They all starred in ‘Godspell.’ Then they became comedy legends.
May 21, 2022 6:43 PM Subscribe
(Also, and I'll go read the article next, but the roles in Godspell are all named after the original actors, and Lynne is Lynne Thigpen, whom you probably know best from Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego. She was also in the movie for Godspell. Her main song is "O Bless The Lord, My Soul".)
posted by hippybear at 7:20 PM on May 21, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 7:20 PM on May 21, 2022 [5 favorites]
The WaPo article is paywalled. Darn.
Martin Short's memoir also goes into detail about the Toronto Godspell production.
posted by Artful Codger at 8:06 PM on May 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Martin Short's memoir also goes into detail about the Toronto Godspell production.
posted by Artful Codger at 8:06 PM on May 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
I (along with everyone else) still miss Gilda.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:07 PM on May 21, 2022 [10 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:07 PM on May 21, 2022 [10 favorites]
And Garber was reportedly one of the last ones to read a new Sondheim script in development.
posted by hippybear at 8:15 PM on May 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 8:15 PM on May 21, 2022 [3 favorites]
Also, can I just say, Godspell is a whole lot of fun to put on. I did a whole lot of theater with my first boyfriend, and Godspell is one of the only things I might come back to do work on in any capacity. It's entirely a creation of theater, nothing realistic about it at all, and it's all based on the Book Of Matthew and its parables, so it's Jesusy without being overly Jesusy apart from his fun storytelling side.
I know it won't play well these days (the latest Broadway revival was nominated for things but sort of fell over flat), but damn, that show is FUN to put on.
posted by hippybear at 8:37 PM on May 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
I know it won't play well these days (the latest Broadway revival was nominated for things but sort of fell over flat), but damn, that show is FUN to put on.
posted by hippybear at 8:37 PM on May 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
Lynne Thigpen, whom you probably know best from Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego.
"Now for that group out there that had such a hard time getting home, sorry about that. I guess the only thing we can do is play you a song."
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:33 PM on May 21, 2022 [7 favorites]
"Now for that group out there that had such a hard time getting home, sorry about that. I guess the only thing we can do is play you a song."
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:33 PM on May 21, 2022 [7 favorites]
Although it has one nice song ('Day By Day'), it takes a long time to get there, because Godspell is actually an awful show, a real cringe-inducer. It's the religious response to Jesus Christ Superstar, which ends at the Crucifixion.
posted by Rash at 10:12 PM on May 21, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by Rash at 10:12 PM on May 21, 2022 [6 favorites]
Or more accurately, the joyful Christian response to JCS.
posted by Rash at 10:30 PM on May 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Rash at 10:30 PM on May 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
but the roles in Godspell are all named after the original actors
And the originator of the role of 'Sonia' at the 1970 CMU production and the 71, off-Broadway show was none other than Sonia Manzano, whom you may know better as Sesame Street's 'Maria'.
posted by mikelieman at 5:45 AM on May 22, 2022 [8 favorites]
And the originator of the role of 'Sonia' at the 1970 CMU production and the 71, off-Broadway show was none other than Sonia Manzano, whom you may know better as Sesame Street's 'Maria'.
posted by mikelieman at 5:45 AM on May 22, 2022 [8 favorites]
It's the religious response to Jesus Christ Superstar, which ends at the Crucifixion.
Neither of them includes the Resurrection. I was heavily into the Jesus movement when Godspell came out, and that was our complaint about it. I loved and still love the music though. I love JCS too, though I will argue to the death that Judas is the main character. He's the one who is in a sense resurrected, as the play ends with him, after his death, singing the title song.
