YORK Light took to the stage on Tuesday evening for the opening night of a week-long run of Stephen Schwartz’s ever popular musical Godspell.

In Hilary Dyson's production, starring Richard Weatherill's contemplative Jesus and Rich Hawley's introverted Judas, different parables such as The Prodigal Son and The Good Samaritan are brought to life as the ensemble, accompanied by a live band, succeed in creating an enjoyable performance.

As the audience enter, the space is furnished with a handful of colourful boxes and the show opens with the cast stepping on stage dressed in black, engrossed in their phones and computers. Then John the Baptist (Paul Hampshire) appears in a colourful costume and invites them to join him in "the way of the Lord". From then on, the disciples adorn vibrant clothes and progressively decorate the stage with colourful objects.

Stephen Schwartz, of Wicked fame, wrote both the music and the lyrics for this musical re-telling of the Gospel of Matthew and since its original performance in 1971, Godspell has travelled the globe. No wonder; vibrant songs such as Prepare Ye, Day By Day and Turn Back O Man are interpreted with brio by Dyson's company.

The principal merit of this performance is the energy the cast bring to the stage and the playful atmosphere they offer. References to Mamma Mia! and Monty Python's The Life Of Brian highlight the humorous vein that runs through the show and are welcomed keenly by the audience.

Although some words are lost at points, with a need for clearer articulation, the cast should be commended for their commitment and the contagious enthusiasm they express.

Sometimes characterisation falls too heavily into caricature and lessens the individuality of the disciples’ personalities. And although too much emphasis is put on the childishness of the followers, there is no faulting the cast’s enjoyment in investing this Seventies' musical with new life in its updated setting.

Godspell, York Light, Upstage Centre Theatre, 41 Monkgate, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm and 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Box office: 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk