JCSS Tour Canned Orchestra?!

Ugh, I'm not looking forward to the show. It's coming here in April, and while I'm a fan of the show, I just think I'm going to hate it.

I don't really mind the "canned' orchestra, as this is a "rock opera" and thus lends itself to being more synthesized (much like many of Lloyd Webber's shows).

What I really minded was:

1. Orange crocks and Mariamba music "King Herrod's Song". The only time that my sister and I didn't clap after a song EVER! It was that much a travesty to us!

and
2. The guy playing Judas sang like he had just come off the "American Idols" auditions reject bus, over belting, over wailing, stretching out notes until you thought he would miss the next note.

And I was wondering if Ted Neeley's high notes ("Whyyyyyyyy should I Diiieeeeeeeeee") were not pre-recorded (a la Julie Andrew's high notes in "Victor/Victoria")? With his voice being in the state that it was, I don't really think he would be able to reach those notes without shredding his vocal cords.

---

The production is horrible. But it is a horrible show to begin with.

the was definitely not 3 keyboards in the pit in chicago. I can say with 100% certainty that much of the music came off the computer. I work at the theater and I watched the pit last night.

And folkyboy, just imagine a mediocre college level production with a few fancy lights singing along to a CD. It seemed that 90% of this shows budget went towards Ted Neeley's stipend

The production is nothing special, actually kind of bad. Boring generic chorus and supporting cast. However Neeley still rocks out, and is still incredible to watch. Corey Glover is really strong. He does at times, over sing. But when it comes down to the really important emotional bits (the I Don't Know how to Love him reprise during Judas' Death) he shows a remarkable restraint. The only thing keeping this production standing is the remarkable performances of the two leads.

I wouldn't mind crucifying the director though.

Just be glad they had any live instrumtns at all. Some regonal theatres have resorted to using totally canned orchestras. It's sad.

I just bought tickets to this and I was so excited.

Consider my parade officially rained on.

Well, in case you haven't heard, Ted's still great as always, and the orchestra is still canned, but one out of two ain't bad!

---

How was Annas?

we did shows together and I'm so happy that Mr. Wright landed the role, right out of College!

Looney dear, how was Annas?

Just saw the tour this past weekend in Rochester, NY.

At best, the show is a college level production. Most of the directing choices were hideously cheesy or just plain stupid. The choreography was a joke.
The sound was thin - 7 instruments in the pit ALL with computers next to them. Sounded like a bunch of MIDI tracks. The set was a joke. A rounded metal arch bridge connecting two flights of stairs and a raked platform underneath. All black, all small scale and pretty darn boring. They tried making up for it with the lighting which was decent but overdone. I loves me a nice breakup pattern jutting through fog but after a while it does get old.

Ted needs to retire. He doesn't have any vivacity or real command of the stage anymore. He wanders around like an old man reciting lines. Rather than trying to connect the words he speaks with their intent, he utters them in strange patterns with an old man quiver. It really is painful. He screams the high notes decently (scooping to almost every one of them) but the rest of his singing is something one might expect from the local senior center karaoke night.

Corey Glover tries too hard as Judas. He takes far too many liberties with the melodic lines and, at times, is reminiscent of Mariah or Christina Aguilera with their never-ending trills and inability to actually sing the melody. His acting was predictable and flat most of the time.

The rest of the cast was decent. Mary had a nice voice. Caiaphas had a nice deep tone to his voice (despite his rather flat acting). The ensemble members were very eager and tried very hard with some success, but they couldn't overcome poor direction.

Overall, picture JCS on the set of RENT at your local college with fancy lights, some decent voices, but with an overall lack of vision.

Don't get me wrong entirely though. The piece itself is powerful and was able to transcend the production at times but in general one would be better off staying home and listening to the record.

It's coming here this weekend but I can't see it because I'm singing at a wedding. Now I'm rather happy with that fact--I love JCS and wouldn't want to see a bad production of it.

---