A New, Brilliantly Staged 'Godspell' On LI Looks At Faith, Hope, Love — Through A Child's Eyes

PORT JEFFERSON, NY — Even when a show is as beloved and well-known as "Godspell," there are times when a director's vision and love for a classic Broadway hit makes the production seem brand-new in its brilliance.

Such is the case with Theatre Three's current production of "Godspell," playing at the theater, located at 412 Main Street in Port Jefferson, through March 22.

"Godspell," conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak, with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and originally produced for the stage by Edgar Lansbury, Stuart Duncan, and Joseph Beruh, is a timeless classic Broadway gem that's seen countless curtains rise on its scores of revivals.

(Courtesy Peter Lanscombe, Theatre Three Productions, Inc.)

But Theatre Three's "Godspell,", this singular vision, staged with nothing short of sheer magic by director Jeffrey Sanzel, is one of the most moving and thoughtfully executed productions of the show ever to light up a stage.

"Godspell," which opened Off Broadway in May, 1971 and then, on Broadway in June, 1976, running through September, 1977, has seen a memorable turn at the The Lambs in New York City and a triumphant Broadway revival in 2011. The show marks the resumes of scores of student actors and has been set in churches and community theaters across the country and the world for decades.

"Godspell" was also one of only two shows executed anywhere in the nation, during the height of the pandemic, presented by the Berkshire Theatre Group .

With so many, many performances in every corner of the world, it's difficult to imagine a completely fresh, absolutely innovative, and utterly new approach to "Godspell."

Until Theatre Three's production, where Sanzel has stripped the show bare of many of the sometimes weary, told-at-every-production tropes, and rebuilt a production that's not just funny and bursting with life and energy, but an emotional powerhouse that leaves audiences yearning to come back, a second time and a third, to see it all again.

"Godspell" is told in a series of parables, based on the Gospel of Matthew, with some from the Gospel of Luke, interspersed with joyful and, at times, heart-tearing musical numbers that resonate long after the final curtain.

What's given "Godspell" the power to endure over years and generations is that the basic construct of the show is meant to allow for individual interpretation, for improv, for delightful and sometimes dead-on satirical commentary on the social mores and political scandals of the current day.

In other words, every production of "Godspell" is, at its heart, unique and different, while all the while conveying the core values of faith, hope, kindness, forgiveness, and above all, so much love.

For every audience member, the show is deeply personal, touching at the core of one's own memories and stories, sparking introspection and reflection — and opening hearts and minds wide with understanding.

At the heart of Sanzel's interpretation of "Godspell" is his evident and longtime love of the show. Sanzel, whose history with the show spans 50 years, was first introduced to "Godspell" by his mother, who shared with him the music and film version when he was just about 10 years old.

(Courtesy Peter Lanscombe, Theatre Three Productions, Inc.)

"The beauty of the music, the story and the pure theatricality stayed with me over the past four decades," he said; over the years he's seen more than 20 productions, including the Lambs Theatre version, to simple shows staged in church basements. "I have never lost the sense of joy that imbues 'Godspell's' every moment," he said.

Having directed "Godspell" a number of times before, Sanzel said: "Each time, I approached the piece as a new work — a blank slate on which to celebrate its message of community. Each company has given shape to the final product by bringing themselves to the process. As a secular Jew, the universal portrait of a disparate group of individuals brought together and transformed not just by a charismatic figure but by his message of love, acceptance and faith never lost its power."

In this production, the basic tenet of the show, its heart, soul and essence, focuses on the Bible verse: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." — John 1:1.

That Word is a counterpart to today's often chaotic and frenzied world, a world ripped apart by political divide and a polarized people — so well represented in "Godspell's" prelude, "Tower of Babble".

With his cutting-edge interpretation, Sanzel takes his audiences by the proverbial hands and shows them, through the extraordinary and transcendent work of young actress Sadie Mathers, that indeed, Jesus' words, "A child shall lead them," from the Book of Isaiah, can be what's needed to find innocence and hope again in a fractured society.