Sadley, Jeffrey Mylett, who played Jeffrey in the original off-Broadway production and the film, died of AIDS in 1986. Merrell Jackson, who played Merrell in the film (singing "All Good Gifts") and in a Chicago production, also died young, in 1991. I've never found a cause of death for him, but I've often wondered if he also died of that horrible disease that took so many young artists of that generation.
posted by FencingGal at 5:55 AM on May 22, 2022 [10 favorites]
Neither of them includes the Resurrection. I was heavily into the Jesus movement when Godspell came out, and that was our complaint about it. I loved and still love the music though. I love JCS too, though I will argue to the death that Judas is the main character. He's the one who is in a sense resurrected, as the play ends with him, after his death, singing the title song.
Sadley, Jeffrey Mylett, who played Jeffrey in the original off-Broadway production and the film, died of AIDS in 1986. Merrell Jackson, who played Merrell in the film (singing "All Good Gifts") and in a Chicago production, also died young, in 1991. I've never found a cause of death for him, but I've often wondered if he also died of that horrible disease that took so many young artists of that generation.
posted by FencingGal at 5:55 AM on May 22, 2022 [10 favorites]
Although it has one nice song ('Day By Day'), it takes a long time to get there, because Godspell is actually an awful show, a real cringe-inducer. It's the religious response to Jesus Christ Superstar, which ends at the Crucifixion.
So... the oral history is about the people who started their careers (many accidentally, it seems) vs. the merits of Godspell itself. On that basis alone, I'm not sure what your comment adds to the conversation.
But, also... I've worked a production of Godspell. "Only" 15 years ago (I just checked the poster I still have from it). I probably hung lights for another production of it during that time. The show is not something I particularly enjoy, but cringe-worthy? Please explain.
Having read the oral history, improv seems to be something vital to the performance which I saw glimpses of in the production I worked and that is where the show worked. I also see where the production I worked on (by a Jewish director, fwiw), still had some 70s vibe to it so.... didn't age well? But, I'm really curious why you would consider it cringe worthy.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 6:18 AM on May 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
So... the oral history is about the people who started their careers (many accidentally, it seems) vs. the merits of Godspell itself. On that basis alone, I'm not sure what your comment adds to the conversation.
But, also... I've worked a production of Godspell. "Only" 15 years ago (I just checked the poster I still have from it). I probably hung lights for another production of it during that time. The show is not something I particularly enjoy, but cringe-worthy? Please explain.
Having read the oral history, improv seems to be something vital to the performance which I saw glimpses of in the production I worked and that is where the show worked. I also see where the production I worked on (by a Jewish director, fwiw), still had some 70s vibe to it so.... didn't age well? But, I'm really curious why you would consider it cringe worthy.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 6:18 AM on May 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
I just can't get past Victor Garber with an afro...
Also, it is clear to see why it was Eugene Levy who played Gabe Kaplan whenever they did a Welcome Back Kotter sketch on SCTV.
posted by Naberius at 7:57 AM on May 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
Also, it is clear to see why it was Eugene Levy who played Gabe Kaplan whenever they did a Welcome Back Kotter sketch on SCTV.
posted by Naberius at 7:57 AM on May 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
Although it has one nice song ('Day By Day')
I would disagree. "Day by Day" is actually a song that I don't like as much as other songs in the show, my favorites being "Turn Back, O Man" and "All for the Best."
Granted, the show is a real hippy-dippy shaggy dog of an adaptation of Matthew, and its score isn't JCS quality, but its goofiness is endearing, and, as someone who was around back then, its stage-hippieness is, at this point, charming. (And, the film version, as seen above, features many lovely scenes of NYC back in the day, including the then-under construction World Trade Center.)
Plus, I've always been intrigued by the title. When I was a kid, I figured it was about being under the "God spell," but later in life learned that "godspel" is the Anglo-Saxon root of "gospel," with "good spiel" (roughly) having the same meaning as "εὐαγγέλιόν," which added a layer of interest for me.
Curious as to the cringe you see in it.
posted by the sobsister at 8:43 AM on May 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
I would disagree. "Day by Day" is actually a song that I don't like as much as other songs in the show, my favorites being "Turn Back, O Man" and "All for the Best."
