia on bass, and Patti Swartz on drums.

Though the opening night audience was small, they were appreciative, and there were plenty of sniffles as the proceedings led to their conclusion. The production is sweet with a few encouraging flourishes, and those who accept the spirit of earnestness to cover the visual and few performance weaknesses will be happy they came.