Eagle Theatre's 'Godspell' is fresh, inspiring

Composer Stephen Schwartz and author John-Michael Tebelak's

Godspell

was one of the first musicals I experienced as a child. Since then, Schwartz has gone on to compose

Pippin

and

Wicked

, while his first professional effort has seen stagings by church groups, community theaters, and high schools - there's even a

Godspell, Junior

version - and been the butt of jokes in sitcoms, novels and movies.

I've seen more productions than I care to remember. Which makes Eagle Theatre's fresh and inspiring take all the more enjoyable in its inventive, comedy-centered approach.

Tebelak's book depicts Christ (Sal Pavia) and his followers from the time of prophesy of John the Baptist (Tim Rinehart) to Christ's crucifixion. Through skits and songs, Christ relates his parables (the prodigal son, the judge and the widow, the master and his servant), and through these teachings, builds a community that launched a religion.

If it sounds like church, well, Christianity would persist in far greater numbers if every Sunday sermon pulsed with the energy brought to it by the direction of Ted Wioncek III and this cast. Wioncek took Tebelak's dated 1970 book (the original portrayed the disciples as flower children) and transformed it with his coherent, culturally savvy and exciting vision.

Pavia plays Christ with a combination of fiery Baptist preacher and affable game show host, strutting in a hoodie across the elevated centerpiece, chastising his followers for their sins of not sharing their Netflix account password (coveting), and sparring in comedic snark to Rinehart's straight man foil (the empty stare of Rinehart's deadpan brings more than a few laughs).

Rajeer Alford raps one of the parables, cast members depict another as games of Pictionary and charades, and the ensemble tells the tale of the Good Samaritan through finger puppets. Wioncek gave them free reign to ad lib, banking on their timing as he threw in references to Lord of the Rings and Orange Is the New Black.

Chris Miller's lighting transforms the in-the-round staging from concert hall to the Last Supper, and in Christ's final moments, a red hue lends solemnity. Pavia's choreography fills the space; actors climb the scaffolding and rush up and down the aisles.

Jason Neri leads a rousing four-piece band from back stage, Cailene Kilcoyne killing it country-style on "Learn Your Lessons Well," Maggie Griffin-Smith adding a lovely "Day by Day," and Kimberly Suskind delivering a quiet spirituality in "Bless the Lord."

It's far better than the Godspell I grew up on.