Granted, the show is a real hippy-dippy shaggy dog of an adaptation of Matthew, and its score isn't JCS quality, but its goofiness is endearing, and, as someone who was around back then, its stage-hippieness is, at this point, charming. (And, the film version, as seen above, features many lovely scenes of NYC back in the day, including the then-under construction World Trade Center.)
Plus, I've always been intrigued by the title. When I was a kid, I figured it was about being under the "God spell," but later in life learned that "godspel" is the Anglo-Saxon root of "gospel," with "good spiel" (roughly) having the same meaning as "εὐαγγέλιόν," which added a layer of interest for me.
Curious as to the cringe you see in it.
posted by the sobsister at 8:43 AM on May 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
Some find stage-hippieness charming, it seems; but not me. Sorry for the derail.
posted by Rash at 9:28 AM on May 22, 2022
posted by Rash at 9:28 AM on May 22, 2022
When “Titanic “ was in theaters, I heard a story about an audience member who spotted Victor Garber as shipbuilder Thomas Andrews and yelled out, “It’s Jesus!”
posted by elphaba at 9:45 AM on May 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by elphaba at 9:45 AM on May 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
I may have told this story before here, but I saw this production of “Godspell” when I was about 14. I still have the program. Victor Garber was not Jesus that day, it was Gordon Thompson, who went on to be on “Dynasty.” Martin Short was off that day too. (It was Dec 26th.) But I clearly remember Gilda and Andrea and Eugene. It wasn’t until decades later when I came across the program in a storage box that I realized Paul Shaffer was in there too. The show was every bit as wonderful as you imagine it had to have been.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 9:48 AM on May 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 9:48 AM on May 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
Although I haven't heard it since I was a pre-teen, the lyrics for All for the Best are forever be burned into my brain.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:08 AM on May 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:08 AM on May 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
the lyrics for All for the Best are forever be burned into my brain.
I was very happy when someone else knew them and we could sing those two parts together at the same time. I need another friend who can do that.
posted by FencingGal at 11:17 AM on May 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
I was very happy when someone else knew them and we could sing those two parts together at the same time. I need another friend who can do that.
posted by FencingGal at 11:17 AM on May 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
I just watched a youtube of Day by Day, to make sure it was the song I remembered. It was. What I find cringe-worthy is that here is this bunch of hippies. But they are high on Jesus, not LSD. OK...
I would say the same about Narnia. Fantasy, but Aslan the Lion is Jesus.
Co-opting at its finest. Ugh
posted by Windopaene at 11:32 AM on May 22, 2022
I would say the same about Narnia. Fantasy, but Aslan the Lion is Jesus.
Co-opting at its finest. Ugh
posted by Windopaene at 11:32 AM on May 22, 2022
I had an equable liking in both Godspell (original cast album I think, the movie was pretty fun) and JCS (the original album version, the movie was okay) back in the day. I still find music from both to be among my favorites.
I don't get the cringe-worthiness comment either. Co-opting hippies? It was the early 70s, the Jesus movement was in full swing, and at the root of that movement were...hippies. Godspell was a perfect reflection of the time, when Jesus People roamed the streets, Catholics were starting to allow guitars into Mass, and Protestants were as dull as dishwater, waiting for the worship music revolution to explode. From my limited point of view, Godspell and JCS were signs to the broader culture that Jesus wasn't confined to old-school church society.
posted by lhauser at 12:39 PM on May 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
I don't get the cringe-worthiness comment either. Co-opting hippies? It was the early 70s, the Jesus movement was in full swing, and at the root of that movement were...hippies. Godspell was a perfect reflection of the time, when Jesus People roamed the streets, Catholics were starting to allow guitars into Mass, and Protestants were as dull as dishwater, waiting for the worship music revolution to explode. From my limited point of view, Godspell and JCS were signs to the broader culture that Jesus wasn't confined to old-school church society.
posted by lhauser at 12:39 PM on May 22, 2022 [5 favorites]
My brain that as "Jesus wasn't confined to old-school church heresy" and I had to reread.
