I can’t remember the first time that I saw the Andrew Lloyd
Webber/ Tim Rice rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar”. I must have been just a
babe because from that time until I left the Civic Theatre after seeing this
latest incarnation, a 90 minute run through total rock opera straight from
England, it used to be among my favorites.
Upon leaving the theatre this last time, and probably after
some twenty or so years of maturing, I hardly recognized what I thought I knew
and for that matter, liked about it.
In after theatre talk on the way to the car my favorite theatre date Shannon reminded me once again that he had never seen this show before. I too, felt like it was my first time seeing it, and I asked if he was he able to follow along? I know I was playing catch up throughout the entire ninety minutes.
He’s a pretty savvy theatre critic himself, and mentioned he
too was a bit somewhere in between liking it and stoked that we were headed
home before we turned into pumpkins at nine o’clock. I dont think it made a big impression on him.
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| Aaron LaVigne and Tommy McDowell and Cast |
The last time I saw ‘JC’ was in concert form at SDSU presented
by the School of Theatre, Television and Film and it was simply amazing; done
in fine taste and well thought out with over 100 performers, a 65 piece
orchestra, and a 120 strong University Chorus. It was spellbinding.
Before that, in 2012 former artistic director of The La Jolla
Playhouse, Des McAnuff brought his pre Broadway version of ‘JC’ and that one
ran over two hours. It too was quite a spectacle.
Still on the ‘I like it spectrum’ I left the Playhouse
satisfied and thought this could be the last time seeing it. But being a
glutton for punishment, I forged ahead and well… keep reminding me please that the
umpteenth time is quite enough and that I don’t do heavy rock that well.
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| Aaron LaVigne and Jenna Rubaiiand Cast |
Soon it will be the Christmas holidays when most will be
celebrating the birth of Christ. Young in comparison, this is the 50th
anniversary national tour of JC Superstar, and for those interested it is
playing at the Civic Theatre through the 17th, this Sunday.
The day after I saw this production, under the direction of
Timothy Sheader, I pulled out my CD of the original sound track to see where I
lost the tribes in this particular rock star -studded reinvention that is stuck
in a time warp by the very nature of the music.
The story is all there but the continuity is somewhere in between.
Characters seem lost and isolated from one another, and the connections to and of each other are not cemented. Seamless changes in the questioning of the Passion of Jesus,
and the last days on earth of the superstar and his nemesis Judas might work
for some but this someone left the theatre feeling empty.
Director Sheader and his talented crew, who by the way all
had powerful voices, seemed more interested in a rock show rather than in substance.
Microphones doubled as staffs and stands, glitter fell from the open rafters
on the characters and stage and a bloody like sticky mess covered Jesus’ back
after his 39 lashes.
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| Cast with James Delisco Beeks, Aaron LaVigne and Jenna Rubaii |
The main stay of the set is a giant cross/ runway for the
actors to get back and forth. There’s a terrific light show, masks, the band with musical direction by Shawn Gough
sits above the action looking at the audience; smoke hazes over the stage, and
the chorography could be a modern dancers wet dream. (Drew McOnie) There is
lot’s of it.
Jesus (Aaron LaVigne) plays a mean guitar, Mary Magdalene (Jenna
Rubaii) still ‘Didn’t Know How To Love Him”, Herrod (Paul Louis Lessard) dressed in his gold lame
frills (credit Tom Scutt for costumes hair and scenic) is a hoot as he sashays
singing ‘Herrod’s Song”… ‘So You
are the Christ -You're the great Jesus Christ
-Prove to me that You're divine-Change my water
into wine’
Steady and somber Judas (a powerhouse James Delisco Beeks ) makes his case in “Heaven On Their Minds”, The
Caiaphas (Alvin Crawford), Priests
(Brian Golub, Charles McCall, Garfield Hammonds) make theirs in “This Jesus
Must Die”, Tommy Sherkock’s anti –Semitic
Pilot had his ‘Dream’ and in a clever
reenactment of Leonardo’s ‘The Last Supper’ with Jesus, Judas, Apostles and
Boys, Jesus’ fate was sealed. It was just a matter of time.
 |
| The Last Supper |
Of course it’s always interesting to see how each director is
going to crucify Jesus. This one was pretty unique but no spoilers.
If hard rock is your beat, this one’s for you.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through Nov. 17t
Organization: Broadway San Diego
Phone: 619 570-1100
Production Type: Rock Musical
Where: 1100 Third Ave, Downtown San Diego
Ticket Prices: Start at $26.00
Web: broadwaysd.com
Venue: San Diego Civic Theatre
Photo: Matthew Murphy
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