Sitting in the parking lot last week, waiting for child number one’s bus and listening to the local public radio, I was distracted by the mention of Godspell playing nearby. Something about the station giving away tickets if you signed up online.
So I signed up online and forgot about it. A day or two later, I receive an email that I have won two tickets to see the show at the Contemporary Theater of Connecticut in Ridgefield, a thirty-five-minute drive from the house. With everything going on last week – Maureen out of town, teaching two night classes, the children wanting to be fed every evening – I almost wrote back and said, “thanks but no thanks.” Something made me hesitate.
By the night of the show, we had decided that the eldest would be ready, that I would end my night class early, and that I would then race home, pick up the child, and head north. I had very little hope that this plan would work, but like everything else last week, we’d have to wait and see.
The Contemporary Theater of Connecticut is a small equity theater that features professionals just as good as you would see on any Broadway stage. The intimate setting allows for you to feel like you are a part of the show and yet still a spectator to all that is going on up on the stage. Through their friendship with Stephen Schwartz, the directors are allowed to make some changes to the show, something that would normally be forbidden.
The oldest is one who struggles with her faith. She argues about going to Mass more than anyone and yet still has a deep longing for that which is bigger than all of us. I was so glad she wanted to go with me to see the show.
Sitting on the edge of her seat, I could tell she was moved by the story and the music. The genius of the directors at the theater was clear as the greedy king in one parable was a Trump-esque leader of his people and another was Harvey Weinstein. There were shades of Game of Thrones, Hamilton, and even a little music-by-cup from Pitch Perfect. The contemporary references – even the subtle ones – just made the show better and better. The actors were superb, and the music washed over her as I could see out of the corner of my eye as she bobbed her head along.
During intermission, the actors hung out with the audience and she couldn’t wait to tell any of them that she loved their singing, their haircut, their outfits – all of it. One of the actors invited her to wander around the stage before the show started again, and I hadn’t seen her that happy in quite some time.
Godspell is one of my favorite shows. Seeing it years ago in Ford’s Theater in Washington was one of the things that drew me to study my faith more closely. In the last scene, when Jesus has died and his friends come to carry him to the grave, they begin to sing, “Long live God, long live God….” again and again. When I saw it the first time, the actors carried Jesus up and down the aisle as the people in the audience sang right along with them. There was less walking around in this small theater and not as many people sang along, but you better believe my daughter and I were belting it out – a message that speaks more of that faith we need in this world, at this time, now more than ever.
Love live God. Long live God.
In our words, our actions, and our attitudes. Around us. All through us. In our homes and in our communities.
Love live God. Long live God.
*This post updated with the change that the theater is an equity theater, not a community theater.