JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE Discussion Thread — Page 6

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Pardon me because this is the first time Ive seen this show: Why are they singing an upbeat song before Jesus dies?!"



You have to always remember that Jesus Christ Superstar is all being told through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. It's his perspective... so "Superstar" is meant to be outrageous like Judas trying to the responses that everyone else has of Jesus. Thinking the whole thing is spiraling out of control. That the next scene ends with Jesus dead on the cross in one sense validates Judas' thought... in horrific fashion

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Pardon me because this is the first time Ive seen this show: Why are they singing an upbeat song before Jesus dies?!"

As Jesus is taken off to be crucified Judas comes in to do the main song which is a commentary on what Jesus life and death is going to mean. It is irreverent so it has to be placed before Jesus death and last words and the impact that has on those he left behind.

I would bet that it was originally planned as the last number - but you just can't go through the death scene and let people feel that and then bounce back to the Las Vegas influenced "Superstar".

Updated On: 4/1/18 at 10:25 PM

curel1 said: "The death sequence was GORGEOUS"

Beautiful after he delivered his lines on the cross - which was gawd awful - but sequence after that was amazing

geaj said: "Where did they stage this?"

Williamsburg’s Marcy Armory in Brooklyn.

curel1 said: "The death sequence was GORGEOUS"

Agreed!

Up In One said: "Beautiful after he delivered his lines on the cross - which was gawd awful - "

Also agreed!

adamgreer said: "I loved it with the exception of the irritating as hell audience that wouldn’t shut up.

Yes, Legend was a little out of his element, but I didn’t mind him. BVD, Bareilles, Ben Daniels, and Norm Lewis were all outstanding."

I wish they did not have to cast the top of the bill with pop stars all the time, but I guess they feel like they need to do it for the mass appeal. At least Broadway fans are lucky enough to see the questionable acting of pop singers surrounded and supported by some fantastic legit music theater talent, in tonight's case BVD and Norm Lewis, for starters. I mean, what's-her-name-blonde-country-singer who was so bad in SOM....lawd...but loved seeing Audra McD and Laura Benanti!

Mixed feelings about the overall production. Truth be told, not so much the production as some of the performances. I'm not as impressed as others here seem to be. As far as concert versions of JCS go, nothing beats the 2012 UK Live Arena Tour, IMHO. That said, the crucifixion scene blew me away! Best interpretation to date! Just stunning!

illiniparkie said: "And very brave for John Legend to take this on. He acquitted himself very well."

I do agree that this was a brave choice for John Legend. I wouldn't say that this proved he can't act, but I do feel like he's proven that if he wants to do anything like this again, he should definitely hire a good coach, and work at bettering his skills.

broadwaytbay said:
And my favourite "almost missed it moment" was spray painting over the jesus on the set wall during the whipping. Ps that wall itself was a character."

Whoa, good eye! They didn’t do that yesterday! Just went back and watched that part again. They must’ve just added it in today OR it already looked really difficult to clean up the JESUS and didn’t want to have more to scrub off the wall last night lol

Yes, I normally dislike "Could We Start Again Please?" -such a whinge-y song but actually found this performance tolerable- even touching.Sara Bareilles was just a dream.