THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 1, 1996 TAG: 9604010009
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Theater Review
SOURCE: BY MARSHA GILBERT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
The music of an old-time revival service met the dance, costumes and staging of Broadway Sunday at Willett Hall, in two performances of ``Your Arms Too Short to Box with God.''
The musical is based on the account of Christ's life found in the book of Matthew. Capacity crowds attended the Palm Sunday shows.
In this touring performance, a revival of the '70s hit, Grammy-award-winning singer Stephanie Mills stirred the audience to applause and shouts of affirmation with her enthusiastic renditions of ``See How They Done My Lord,'' ``We're Gonna Have a Good Time'' and the title song ``Your Arms Too Short to Box with God.''
With the tour, Teddy Pendergrass makes a welcome and overdue return to live performance. In the show Sunday, he belted out the opening number ``Truly Blessed.'' His trademark baritone voice still packed much of the power that made him a multi-platinum recording artist.
Pendergrass has been paralyzed from the waist down since a car accident in 1982. In his hand-controlled, motorized wheelchair, he glided onto the stage, lit only by a spotlight, and sang songs that told the story of the musical: ``Stranger in Town,'' ``What Have You Done'' and ``You Better Stop.''
His role was that of the conscience of the people who persecuted Jesus. It was added to this version of ``Too Short'' by the director Vinnette Carroll, who wrote the script.
The colorful, detailed robes and interpretive dance numbers of the African tradition mixed well with the contemporary stained-glass of the set and music of American Christian churches.
Muscular, agile dancer Derrick Minter added zest with his portrayal of Christ, as he performed a fierce resurrection dance in a loincloth.
``I'm blessed to do this part,'' Minter said before the performance.
``It's a hard responsibility to live up to the name of Jesus. Thank God I am a Christian and I have the experience of trying to spread the word to people. That's what the play is all about.''
Minter had only compliments for Norfolk native Tiffany Williams, a member of the chorus.
``Tiffany does a lot in the show,'' said Minter. ``She sings, acts and dances. She does a great job.''
Williams, who has one of the few speaking roles, brought down the house as she fought over the robe of Christ with two other cast members. They taunted Christ as he hung on the cross to call his father to come and save him. When imaginary lightning struck, Williams said, ``Can't you take a joke?'' ILLUSTRATION: RICHARD DUNSTON/
The Virginian-Pilot
Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass, stars of the touring gospel
musical, a revival of a hit from the '70s.
THEATER REVIEW
``Your Arms Too Short to Box with God,'' a touring gospel musical
starring Teddy Pendergrass and Stephanie Mills, was performed twice
Sunday at Willett Hall.
by CNB