JCS and Godspell are entirely different animals. For starters, all the lyrics in Godspell are from old (sometimes VERY OLD) songs with new settings by Schwartz. It's not a narration, it's a series of vignettes, each a different bible parable all from the book of Matthew.
JCS is a straight up rock opera (sung through) with entirely original music and lyrics. I think its account is mostly taken from Luke.
As far as approaches to mounting them go, they are very different. I can't see them as interchangeable at all even though they come from roughly the same time period and have somewhat similar overarching subject matter.
posted by hippybear at 12:53 PM on May 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
JCS and Godspell are entirely different animals. For starters, all the lyrics in Godspell are from old (sometimes VERY OLD) songs with new settings by Schwartz. It's not a narration, it's a series of vignettes, each a different bible parable all from the book of Matthew.
JCS is a straight up rock opera (sung through) with entirely original music and lyrics. I think its account is mostly taken from Luke.
As far as approaches to mounting them go, they are very different. I can't see them as interchangeable at all even though they come from roughly the same time period and have somewhat similar overarching subject matter.
posted by hippybear at 12:53 PM on May 22, 2022 [4 favorites]
I love JCS too, though I will argue to the death that Judas is the main character. He's the one who is in a sense resurrected, as the play ends with him, after his death, singing the title song.
And more crucially, singing the lyrics, which are in the second person ("Every time I look at you I don't understand,") directly to Jesus. In the afterlife, they both end up in the same place.
There is a production of JCS opening in Toronto (or rather, re-opening; its first run was cut short by pandemic). In the comments section, a few people are still kvetching that it is disrespectful to their Saviour. Dude, go watch the Davey and Goliath claymation if you need to be in your safe zone.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:29 PM on May 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
And more crucially, singing the lyrics, which are in the second person ("Every time I look at you I don't understand,") directly to Jesus. In the afterlife, they both end up in the same place.
There is a production of JCS opening in Toronto (or rather, re-opening; its first run was cut short by pandemic). In the comments section, a few people are still kvetching that it is disrespectful to their Saviour. Dude, go watch the Davey and Goliath claymation if you need to be in your safe zone.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:29 PM on May 22, 2022 [3 favorites]
Recently, from Andrew Loyd Webber's memoir, "Bette Midler nearly got her start" in JCS.
(snip)
“Unmasked” is full of what-ifs like this that offer a glimpse into a parallel universe of Mr. Lloyd Webber’s musicals. Bette Midler nearly got her start in “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Twyla Tharp could have choreographed “Cats,” but she hated the music. Judi Dench was the original Grizabella, before “Memory” was even completed, but she snapped her Achilles’ tendon shortly before previews began.
posted by aleph at 2:10 PM on May 22, 2022
(snip)
“Unmasked” is full of what-ifs like this that offer a glimpse into a parallel universe of Mr. Lloyd Webber’s musicals. Bette Midler nearly got her start in “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Twyla Tharp could have choreographed “Cats,” but she hated the music. Judi Dench was the original Grizabella, before “Memory” was even completed, but she snapped her Achilles’ tendon shortly before previews began.
posted by aleph at 2:10 PM on May 22, 2022
What I find cringe-worthy is that here is this bunch of hippies. But they are high on Jesus, not LSD.
That's what the Jesus people of the time were like. I was one of them.
The Jesus movement grew out of the hippie movement in California and spread across the country. It was a very big deal. In my midwestern town of 100,000, we had two coffeehouses that were specifically places for Jesus people to hang out. I think one reason I personally love Godspell is that it really captures the feel of that movement. If you want to know what is was like emotionally to be one of the early 70s Jesus freaks, watch Godspell. We were absolutely a bunch of hippies high on Jesus, not LSD.
posted by FencingGal at 2:36 PM on May 22, 2022 [15 favorites]
That's what the Jesus people of the time were like. I was one of them.
