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ACT I
A small crowd arrives for a basketball game featuring their favourite heroes, The Philosopher All-Stars. Featuring such greats as Socrates, Aquinas and Neitzche, the crowd are eager in their anticipation of a great game. However, it quickly becomes apparent that, rather than a coherent team, the All-Stars are nothing more than a bunch of individuals with differing motives, theories and thoughts about life and existence. With that, the crowd and community is broken and chaos ensues.
Watching quietly from the sidelines however is a new person about which nobody seems to know very much. All becomes clearer as he declares himself God and King; although the crowd remain non-plussed, no-one can deny that there is something about him. This feeling is quickly supported as John The Baptist enters, singing 'Prepare Ye The Way of The Lord'. Perhaps this Jesus person does have something useful to say.
Jesus then sings 'Save The People' in which he highlights the fact that he is here to save mankind. With that, he has the attention of the locals! He then goes on to teach the people his vision for life on Earth and beyond through various stories (Godspell itself is based upon the Gospel according to St Matthew) and other methods. At times Jesus finds it difficult to decide upon which methods to adopt to deliver his teachings, but it becomes clear that this is a fun-loving set of people who are willing and eager to learn, and he soon taps into this spirit.
By the time Act 1 draws to its conclusion, a community has formed from the chaotic 'babble' that we witnessed earlier on. All is calm and happy, for the moment.
ACT II
The happy feeling runs throughout the community now as Sonia sings 'Turn Back O Man', encouraging mankind to give up its foolish ways and to turn to God. However, not all is as rosy as it initially seemed. The Pharisees are in full opposition to the idea of Jesus' authority and are quite willing to say so, but Jesus and the community are quite quick to respond by calling them hypocrites.
However, the mood is darkened further when Jesus predicts that he will not be seen again until a future time. Jesus still has further teachings to make and does so, but clearly time spent in Jesus' company is running out.
He speaks of a time when he will sit in glory and divide men into the righteous and the cursed much like a shepherd divides his sheep and goats. The goats themselves beg for mercy as they sing 'We Beseech Thee'! However, Jesus then announces that one of the community will betray him and he tells Judas to do what he has to do and to do it quickly. Judas runs off. Jesus and the remaining community eat together for the last time before he bids farewell.
While praying in the garden by the willows, Jesus is tempted by the devil and in a moment of uncertainty, asks for the burden to be lifted before regaining his composure and asking for the devil to be gone.
Judas returns to embrace Jesus the sign of proof that the Pharisees were waiting for and with that the betrayal is done and Jesus' prediction is realised. Jesus is then crucified before his horrified community.
However, the community has been enriched and united through Jesus' teachings and realise that they may well see him again, provided they make good of their life and their time spent with others while on Earth. The message at the close of the play is clear...
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