COTTON PATCH GOSPEL

Jesus Christ Super Star –> Jesus Christ Good Ole Boy – OR – If Jesus Had Been Born in an Abandoned Doublewide and the Sermon on the Mount Had Been Delivered Atop Stone Mountain

At: The Swift Creek Mill Theatre, 17401 U.S. Route One, Chesterfield, VA 23834

Performances: March 15 – April 12, 2025

Ticket Prices: $44-49. Ask about discounts for students, seniors, and veterans.

Info: (804) 748-5203 or https://www.swiftcreekmill.com

A Theater Reflection by Julinda D. Lewis

I recently read a post that read something along the lines of “expect something wonderful each day.” Some days it’s easier to find something wonderful than others. Other days it’s a real stretch. I usually don’t do much, if any, pre-show research before going to see a show. I want to approach each show with as little bias as possible. So, I was totally, pleasantly surprised by Cotton Patch Gospel – it was easily my “something wonderful” on Saturday night, March 22.

Cotton Patch Gospel is a sung-through musical (i.e., songs are used instead of spoken dialogue, with minimal speech) retelling of “The Gospel of Matthew” set in modern-day rural Georgia (the US State, not the Eastern European nation). Given the geographical re-location, Joe and Mary travel to Atlanta instead of Jerusalem, Jesus is born in a borrowed trailer (they didn’t indicate if it was a double-wide), the baby Jesus is placed in an apple crate and when the family has to flee for their lives, they run off to Mexico, instead of Egypt.

The adult Jesus later gives the Sermon on the Mount from the top of Stone Mountain (which, BTW, is home to the world’s largest bas-relief artwork – a memorial to Confederate leaders Jefferson Davis, Robert El. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson). In the Cotton Patch Gospel Herod, the Governor of the state, drops a bomb on a church where Jesus was supposed to be – killing 14 innocent children in the process. In other familiar stories, after being baptized, Jesus is tempted by Satan, who tries to get Him to turn stones into grits, Jesus feeds 5,000 people with crackers and sardines, and Peter tap dances on water. Jesus makes His final entry into Jerusalem/Atlanta riding an old VW bus while his followers toss magnolia blossoms.

The entire story is delivered in beautiful harmony and lively blue grass music (with occasional forays into blues or gospel) performed by a six-member cast whose members all take on triple roles as actors, singers, and musicians. Jonmichael Tarleton and Dew Redling lead the cast, making their Swift Creek Mill debuts. Tarleton takes on the roles of Matthew, Joe, and sometimes Satan, while Dew Redling is appealing as Jesus, a simple country boy who doesn’t quite fit in. While Tarleton and Redling stood out as personal favorites, Cotton Patch Gospel is a true ensemble effort, and the cast worked well together keeping us laughing and entertained while remaining true to the Gospel.

The rest of the ensemble consists of Travis West (a cattle farmer, John, Andy, a reverend, Jud/Judas, and others), Bryan Harris (Herod, Mary, a televangelist, and others), Eric Williams (a Messenger/angel, Pilate, a senator, and others), and Greg DeBruyn (Satan, a tourist, a businessman, and others).

SCM Artistic Director Tom Width took time during his curtain talk to let us know that there have been times when audience members left shortly after the performance started. If you are a very conservative Christian, this might not sit well with your sensibilities, although there is nothing irreverent about this musical. But that’s just my opinion as a theatergoer who happens to be a licensed ordained minister of dance – and one who spent my fair share of years teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School in a Baptist church. LOL.

Harry Chapin (a singer, songwriter, and storyteller) along with writers Tom Key and Russell Treyz based their work on Clarence Jordan’s Cotton Patch Gospel – Matthew and John which “recasts the stories of Jesus…into the language and culture of the mid-20^th century South (Smyth & Helwys Books). The author, Clarence Jordan, a farmer as well as a bible scholar, was the founder of Koinonia Farm, born out of the Civil Rights era and described by his publisher as “an interracial, Christian farming community.” Interestingly, Koinonia Farm gave birth to the concept of partnership housing, resulting in the establishment of Habitat for Humanity. In 2012, Clarence Jordan’s Cotton Patch Gospel: The Complete Collection was compiled, and it boasts an introduction by President Jimmy Carter.