"The phrase symbolizes a future filled with innocent, childlike faith, safety, and a reversal of hierarchies and fears, where adults can learn from a child's perspective and pure heart," Sanzel said.

Speaking with Patch, Sanzel said Mathers "is an exceptional talent — unique, radiant, and wholly honest. I built the concept around her."

And Mathers, who has been previously seen on the Theatre Three stage as Matilda in "Matilda the Musical" and Molly in "Annie" is up for her artistic challenge in Salzer's "Godspell."

Seeing "Godspell" envisioned with an adult cast — and one, small child, with whom we take the show's emotional and life-affirming journey, seeing each lesson, each betrayal, each rebirth of hope, through her child's eyes as she "leads us" — is a completely new experience. One that takes the joy of the traditional "Godspell" and magnifies it a thousandfold.

Suddenly, we are young again, seeing a world where everything is new, where hope and endless love and new beginnings are possible. Where forgiveness can open the doors to unity in place of discord, harmony in place of hate — love, conquering over evil.

Sanzel's other directorial choices, dazzle, too: Staging "Day by Day" — the show's breakout and enduring hit song — in English and Spanish was especially meaningful during the world's current divided times.

A long pause after Jesus dies — holding that silence for the extra heartbeat — made the finale echo with grief and then, explode with the joy of rebirth.

A fierce embrace between Jesus and Judas at the end was new and heartachingly beautiful — and will make even the most hardened soul splinter with hope.

The "We Beseech Thee" number was reimagined, not with farm animal sounds as is traditionally staged, but with a cacophony of harmony and music as the players grab instruments and create an exhilarating celebration of life through song. There's also a creative and wonderful revamping of "Learn Your Lessons Well," sure to delight.

And it would be hard to find a more soul-stirring version of "Bless the Lord," even if an audience member were to search the world over.

Delivering this absolute treasure of a show is a cast that radiates with sheer talent.

Keith Jones portrays his Jesus with vulnerability, honesty, empathy and a powerful humanity. He's also able to adeptly balance the rage Jesus coveys as a man betrayed before ultimately telling his Judas — played with wrenching human despair by a gifted Will Logan — to "Do quickly, must you must do" as Judas escapes the pantomime of his own making, irrevocably trapped by his choices, and turns to betray Jesus with a kiss.

The entire cast delights, with soaring vocal talents unmatched. Together, Angie Barrientos Gomez, Sophia Del Carmen, Amanda Egenberger, Jones, Logan, Mathers, Angelina Miller, Julianna Osburn, Noah Ryan, Haley Saunders, Kiernan Urso and Jared Worse present a "Godspell" that not only breaks new ground, but changes the show, in the best possible way, forever, for any audience member fortunate enough to grace a seat.

(Courtesy Peter Lanscombe, Theatre Three Productions, Inc.)

Highlights of this reimagined "Godspell" also include a puppet show that appeals to the inner children within us all — and the parable of "The Prodigal Son" presented in a series of tableaux so startling in their imagery and beauty that they echo long after the theater is dark, forever imprinted in memories.

Scenic design by Randall Parsons and costume design by Jason Allyn dazzle in a rainbow of color and stark simplicity.

Lighting design by Steven Uihlein is simply exceptional, especially with the red lights chosen to spotlight Judas in his agony and deceit.

With spot-on musical direction by Jeffrey Hoffman, jubilant, spirited choreography by Josie McSwane, sound design by Tim Haggerty, technical direction by Steven Barile Jr., and production stage management by Melissa Troxler this "Godspell" is a show unlike audiences have ever seen before — and perhaps one of the finest ever presented in the show's long and rich history.

And at the center of it all is one small child, leading us all as we follow with hope, learning our lessons well — teachings that we carry, day by day, into a new world colored only by hope, faith, and always, love.

(Courtesy Peter Lanscombe, Theatre Three Productions, Inc.)

The show runs through March 22 at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson. For tickets, click here.