Several local families and individuals are taking the stage at the April 28-30 production of Godspell at the Community Methodist Church in Monticello.

 

Godspell is a musical, composed by Stephen Schwartz and is a series of parables, mostly based on the Gospel of Matthew (three of the featured parables are recorded only in the Gospel of Luke). The parables are interspersed with a variety of modern music set primarily to lyrics from traditional hymns, with the passion of Christ treated briefly near the end of the performance. 

 

Godspell started as a college project performed by students at Carnegie Mellon University and moved to La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in Greenwich Village. It was then re-scored for an off-Broadway production which became a long-running success.

 

The Jesus character in the local play is played by Jon Salmon from Monticello. He has extensive community theater involvement in the area. Dave Larcom of Becker plays John the Baptist/Judas. The part is two characters but one role because the part of John the Baptist is so small that the writers of Godspell put the two parts together.

 

The rest of the ensemble is equally distributed among the lines and songs of the musical/play. 

 

Larry Kollauf is from Big Lake and plays the part of Jeffrey. Jenny Larcom (Dave’s daughter) plays Lenore, a somewhat obtuse individual. Herb is played by Dave’s son, Paul Larcom. Herb has many humorous lines and sweeps the ladies off their feet (literally). 

 

Robin is played by Brooklynn Jones of Monticello. She is a student at the Monticello Middle School. She gets to sing the big show stopper Day by Day. 

 

Joanne is played by Jeannine Larcom, Dave’s wife. She is the loud show-off of the group. Peggy is played by Hazel Rannells of Big Lake as is the shy one. Sonia is played by Jean Kraft of Maple Lake and is the sassy, sexy one. Gilmer is played by Sandy Walsh of Monticello, her part is the female equivalent of the class clown. 

 

The age range of the cast members is interesting. The actors are all the way from 14 to 74. The production is a fast-paced, high energy two act musical/play with wonderful music. 

 

Tom Hanson of Becker is the set builder and made some wonderful set pieces and backdrops. Paul Larcom not only acts but is a local artist too and is painting the backdrop for the show. 

 

Jacque Gordon of Monticello is the production manager and Pastor Penny Fritze-Tietz of Monticello is the show director. Penny is a retired pastor and a seasoned director. She has a masters in theater and has directed Godspell on numerous occasions. 

 

Godspell is a show that will make audience members laugh and cry. There is no admission fee but a free will offering will be taken. Fritze-Tietz wants to offer a free show so that there would be nothing to limit the attendance of the show. 

 

The Larcom family went to a performance of Godspell in Maple Grove in February to get a feel for the production and their roles. Fritze-Tietz wants to use the show as an evangelistic tool also to educate those about the story of Jesus who do not already know about it or have never heard the story of Jesus before. 

 

Jeannine Larcom said Godspell is a very appropriate performance to see during the Easter season as the show will highlight the life and death of Jesus Christ.

 

Showtimes are April 28 & 29 at 7 p.m. and April 30 at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church, 9225 Jason Ave. N.E., Monticello. 

 

The Larcom family has been active in church productions in the past and the last time they performed on the stage together was in 1998, when we were cast in Great Theater's first production of Beauty & the Beast. Dave was cast as the Beast and Jeannine was Belle's mother. Jenny and Paul were flowers in the enchanted castle.

 

Snacks and beverages will be served at the intermission of Godspell.