The Finale

This starts with a stylized depiction of the Crucifixion set against a chain-link fence. This goes
back to the original CMU staging. Robin Lamont relates the following regarding shooting this
scene: "It was difficult to shoot because it was cold. They didn't want to have to do very many
takes. But I remember that they were hoping there would be a breeze. They still didn't have
a fan for when Victor is singing 'Oh God, I'm dying.' Still the red ribbons on his wrists would
kind of flutter in the breeze. On the last take of 'Oh God, I'm dying' the breeze came up and
fluttered the ribbons.. And then when he sings 'Oh God, I'm dead' the breeze died down and
you see the ribbons just fall. Every time they took it it did the same thing." After they echo
that line the other cast members collapse to the ground. This was filmed at night with police
cars in the background. There is a cross fade to supposedly the next morning, an implicit
acknowledgement of the Resurrection. But in a bit of movie magic it was actually a sunset
and not a sunrise. They reversed it to simulate a sunrise. And then the other cast members
rise singing "Long Live God" another evocation of the Resurrection. This is the combined with
a reprise of "Prepare Ye" in counterpoint, coming full circle, an inspired addition by Stephen
Schwartz. Then "Long Live God" fades out and "Prepare Ye" continues eventually replaced by
"Day By Day" the traditional encore number. As they start carrying Jesus they walk through
a series of curving arches, a common visual metaphor for infinity. They are bringing Jesus
message forward to present day. The credits are presented in what I call curtain call style
with the actors' pictures and names, in alphabetical order. There are no stars in Godspell,
it's an ensemble piece.