Godspell 1990

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Homecoming

'Godspell' star returns to Mt. Wachusett stage

From the Fitchburg, MA Sentinel & Enterprise April 11, 1990

By Emily Van Hazinga
Arts Editor

His performance as Jesus Christ in Theatre at the Mount's production of the musical "Godspell" represents a homecoming of sorts for Garold P. Amadon. The tall musician with the flowing hair grew up in Athol and has since toured the nation as a popular performer in Renaissance fairs and festivals.

Amadon sang the role of Jesus twice before at Athol High School in 1978 and 1979 under the direction of Charles Russell, who was the original director of the Mount production. Amadon is a 1971 graduate of Athol High School and twice attended Mount Wachusett Community College as an undergraduate and as a theater arts major in the late 70's.

Earlier this year, Russell invited Amadon to return to the area and audition for the part. "I was hoping some fly-by-night would get it. It's been 11 years!" Amadon smiles, but explainsthat he took the role out of friendship for Russell, and to honor Russell's dedication of the production to the memory of colleague David Robertson, who died last spring.

"It was tough coming back here," Amadon says of his temporary return to the area. The change in directors midway through rehearsals for the show was also difficult for him. "I offered to let the new directors replace me if they had someone else in mind. But we hung together. I talked to my best friend: he helped me decide. Every member of the cast said how much they appreciated that I'd stuck around, because they'd come to love me.

"The cast is great. If the cast hadn't wanted to do the show it wouldn't have come off. They really wanted to do it. There's no way I couldn't be proud of last night's performance, no matter what." he said in an interview at the college.

The homecoming atmoshpere was strong backstage after the opening night performance. A good friend, the Rev. David Blizzard, formerly of Athol, who had played John/Judas opposite Amadon's Christ more than a decade ago, was in the audience.

Several old friends from Amadon's days at Mount Wachusett Community College came forward to say hello. "I felt like I had dropped into a time warp," he said. "I haven't seen these people in ages." Amadon is better known to the rest of the country as Gibbon, a 16-century troubadour who performs Amadon's original music for the thousands who attend such festivals as the Michigan Renaissance Festival, Marathon Key Fair in Florida and Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie, Texas.

Gibbon is named for a classification of apes," Amadon laughs. The character has evolved since his debut in 1982 as a courtlt, well-dressed musician. "Now I play him more as a traveller, a man of the street."

Amadon's original music is featured on an album titled "An Ode of the Troubadour." A musical journey full of color, poetry and adventure, "ode is a professionally-produced collection of studio and live performance.

Two songs on the album, "Malevolent Beasts" and "Madman at the Helm," recall the fire of Amadon's solos in "Godspell," particularly "Alas for You." The connection is not accidental.

"Godspell" has ahd a lot of influenc on my direction in later life," Amadon says, referring to his career as a performer. "I am onstage as Gibbon from 10 to 7; in character form start to finish. I don't break from my character. "Godspell" had a 100% influence on that.

Jesus is onstage from start to finish - singing, performing, playing with the crowd - wothout a break, Amadon observes. "To get out there and face those people, it's basically what I'm doing in street performance. That's why it's so easy for me."

But the influence goes deeper. "The character is very intense for me. I understand the parables a lot better now than I ever did." Amadon does not perform as a musician only in "Godspell." He displays considerable talent as an actor as well. It shows particularly in the first act as interaction between him and John White as John /Judas foreshadows conflict and betrayal, and in the second act as Jesus' character intensifies. "He's got to whip them into shape. They're dancing around and having a good time. He's got to get it through to them before he dies." Amadon says.

"There is a real spontaneity with the cast," Amadon observes. In a second act scene Jesus and the cast make their farewells before the btrayal and crucifixion. "It came together naturally. People pick out hand motions we have done together before. The fellings are real."

Like many who choose entertainmentasnd musical performance as a profession, more tha once Amadon has had to recover his personal and career direction after setbacks. "Godspell gave me the faith to do my music," he adds with quiet sincerity, and without elaboration.