CD's: Long Live God
by Ken Mandelbaum

GODSPELL (Fynsworth Alley/ DRG)



Notable among the Godspell recordings already on my shelf: The off-Broadway original; the 1971 London cast featuring performers (David Essex, Jeremy Irons, Julie Covington, Marti Webb) bound for stardom; two Australian cast recordings; a Paris cast LP; the film soundtrack (with the additional song “Beautiful City”); and a TER/JAY studio set (including the Prologue, omitted on the early cast recordings, and with such West End regulars as John Barrowman, Ruthie Henshall, Clive Rowe, and Darren Day).

While Stephen Schwartz’ songs remain charming and accomplished and are undoubtedly the reason for the survival of the piece, Godspell isn’t a show one needs that many recordings of: Not a conventional narrative musical, its songs aren’t really character material, and if they offer sufficient performance possibilities, they can’t really be acted.

But January 9 will see the release of not one but two new Godspell cast albums. Fynsworth Alley has preserved the recent New York revival, first offered at Third Eye Repertory, then transferred last summer to Theatre at St. Peter’s, where I found it enjoyable. DRG is issuing the cast recording of a new, in-progress U.S. tour.

The CDs are exactly the same length (54 minutes), and although they differ somewhat in terms of what’s included, the tunestack is more or less the same. (Both add “Beautiful City,” but place it in different spots.) Composer-lyricist Schwartz writes in both booklets, and both recordings include the prologue and updated lyrics. The tour features a slightly larger band than off-Broadway’s “Shirley Temple of Doom” combo. found it enjoyable. DRG is issuing the cast recording of a new, in-progress U.S. tour. As was the case with the original production, both feature unknowns. (You may recall New York’s Capathia Jenkins from The Civil War.) The off-Broadway mounting featured a talented group of very young performers, and the Fynsworth Alley disc captures the production’s liveliness, spirit, and fine voices. (“Learn Your Lessons Well” is sung by Leslie Kritzer, who will be playing Fanny in the upcoming Paper Mill Playhouse revival of Funny Girl.) found it enjoyable. DRG is issuing the cast recording of a new, in-progress U.S. tour. Directed by Scott Schwartz (son of Stephen, co-director of Jane Eyre, and director of the upcoming off-Broadway musical Bat Boy), the tour seems geared to larger venues and audiences used to youth shows like Rent, Fame, and Footloose. It’s a larger, more technically elaborate mounting, featuring a high-powered performance and busier, more contemporary arrangements and orchestrations. I found it considerably less appealing, but those who catch the tour may prefer this souvenir to the New York disc. found it enjoyable. DRG is issuing the cast recording of a new, in-progress U.S. tour.

And while I wasn’t in search of new recordings of them, Schwartz’ songs are as lovely, bright, and vigorous as ever. found it enjoyable. DRG is issuing the cast recording of a new, in-progress U.S. tour.

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