JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Tour Review 5-17-2008

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/18/08 at 10:11pm

I saw the JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Tour stop in Boston yesterday and here are my thoughts...

The Cast...

Ted Neeley as Jesus of Nazareth: Although he is evidently too old to be playing Jesus, his voice makes up for it. Throughout the show he randomly belts high C's and D's. To some it may seem like screaming on pitch, but filling up The Boston Opera House with those notes is enough to make one pee their pants. The biggest problem I had with him wasn't Neeley himself, but the underdeveloped character of Jesus. He is basically just their throught the duration of the show with his arms raised and occasionally touches peoples' faces. During the Crusifixion scene, it took him around 10-15 minutes to die. That is a long time to be staring at a mumbling 40-year old man in underwear "nailed" to a cross. Mr. Neeley reveived a standing ovation a couple times by the same various people scattered throughout the theatre. The same people cheered the loudest every time. Interesting...

Corey Glover as Judas Iscariot: You know their's a problem when you leave the theatre cheering for Judas rather than Jesus. From the moment Glover opened his mouth the audience was in awe. He has one of the best voices I have ever been priveleged to witness in a theatre. His acting wasn't bad either, bring tears to the eyes during his suicide. Again, Judas' character is underdeveloped and doesn't seem to fit into the story until the near end.

Tiffini Dodson as Mary Magdalene: I don't have much to say about her. Her voice is terrific even though she's given very little to do.

The ensemble seemed very scarcely directed and at times bored. The best part of the emsemble were the Soul Singers.

Overall: I have very little education in the fields of religion, so without an explanation the show would have been merely a picture of fog, strobe lights, and riffs.

The Costumes: I really did not like them. Most were very high school drama club, but my favorite had to be King Herod's faux silk bathrobe and orange Crocs. Yes, orange Crocs.

The Set: It was basically a metal bridge with a staircase on either side with no set changes. A cross rose up at the end for Jesus' crusifixion, but that was really the only change.

The Lighting: Fantastic! My favorite part was at the end of the "Temple." Jesus yells at the very front of the stage as a white light flashes and you hear/feel a loud crash of wind. I felt like I had just died. The end is also beautiful, where you get the sense that Jesus is rising to heaven.

Overall, I liked the talent in the cast, but the show in itself just seemed rushed and bland. It fell flat and could definitely use a tighter plot. Some of this may have to do with in being sung-through. Some dialogue could really help establish what is going on.

Updated On: 5/18/08 at 10:11 PM

[LouieLovesTheater]

Posted: 5/18/08 at 11:53pm

Saw this tour a few weeks ago and agree with a lot of what is mentioned above.

However,

I do have to say that I appreciated Neeley taking his time with his role because...well...because he's Ted Neeley. The dying on the cross bit is long but it's better than people who get up there and die in 60 seconds. You felt his pain.

Glover has a wonderful voice but when he started squealing in Superstar (yes...the performance I saw he actually squealed) I had to give him a thumbs down.

The ensemble acting, costumes and directing were dreadful but nothing and I mean NOTHING compares to the choreography which is just hideous. This is most evident in Superstar when the ensemble is 'freestyling' and the Soul Girls are going through their motions...with all three of them doing different interpretations of the dance. I thought the Soul Girls were awful...no rhythm and not together in their dancing...and they've all been doing it long enough to know better.

It's worth the price of admission to hear and see Neeley in the role he was born to play (and has played most of his life). Glover is good as well but when he lets his voice go crazy he loses himself.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 12:11am

Glad you enjoyed the show!

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 1:20am

Thanks, BE2, for that wonderful account of the play, and the picture included :)
Funny, I just posted, in a recent thread, that I hoped JCS would be revived. Do you know where it will be touring?
I hope they fix the elements you mentioned that just did not work, because, otherwise, it sounds like this could have Bway potential (what do you think?). That scene described where you said you felt like you just died, sounds like a winner.
Even without seeing the show, though, I have to agree with LLT about the dying scene;it did take a while (as depicted by the Bible) for Jesus to die, so 10-15 minutes to make a dent in people's emotions and minds, might just be right.
Thanks so much for this, again!

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/23/08 at 11:09pm

Here's all the info on tour stops, info, etc: http://www.thejcstour.com/

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 4:08am

OMG, BroadwayE2, THANKS for that last posting!!! It is coming my way, so I shall be able to see it, for the FIRST time (!) after all!
VERY happy!

[kyleorlando]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 4:20am

I just can't bring myself to see it. Ted is just WAAAAAY too old. C'mon, the man is supposed to be dead at 33ish!

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 4:39am

Well, I much have rather had someone else playing Jesus, but I'll take what I can get...just want to see it =[

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/24/08 at 10:04am

Thanks for your review, you just convinced me to see the show when it comes to Birmingham in a few weeks. It seems like it's going to be rough, but I love hearing people just belt the sh*t out of some notes, so I'm excited.