A heavenly 'Godspell'

Prepare Ye to be delighted and entertained by Harriton High School Theater Company's production of Godspell.

A musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak, Godspell teaches a series of parables from the Gospel of Matthew by combining traditional lyrics from hymns with modern music and improvisational acting. The original version opened off-Broadway in May 1971 and has been performed many times since, including a Broadway revival in 2011. Godspell is unique in that it allows flexibility with both the setting and script, allowing companies to add their own spin on the story and bring new life to the production through comedy. Godspell has remained popular over the years due to the fact that audiences of all generations can connect and find meaning in the lessons taught throughout the show.

Godspell features a core ensemble of players who act out the lessons taught in the parables, through an inventive style of storytelling. Marcel Werder, as Jesus, leads the group of performers on their journey to enlightenment. He did an outstanding job connecting with the audience and with each individual character as they learn to understand the teachings of the Bible. Werder showed his versatility as a vocalist and actor in his very emotional and convincing portrayal of this lead character.

With angelic harmonies and amusing acting, the core ensemble of disciples created a community of togetherness and talent, even inviting the audience to join their flock. Onstage nonstop for practically the entire show, they maintained their cohesion as group while allowing each individual to shine. Noteworthy was Dani Ochroch, whose stage presence and high energy demanded attention. Another standout was Josh Gold, whose comedic timing and hilarious accents had the audience laughing out loud. However, the most moving performance was that of Gianna Robertson, whose soulful singing deeply touched the audience in "By My Side."

Also deserving of praise are the students behind the scenes. Student Director, Olivia Sun, in charge of overseeing almost every aspect of the show, displayed terrific talent and tenacity in taking on this monumental responsibility. The lighting design by Samantha Eisner, looked professional with only a few technical difficulties and added to the mood of the performance. The all-student costume and prop committee created beautiful and quirky costumes which perfectly complemented the show.

A testament of hard work, devotion and inspiration, Harriton High School Theatre Company's production of Godspell was simply heavenly.