GODSPELL
Louise Gold
appeared in Godspell, at Thorndike Theatre (Leatherhead), Between Tuesday 19
August to Saturday 13 September 1980
Cast
Jenny Galloway
Louise Gold
Gary Hurst
Colette Kelly
Pauline McGough
Anthony O’Keeffe
Josephine Welcome
Production Team
Music and New Lyrics by - Stephen Schwartz
Original Productions -
Directed by - Andy Hinds
Designed by - Rod Langsford
Musical Director - Richard Brown
The Band
Guitars - Graham Atha
Bass Guitar - Dave Olney
Drums/Percussion - Nigel Bates
Keyboards - Richard Brown
Choreographer - Janis Mackintosh
Lighting by - Ron Beattie
Sound by - Richard Tierney
Musical Numbers
Act I
Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord - Warwick and Company
Save The People - Paul and Company
Day By Day - Josephine and Company
Learn Your Lessons Well - Pauline
Bless The Lord - Louise
All For The Best -
Paul and
All Good Gifts - Warwick and Company
Light of The World - The Company
Act 2
Learn Your Lessons Well (Reprise) - The Company
Turn Back, O Man - Colette
Alas For You - Paul
By My Side (Lyrics by Jay Hamburger, Music by Peggy Gordon) - Jenny, Josephine and Company
We Beseech Thee - Gary and Company
On The Willows - Tony and Company
Finale - The Company
Louise’s main
feature role in this show seems to have been as the woman who tells the story
of a man who spent his life accumulating things, and then died before he could
enjoy it. She then sang a song praising a patient and wise God. Apparently her
big number is one of the shows best known and more energetic numbers. The words
of the song were apparently taken from the Psalms. It seems likely that she
played the role of “JoAnne”, although as bits of script sometimes get
reassigned between characters in different productions, this is not entirely certain.
It is perhaps
interesting to note that in her resume in the programme for Godspell,
Louise Gold mentions that she had done some cabaret work, but does not
say what (it is possible that Anna Rexic and The Compulsives
could date to around this time). She also mentions the possibility of developing a solo cabaret act
of her own. Whether anything of note was achieved at the time is not entirely
clear. However, twenty two years later she really made her mark in the solo
cabaret act field with LOUISE
GOLD....By Appointment.
Louise Gold and Warwick Evans had previously appeared
together in another biblical musical, Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat (Touring Production)
Louise Gold and Jenny Galloway went on to appear
together in: A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
The Boys From Syracuse, and The Regent’s Park 70th Anniversary
Gala, all at The Open Air Theatre in Regents Park.
It is possible
that Choreographer Janis Mackintosh may also have been the same Janis
Mackintosh who appeared, along with Louise Gold, as one of the
Ballroom Dancers in the film Labyrinth.
It is perhaps
interesting to note, that Godspell is not the only religious
musical to have had its original premier at The Cherry Lane Theatre, the
rather more irreverent Nunsense also premiered
there. Louise Gold subsequently appeared in the original
Critics Comments
“Playing the many roles as a delightful team are Michael Cashman,
Warwick Evans, Jenny Galloway, Louise Gold, Gary Hurst, Collette Kelly,
Links about Godspell
MIT’s
page detailing the plot synopsis, and some details of the original
A detailed Fan
site devoted to the musical: http://www.geocities.com/cugodspell/
A page about
Godspell’s songs: http://www.reallyfaithfulgroup.org.uk/Shows/Godspell/godspellsongs.html
