Godspell
A Key Theatre Peterborough Production
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham,
 Monday 26 November - Saturday 1st December 2007

Last night was an interesting experience; the programme clearly showed 4 male actors all in principal roles. I could only count 3 and it wasn’t until Act 2 commenced that we were told that Ryan Molloy was sick and Christopher Bartlett was in fact playing 2 parts. This only made the story even more difficult to follow and as there was no change of costume how did I know who he was depicting. Likewise the programme only lists the actors and not the roles they are playing and so as a first timer to this musical (and I now realise why) it was all a bit of a jumble.

The cast themselves gave the show 100% and were individually a talented group but how could a lead
role not have a proper understudy? It all seemed very small scale and the staging was rather basic to say
the least. The 6 girls were all characters in their own right and sparred well with the boys. Strong voices and clear dialogue were there but even the addition of local Birmingham references didn’t revive this show

The music was well played and sung and there are 2 recognisable numbers in the show, “Prepare Ye” and
“Day by Day” but by today’s standards that doesn’t seem very much.

The lighting was for the most part good but once more the spot lighting could have been more reactive and I
always think it a pity when an actor stands in the dark to deliver his lines and yet this happens so often with touring productions.

I cannot compare this production with the original 1970s version but I do not think it has stood the test
of time and in spite of attempts to update the format it came across as something between a reality show
performance and an end of term concert.

The faces of members of the audience appeared to be either “deadpan” or giggling at every word and yet it
wasn’t that funny either. Clearly, Godspell was a child of the 1970s and the reality is that it should now have grown up.


The show has a running time of 2 hours including the interval and can be seen until Saturday 1 December.

To book tickets or see news of forthcoming plays at the Alexandra Theatre, visit www.birmingham-alexandra.co.uk

Review by Clive Fuller