The Jesus movement grew out of the hippie movement in California and spread across the country. It was a very big deal. In my midwestern town of 100,000, we had two coffeehouses that were specifically places for Jesus people to hang out. I think one reason I personally love Godspell is that it really captures the feel of that movement. If you want to know what is was like emotionally to be one of the early 70s Jesus freaks, watch Godspell. We were absolutely a bunch of hippies high on Jesus, not LSD.
posted by FencingGal at 2:36 PM on May 22, 2022 [15 favorites]
My general take was always: JCS for the book, Godspell for the songs. That having been said, I think I've seen JCS like once and Godspell bunches of times because I love the songs. "All For the Best" never fails to get me out of a serious funk.
posted by Halloween Jack at 3:24 PM on May 22, 2022
posted by Halloween Jack at 3:24 PM on May 22, 2022
I've never seen Godspell and have no idea what it's about (it's never played anywhere near me), but as a um, slightly younger hippie, that seems SO WEIRD TO ME to be a Jesus-hippie. The hippies I know are of the pagan ilk and NOT Jesus-y at all, probably because the Jesus crowd since I've been around seem pretty anti-hippie and totally conservative. I have one old hippie friend who claims to be Christ-centric (dunno if she was the Godspell sort?), but I've literally never seen any actual evidence of this out of her.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:29 PM on May 22, 2022
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:29 PM on May 22, 2022
Yeah, the "Jesus Hippies" were really strong for a while. I thought Twyla Tharp choreographed JCS but when I went online to check (before my comment above) I found out it was "Hair" that she did.
Now *that* was a hippy-dippy movie/play. :)
posted by aleph at 3:34 PM on May 22, 2022
Now *that* was a hippy-dippy movie/play. :)
posted by aleph at 3:34 PM on May 22, 2022
It was really a sort of natural progression, the Jesus People coming out of the hippies.
The counterculture movement was based largely on fundamental societal shift around the idea that if people would just start genuinely caring about each other instead of other things (All You Need Is Love), most of the world's problems could be solved.
That isn't too far off from the teachings of Jesus to begin with (his philosophical and practical stuff, anyway), and so yeah, of course a bunch of hippies are going to couch their message of Love Will Solve The World's Ills within the message of Jesus.
Personally born too late to be an actual hippie, I've felt closely allied with a lot of their worldviews for most of my life (pre-adolescent in the 70s did that, I guess). When I was still involved with the church growing up I used to go to the "before sunday school sit in a circle with a guitar and sing basically campfire songs" church service instead of the stuffier more formal service after sunday school.
posted by hippybear at 3:35 PM on May 22, 2022 [7 favorites]
The counterculture movement was based largely on fundamental societal shift around the idea that if people would just start genuinely caring about each other instead of other things (All You Need Is Love), most of the world's problems could be solved.
That isn't too far off from the teachings of Jesus to begin with (his philosophical and practical stuff, anyway), and so yeah, of course a bunch of hippies are going to couch their message of Love Will Solve The World's Ills within the message of Jesus.
Personally born too late to be an actual hippie, I've felt closely allied with a lot of their worldviews for most of my life (pre-adolescent in the 70s did that, I guess). When I was still involved with the church growing up I used to go to the "before sunday school sit in a circle with a guitar and sing basically campfire songs" church service instead of the stuffier more formal service after sunday school.
posted by hippybear at 3:35 PM on May 22, 2022 [7 favorites]
Judas: “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better. But I have been changed for good.”
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:10 PM on May 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:10 PM on May 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
The pervasiveness of the Jesus movement can also be seen in song lyrics of the time. In TIny Dancer, Elton John refers to "Jesus freaks out in the streets, handing tickets out for God." And the novelty song Convoy makes a reference to "eleven long-haired friends of Jesus in a chartreuse microbus."
posted by FencingGal at 4:53 AM on May 23, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 4:53 AM on May 23, 2022 [6 favorites]
I know that hippy-ish Jesus freaks were a thing. But...
