MCA blessed by ‘Godspell’ performance > Phoenix Productions’ modern, 21st century interpretation delights Orono audience

ORONO – Against a phalanx of television screens, the cast of Phoenix Productions’ “Godspell” gave a rollicking, thoroughly modern interpretation of this 30-year-old musical Friday night at the Maine Center for the Arts.

Gone were the face-painted cast members and chain-link fence backgrounds of past “Godspell” renditions. In were references to the Internet, Tuesday’s presidential election, President Clinton (“I did not have relations with that woman”) and Judge Judy.

The up-to-date handling of this musical, which tells of Jesus and his teachings through an untraditional mix of scripture and 20th century motifs, was brilliant.

In the opening scene, cast members in modern business dress walked across the stage like robots, working hand-held computers and laptop computers as images of our digital age flashed across the dozens and dozens of television screens.

The televisions figured prominently throughout the whole production. In many scenes, cast members would act out parables that were filmed live by other cast members onstage. As the scene unfolded, the action could be seen on televisions or a larger-than-life screen.

For instance, when cast members recounted the story of the Prodigal Son returning home to be greeted with open arms by his father, they assumed characters from “South Park.” Telling the ancient tale through foolish characters delighted the audience.

In another scene, Friday’s Bangor Daily News with front-page headline “On hold” was used as a prop.

As it included the latest references to the news, the cast was clearly having fun interpreting the script. “Godspell” is one of those productions in which cast members rarely enter or exit the stage. Instead, they adopt different roles from scene to scene with nearly constant action, dancing and singing.

The cast itself turned in strong performances.

Sal Sabella, who played Jesus in Friday night’s performance, sang with angelic clarity. Sabella is new to the traveling production and had previously toured with “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.”

“Godspell” was written to meld the Gospel according to St. Matthew with modern events. The references to year 2000 events and to local establishments such as Margarita’s restaurant only served to underscore that winning mix of old and new.

The offbeat musical was written in 1971 by John-Michael Tebelak for his master of fine arts degree at Carnegie Mellon University.

Tebelak based the musical on an Easter day incident when a policeman frisked him for drugs in the nave of a cathedral.

The play first ran on off-off Broadway, then off-Broadway, before a Broadway production beginning in June 1976. Along the way, it was also made into a movie with a Superman-garbed Jesus roaming the streets of Manhattan with the rest of the cast before being crucified on a chain-link fence.

Friday night, Judas and the Pharisees betrayed Jesus and crucified him on the wall of televisions stacked one upon the other. The screens continually flash with different images, and all turn red to depict Christ’s blood. Finally, during the finale song of “God I’m Dying,” alternating red and white crosses are created on the bank of TVs.

A moving finale for a 21st century rendition.