Production of 'Godspell' a collaboration

A high-energy and interactive show, "Godspell" spins the Gospel according to St. Matthew into a rock-infused musical at Cape Girardeau Central High School.

The Theatre Department's production of Steven Schwartz's "Godspell" opens today at the Kinder Performance Hall, and will run through Saturday.

Director Kimberly Wibbenmeyer explained that the show is not the same version most people are familiar with.

"This is the revival. It's not the old hippie show from the movie," she said. "It's got more of that rock feel."

The recently-reissued script has been updated with more relevant pop-culture gags, and the cast has even thrown in a few of their own to keep audiences on their toes.

John the Baptist, portrayed by Noah Orr, performs with the cast of "Godspell" on "Prepare Ye, the Way of the Lord" during a dress rehearsal by Central High School students Tuesday in the Richard D. Kinder Performance Hall at Central. (flynch@ semissourian.com)

"This show lends itself well to those kind of jokes," Wibbenmeyer said. "You're really free to do whatever you want to do with it."

But the music, on the other hand, isn't so flexible.

"We have such a wonderful choir program and it was a great collaboration," she said. "[The song] 'Alas for You' switches time signatures something like eight times. It's difficult music, but they make it look easy."

Junior Riley Knight plays an angel and said that to get the musical numbers where they needed to be for opening night, the entire cast had to help each other.

"We had an injury, so [the understudy for] the Judas character had to learn those songs fast," she explained. "It was very tough getting acquainted with the music on such short notice, but the band is just so fantastic with what they do. They helped us do what we had to do to get ready for show week."

The sense of camaraderie between cast and crew members was crucial for the success of the show, said junior Matthew Riordan, who plays Jesus.

"It comes with showing up every day and working together," he said. "It just comes with time. Time builds chemistry and we've spent so many hours working on this show."

He said that in the beginning, getting the lines right was the hardest part, especially since his character has the most.

"But once you get the lines down, in the later stages of rehearsal, it's all about getting the rhythm right," he said. "The timing is really important in this show and we had to get familiar with that."

He also says Wibbenmeyer's direction has been very helpful.

"I think I speak for the entire student body when I say that we're very thankful for [Kinder Hall auditorium]. Not everybody has this kind of facility, or this type of director," he explained. "She's the kind of person who'll work with you on whatever you need. She does everything."

Wibbenmeyer's view is a little different.

"My job is just to get them to opening night," she said. "I wanted them to understand that this is their production and they're in charge of it."

She used students wherever she could to get them used to the kind of responsibility they'll face in other productions in the future.

"We used all student crew heads," she said. "My view was that they can make this their own. As long as we go from baptism to resurrection, it's all good."

Ticket information is available by phone at 334-0644 or at chstickets@capetigers.com. Wibbenmeyer said this show represents the Central theater department flexing its muscles a bit.

"I hope this marks a new evolution not only for 'Godspell,' but for Cape Central High School theater."

tgraef@semissourian.com

Pertinent address:

1000 S. Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, Mo.