Prepare Ye for a big show in a little theater. Godspell uses every inch of the Players Circle Theater along McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers to deliver an interactive show that audiences are falling in love with.
This theater in the round has ten actors playing out the New Testament parables, eight non-biblical characters who sing and act out the life of Christ as primarily told in the Book of Matthew.
This performance is directed brilliantly by Ted Wioneck, who has taken a simple space and made it a focal point for audiences as he has chosen some of the most talented actors available in Southwest Florida. He should be proud of what he is delivering.
The lighting in the show is also extraordinary, and Lighting Director Will Gibbons Brown is responsible for that as the show opens in pitch black with the actors using simple flashlights on their faces as they speak, and then, like artwork, they turn them on and off, choreographed perfectly to the song. I loved it.
While I have seen this show three times, all the performances were delivered uniquely. This one was unlike any I had seen as it involves the audience in the storytelling, which can be good or bad depending on where you're sitting and whether you like the attention. I attended Sunday afternoon, and everyone played along nicely.
For those who have heard of it but have not seen it, Godspell is a musical composed by Stephen Schwarts and a book by John-Michael Tebelak.
Godspell began as a project by drama students at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and then moved to the off-Broadway theater La Mama Experimental Theatre Club in the East Village of Manhattan.
The show was later rescored for an off-Broadway production, which opened in 1971 and has become a long-running success.
While this show doesn't use any large orchestra, it is mainly soundtracked except for the musical instruments played by some of the cast members for many songs.
The cast members begin to understand Jesus' teachings and tell the story. There is no weak character in this cast of talented performers and a few top-notch actors pouring everything they have into it with song and dance.
Interestingly, eight of the actors use their real names in the show. Actress Rachel Lord, who plays Rachel, is a familiar face in local theater, and she stands out in this performance with a pure and sweet voice that I wanted to hear more of.
Darby Pumphrey may be familiar with her recent performance as a dumb blonde in "Butterflies are Free," but she unleashed all of her talent in this show with a voice bigger than herself. I hope to see more of her in the local theater.
AJ Mendini plays a more non-stereotypical Jesus, but his performance was pure and sincere. It is very convincing, even without the beard and mustache.
Actress Amanda Ross is a New York-based actress I have yet to see locally, but she has a stage presence that commands the audience's attention.
Ruthgena Faraco was another delight in the show with a deep, rich alto with the range of a bass singer with a unique voice.
In all, this is not one of my favorite shows, but this production delivers a magic that I have yet quite to see, and it's clear this group of actors genuinely perform well together like a family.
Check it out for yourself as the show runs through May 12. Tickets are available at PlayersCircleTheater.com or by calling the box office at 239-800-3292.