Jesus Christ Superstar - Live Arena Tour
Universal Studios Home Entertainment, The Really Useful Group, UK, 2012.
It is Easter time so let's check out some religious epics.
This is 40th anniversary production of the Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber rock musical.
Anarchists (Judeans) are fighting with riot police (Romans). Judas (Tim Minchin) sings how he admires Jesus (Ben Forster) but thinks that things have gotten out of control and he fears what happens when the people get disappointed in Jesus. Also Jesus begins to believe that he is god. The people are getting restless and want action. Judas scolds Jesus about associating with Mary Magdalane (Spice Girl Melanie C.).
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| Jesus and Mary Magdalane |
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| Judas |
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| Poster boy |
High priest Caiaphas (Pete Gallagher) is troubled by growing influence of Jesus. Simon Zealotes (Giovanni Spano) wants Jesus to lead rebellion against Romans. Judas betrays Jesus and Jesus is crucified. Judas realizes that he has been used and hangs himself.
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| Caiaphas |
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| King Herod (Chris Moyles) |
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| The crucifixion |
As the musical was originally a stage show, this production is returning to its roots but with modern touches. The stage show has modern look with contemporary clothing and video screens although it uses only simple stage set (staircase). Therefore the pre-Christians look like a bunch of Occupy Wall Street protesters and the Romans are like greedy capitalists. Also social media is omnipresent with Jesus getting followers and likes. King Herod (Chris Moyles) is like Jerry Springer. The performers are great and the show is well produced but somehow I liked the 1970s movie a bit more as it worked better as timeless story than the stage play with the modernized gimmicks that will probably become outdated very soon. The stylistic choices create oxymorons as the songs contain lyrics such as "Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication." Not that the 1970s film didn't have campy moments, contemporary style and disco angels. The original 1973 film combined modern clothing and weapons with biblical locations in Israel. Somehow this new version does not have the same nostalgic aspect. Well it is a matter of taste, but I don't usually like operas or classic stories with too much modernization.
What has always been great with this musical is that it gives voice to Judas and motives behind the betrayal. Also the story cleverly compares similarity of religion and celebrity cult with organized religion distorting whatever the good purposes were originally.
Rating: 
Good
Good
Starring: Tim Minchin, Melanie Chisholm (as Melanie C.), Chris Moyles, Ben Forster, Alexander Hanson, Pete Gallagher, Gerard Bentall, Michael Pickering, Giovanni Spano, Jeff Anderson, Michelle Antrobus, Jack Booth, Alice Capitani, Ian Carlyle, Leon Craig, Krysten Cummings, Christos Dante, Stephen John Davis, Keisher Downie, Efion Emyr, Lily Frazer, Ryan Gibb, Zoe Green, Bob Harris, Clare Ivory, Samantha Jackson, Jack Jefferson, Leon Maurice Jones, Sia Kiwa, Anthony Lawrence, Brian McCann, Alana Murrin, Tim Newman, Tom Parsons, Rhiannon Porter, Adam Pritchard, Tim Prottey-Jones, Gala Robles, Lucas Rush, Benedict Smith, Russell Smith, Phil Snowden, Adam Strong, Ali Temple, Jon Tsouras, Alex Tucker, Marie Walker, Russell Walker, Karlene Wray
Director: Laurence Connor
Director: Laurence Connor
Looks like a riot (eh he heh).
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your review and, like you, I enjoy the 1973 version more. I thought this version was very good and was interesting to me with the cell phones in the cigarettes.
ReplyDelete