Still makes me cringe.
posted by Windopaene at 7:35 PM on May 23, 2022
Still makes me cringe.
posted by Windopaene at 7:35 PM on May 23, 2022
I'm not cringing. Just disappointed there's no hint of hippies high on Jesus and LSD. Cuz, that's like a double hit, man.
posted by house-goblin at 8:06 PM on May 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by house-goblin at 8:06 PM on May 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
Because of this thread I listened to the original cast recording of Godspell for the first time in 30 years. I used to love it and listen to it all the time, and, yeah, cringe. After that I listened to the original cast recording of Hair, which I listened to and loved way more than Godspell, and, wow, cringe-o-rama. I don't know what's happened to me in the past 30 years that these things I loved now sound so awful. I think it must be having listened to more music in the meantime, because now they just sound like bad parodies of things I like.
posted by Daily Alice at 8:45 PM on May 23, 2022
posted by Daily Alice at 8:45 PM on May 23, 2022
an audience member spotted Victor Garber as shipbuilder Thomas Andrews and yelled out, "It’s Jesus!"
I've had two experiences like that, in the first-run cinema; both made me laugh out loud. In 'Blue Velvet' when Kyle MacLachlan first appeared on-screen a loud, reverential voice said "Muad'Dib!" And in RoboCop, when Peter Weller, a goofy voice sang out "It's Buckaroo Banzai!"
posted by Rash at 10:45 PM on May 23, 2022
I've had two experiences like that, in the first-run cinema; both made me laugh out loud. In 'Blue Velvet' when Kyle MacLachlan first appeared on-screen a loud, reverential voice said "Muad'Dib!" And in RoboCop, when Peter Weller, a goofy voice sang out "It's Buckaroo Banzai!"
posted by Rash at 10:45 PM on May 23, 2022
After that I listened to the original cast recording of Hair, which I listened to and loved way more than Godspell, and, wow, cringe-o-rama. I don't know what's happened to me in the past 30 years that these things I loved now sound so awful.
I have never found Godspell more than middling but I did used to like Hair. It has not aged well, but I still have the strangely contoured “The Flesh Failures” in heavy rotation on my iPod and hear it with pleasure probably every week or two.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:21 AM on May 25, 2022
I have never found Godspell more than middling but I did used to like Hair. It has not aged well, but I still have the strangely contoured “The Flesh Failures” in heavy rotation on my iPod and hear it with pleasure probably every week or two.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:21 AM on May 25, 2022
an audience member spotted Victor Garber as shipbuilder Thomas Andrews and yelled out, "It’s Jesus!"
I've had two experiences like that, in the first-run cinema; both made me laugh out loud. In 'Blue Velvet' when Kyle MacLachlan first appeared on-screen a loud, reverential voice said "Muad'Dib!" And in RoboCop, when Peter Weller, a goofy voice sang out "It's Buckaroo Banzai!"
In 1993, I saw The Remains of the Day, the period drama with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. I was sitting in front of a group of university students from my alma mater and perhaps two-thirds of the way through, a woman right behind me loudly exclaimed, “OH MY GOD, it’s Hannibal Lecter!”
Instantly I thought “Remains du jour,” but have carried that thought in troubled silence for decades now.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:26 AM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've had two experiences like that, in the first-run cinema; both made me laugh out loud. In 'Blue Velvet' when Kyle MacLachlan first appeared on-screen a loud, reverential voice said "Muad'Dib!" And in RoboCop, when Peter Weller, a goofy voice sang out "It's Buckaroo Banzai!"
In 1993, I saw The Remains of the Day, the period drama with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. I was sitting in front of a group of university students from my alma mater and perhaps two-thirds of the way through, a woman right behind me loudly exclaimed, “OH MY GOD, it’s Hannibal Lecter!”
Instantly I thought “Remains du jour,” but have carried that thought in troubled silence for decades now.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:26 AM on May 25, 2022 [1 favorite]
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