'Godspell' opens today with unique approach
Living in a fast-paced world full of technology, sometimes a lesson is hard to come by.
The Summer Place Theatre Inc.'s production of "Godspell" illustrates just that.
The show, a theatrical interpretation of the Gospel according to St. Matthew from the Bible, opens tonight as the Naperville-based community theater group's second show of the summer season. Performances are at Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave.
No matter how many times you've seen this 1970 Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak classic - or if you've never seen it at all - this production's approach breathes new life into the timeless musical, cast members say.
The production begins in modern-day society, full of cell phones and gadgets, before being transported into a much simpler time, the vaudeville era. It's a theme Director Heather Hutchison tried to carry throughout the piece.
Hutchison, who has been involved with 34 productions of "Godspell" since she was 12, was at first a producer for the show. After the original director had to leave about halfway through the rehearsal process, she was chosen to fill his shoes as a person who could continue the concept.
Although the show is a religious piece, Hutchison thinks the message of the musical is universal.
"It's not meant to be a Bible study, however, there is a message that no matter what your religion ... that something can be learned from it," she said. "If we could just take a moment to breathe, if we can just take a moment to put down the cell phone and listen to each other, maybe there's a voice trying to tell us something. Maybe there is a message."
Gina Graffagna, who plays vibrant, spotlight-hungry Peggy, agrees.
"I think there's definitely something that anyone, young and old, can relate to in it," she said.
Graffagna, a Lisle resident, currently studies voice performance at Roosevelt University and has previously done theater at Benet Academy. This is her first production at Summer Place.
This also will be the first Summer Place production Donna Fletcher has been part of, although she is no stranger to the stage.
The 35-year acting veteran plays the "aged burlesque queen" Sonia in tonight's performance, marking her return to the stage after a 15-year hiatus. It's been 30 years since she last did "Godspell."
The Wheaton resident was surprised how much the vaudeville style actually worked with the piece.
"I didn't realize it until we started working with the different types of characters, the old burlesque and the old vaudeville, how much it translated," she said.
The change in style was not always easy, especially for choreographer Carla Mutone.
"I was listening to the music ... going 'how am I going to get that vision to fit this particular music?'" she said. "The challenge is really being able to take this modern sounding music and flipping it to the vaudeville era and then putting dance steps that could possibly show that time frame."
Mutone, of Lisle, listed the musical numbers "Turn Back O Man," "We Beseech Thee" and "Bless the Lord" as ones that stand out in the two-act show.
Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays from July 10 through July 19 at Naperville Central High School's Auditorium, 440 W. Aurora Ave. One 2 p.m. Saturday matinee has been added on July 18.