Alas For You! Rock musical ends run on Festival Antigonish Family Stage Saturday night
Adam Lomas, August 21st, 2008
We beseech thee - see it!
Jesus is back in Antigonish and there are only three days left to catch him (a)live in the StFX auditorium.
For the second time in six years, Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre (FAST for short) chose to produce Godspell, the 1970's off-broadway hit, as the keystone of their Family Stage series in the auditorium venue, appropriately located directly under the StFX University Chapel.
The plot of Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak's Godspell shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who is even vaguely familiar with the Gospel of Matthew. But, if nothing else, it's a colourful, musical, and mostly energetic way to spend a little less than two hours and get out of the house between Jeopardy and CSI (between General Hospital and Live at 5 on matinee days).
Other productions have set the show in different times and places. The original played the company as a group of clowns following Jesus around an old playground. The 2002 FAST production made them 21st century kids on an inner city scaffold. In this version, director Richie Wilcox has chosen to set the action on the platform of a train station at fictional Antigonish Junction.
Three young actors take on the most line- and vocal-intensive roles in the two act combination of familiar Christian lessons and hymns set to contemporary music. All three have spent time studying theatre at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario and their professional training and natural ability are clear onstage. The rest of the cast is a gaggle of young and talented performers participating in one of FAST's summer theatre workshops.
Pictou County's Jono Logan delivers a soothing yet strong interpretation of the Jesus character calling on his soft voice and natural comedic timing to teach lessons of love to the community that grows around the prophet.
The Judas/John the Baptist role is played by Anthony MacPherson who comes across as a seasoned 'triple threat' performer in acting, singing and dancing. His range of expression and unbelievable movement give the show a much needed boost of energy.
While both Logan and MacPherson are strong in their own spheres they come together to play off each other's talents. This synergy shows in the ragtime style song and dance number All for the Best.
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