Tom Width’s scenic design is simple and rustic, featuring lots of wooden planks and crates and light up star on the wall that reminds me of Christmas. Cast member Travis West provided the musical direction that kept the action moving and carried the audience right along with him. Maura Lynch Cravey casually dressed the cast in denim and plaid and variations thereof.

So, all of that – a foot-patting musical, a bible lesson, a geography lesson, a cultural tour, and a history lesson all wrapped up in one neat package. So unexpected and so delightful. Yep, that was my something wonderful last Saturday evening.

NOTE: After seeing this production, SCM posted an unfortunate update. Several Cotton Patch Gospel cast members tested positive for COVID, and several performances had to be cancelled. Please check the company’s website or contact the box office if you plan to go to see when shows resume and locate possible dates to attend.

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Julinda D. Lewis, EdD is a dancer, minister of dance,  teacher, and writer who was born in Brooklyn, NY and currently resides in Eastern Henrico County. When not writing about theater and dance, she teaches dance history at VCU and low impact dance fitness classes to seasoned movers like herself and occasionally performs.

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COTTON PATCH GOSPEL

Book by Tom Key and Russell Treyz

Music and Lyrics by Harry Chapin

Directed by Tom Width

CAST

Jonmichael Tarleton           as Matthew/Joe/Caiphus/Satan III/Timmy/Gossip/et al

Dew Redling             as Mother/Jesus/et al

Travis West               as Cattle Farmer/John/Andy/revisal/Tanya/Jud/Gossip/et al

Bryan Harris              as Herod/Dr. Troy/TV Preacher/Mary/Gossip/et al

Eric Williams             as Messenger/Mabry/Satan II/Senator/Pilate/Gossip/et al

Greg DeBruyn          as Satan I/Mr. Tetum/Tourist/Businessman/Gossip/et al

CREATIVE TEAM

Directed by Tom Width

Musical Direction by Travis West

Scenic Design by Tom Width

Lighting Design by Joe Doran

Costume Design by Maura Lynch Cravey

Technical Direction by James Nicholas

PRODUCTION STAFF

Producing Artistic Director …. Tom With

Technical Director ….. James Nicholas

Stage Manager ….. Sandy Lambert

Assistant Stage Manager/Props ….. Tom Width

Scenic Carpenter … Peter Prout

Light/Sound Board Operator ….. Brent Deekens

Set Crew ….. Peter Prout, Brent Dieken’s, Nathan Hamill

Scenic Painter ….. Dasia Gregg

Lighting Crew ….. Brent Deekens, Liz Allmon, R. Jonathan Shelley

Photographer …..Daryll Morgan

Time and Place:

Here and Now

Run Time:

About 2 hours with 1 intermission

Tickets:

Regular $44-49. Discounts for Seniors, Military & Veterans

Photographer: Darryl Morgan

Musical Numbers:

Act One:

            Somethin’s Brewin in Gainesville

            Baby Born to God

            I Did It

            Mama is Here/I Did It

            It Isn’t Easy Growin’ Up to Be Jesus

            Sho’ “Nuff

            From That Day On

            Turn It Around

            When I Look Up

            Ain’t No Busy Signals on the Hotline to God

            Spitball Me, Lord, Over the Homeplate of Life

            Miracle on Stone Mountain

            Love the Lord Your God

            Blind Date

            Goin’ to Atlanta

Act Two:

            Are We Ready?

            You Are Still My Boy

            We Gotta Get Organized

            We’re Gonna Live It While It Lasts

            Jubilation

            Dangerous Man

            Jud

            Hey, What’s Goin’ On

            Thank God for Governor Pilate

            One More Tomorrow

            I Wonder