STAGE REVIEW : OCC Mugs a Too-Cute ‘Godspell’

Some musicals fit college stages better than others. “Godspell,” with its no-holds-barred attitude, is an accommodating vehicle for young, maybe raw performers looking for the chance to try things out.

Stephen Schwartz’s (music and lyrics) and John-Michael Tebelak’s (book) retelling of the Gospel According to St. Matthew is carte blanche theater, a show where the 11th Commandment could be “Thou shalt not commit acts that are not outlandish.” This musical welcomes mugging and just about every trick an actor or director can come up with.

Director Alex Golson knows that and lets his Orange Coast College cast go at it. They scamper up the aisles, make big faces, flail at the songs and bring out one vaudeville shtick after another. These folks are partying.

But what about the audience? Many people at a recent performance did seem to get swept up by it all, but almost an equal number appeared bewildered, or at least bored. Such haphazard energy, while always fresh at the outset, can get numbing fairly early on in the first act.

Besides, there’s tone to deal with. When “Godspell” was first produced in 1971 (to thrilled crowds, by the way), it was like nails scratching a blackboard for many critics. They did not think it was sacrilegious--”Godspell,” in fact, is generally reverent--but they did find it thwarted by persistently cute humor. That has not changed.

Back then, Christ wore a Superman suit and a red clown nose, and the recitation of biblical parables used various satires, including one on game shows.

Under Golson’s direction, “Godspell” is filled with a Pandora’s Box of soft swipes at everything from Shirley MacLaine to the slow-motion running scenes in “Chariots of Fire.” There’s even a line about “Batman.”

A few are clever: John the Baptist baptizes everybody with a slap of a wet sponge, and the idea of having a character wheeze out “Rose . . . bud” before dying was good, tweaking fun. But many are just too corny or repeated to inanity, as when Christ says a line and the characters say it again, this time with slapstick emphasis.

As for the voices, they are not exceptional but worthy enough to satisfy the routine score’s needs. Andre de Leon as Christ and Ralph B. Pena as John the Baptist (he is also Judas later) sing decently, and their acting holds up. Actually, as both characters are the least overblown in this group, de Leon and Pena are welcome elements.

The costumes (uncredited) are a mixed bag, sort of a hippie-cosmic chic, which is appropriate here. Jane Phillips Hobson’s lights are jarring at times, but they get the job done. There is not much to the set (also uncredited), just a few boxes filled with props atop a stage bearing a large celestial design.

‘GODSPELL’

An Orange Coast College production of the Stephen Schwartz/John-Michael Tebelak musical. Directed by Alex Golson. With Andre de Leon, Ralph B. Pena, Dawn Marie Ashley, Ponzer Berkman, April Crane, David J. Dalton, Lizzie Duynstee, Paul S. Gerbasi, Tess Gill, Tamara C. Hawryliak, Cheryl Yvonne Huggins, Eric Person, Karen Runta, Jennifer Sammartano, Angela Sanders, Steve Sterling, Tom Thompson and Keith Wolfe. Musical direction by Rose M. Farquhar. Lighting by Jane Phillips Hobson. Musicians: Rose Farquhar, Stephen Ferrera, Joe Ramanski and Eric Stiller. Plays Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 4 p.m., Aug. 13 and 20 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 26 at 3 p.m. through Aug. 27 at the campus’s Drama Lab, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $5.50 to $7. (714) 432-5527.