Posted: Sun., Dec. 31, 1972, 11:00pm PT

Godspell

By Variety Staff

Columbia. Director David Greene; Producer Edgar Lansbury; Screenplay David Greene, John-Michael Tebelak; Camera Richard G. Heimann; Editor Alan Heim; Music Stephen Schwartz; Art Director Brian Eatwell

Victor Garber David Haskell Jerry Sroka Lynne Thigpen Katie Hanley Rubin Lamont

Godspell originated as a workshop production at off-off-Broadway's La Mama for a group of actor-graduates of Carnegie-Mellon Univ. Overall concept - a youth-slanted reworking of the gospel according to St Matthew - was that of director John-Michael Tebelak as part of a master's thesis.

Film follows original 1971 off-Broadway legit production closely but 'opens up' setting to include footage of virtually every New York City tourist landmark, graffiti and all.

Result is that original production's appealing aspects have remained intact - a strong Stephen Schwartz score and an infectious joie de vivre conveyed by an energetic, no-name cast. So also, unfortunately, have its flaws - a relentlessly simplistic approach to the New Testament interpreted in overbearing children's theatre-style mugging.

Story line merely consists of a series of ensemble interpretations of gospel parables as enunciated by a Christ figure (Victor Garber) in a superman sweatshirt and workman's overalls.

(Color) Extract of a review from 1973. Running time: 103 MIN.