Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

#1

Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/26/06 at 6:14pm

What is your favorite portrayal of Herod from the various productions and movies?

I've only seen the movies, so I'd say Josh Mostel and Rik Mayall. :) I can't choose between them.

#2

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/26/06 at 6:23pm

I saw Bill Nolte do it at Music Circus in Sacramento several years ago, and he was great. He was done up to look like Elton John in funky beachwear -- complete with bad hair-transplant with and purple glasses.

#3

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/26/06 at 6:28pm

I really like Josh Mostel.

#4

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/26/06 at 7:35pm

you ARE the christ. you're the GREAT jesus christ.

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"Picture "The View," with the wisecracking, sympathetic sweethearts of that ABC television show replaced by a panel of embittered, suffering or enraged Arab women" -the Times review of Black Eyed

#5

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/26/06 at 8:43pm

Which Herod is that, Caroline-Q-or-TBoo? :P

#6

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/26/06 at 8:48pm

I'd love to see Richard Cheese do it...

#7

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/26/06 at 8:49pm

I don't think I have a favorite portrayal per se...but I do LOVE that song.

One of my recordings of the show has Alice Cooper as Herod -- talk about an interesting rendition of the song!

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"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." --Harold Hill from The Music Man

#8

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/26/06 at 8:49pm

Jesus, I am overjoyed to meet you face to face.
You've been getting quite a name all around the place.
Healing cripples, raising from the dead.
And now I understand you're God, (everyone says AHH)
At least, that's what you've said.
So, you are the Christ, you're the great Jesus Christ.
Prove to me that you're divine; change my water into wine.
That's all you need do, then I'll know it's all true.

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It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956

#9

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/26/06 at 9:12pm

I don’t know that I have a favorite either, but I will say the version on the Australian Highlights album scares the crap out of me (it sounds like some big fascist rally!).

#10

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/27/06 at 4:09pm

Really?

(Do they sing in English on that? I've never heard any foreign versions)

#11

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:47pm

I've decided about which Herod I like best.....

Rik and Josh equally. :)

#12

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/28/06 at 10:26pm

Edit: Never mind. :)

Updated On: 4/28/06 at 10:26 PM

#13

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/28/06 at 11:23pm

Yes...they sing in English on the Australian version...........

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"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." --Harold Hill from The Music Man

#14

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/28/06 at 11:56pm

The guy in the DVD with Glenn Carter, Christopher Biggins.

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Keep your morals, I don't have time. Keep your lovers, I'm changing mine! -The Likes of Us

#15

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/30/06 at 9:54pm

But Rik Mayall played Herod on the DVD with Glenn Carter!

#16

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/30/06 at 10:09pm

That's actually the song that got me into theater. I was in third grade or so and had an ex-hippie uncle who played the original recording in his eight track player (yes, eight track players.) As a kid going to Catholic school with a bit of a rebel streak, the song was gloriously fun and irreverent.

#17

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 4/30/06 at 10:36pm

Alice Cooper and the guy on the Australian version.

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"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2

#18

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 5/1/06 at 12:31am

Herod's Song was originally called Try It And See...an awful and weird song. If you haven't heard it, it's on the Now and Then Andrew Lloyd Webber Cd Anthology.
Everyone who likes Hearod's Song should hear it a least once to appreciate how much better the song has evolved. In fact, I don't think the song had anything to do with JCS when the tune was 1st written.

Updated On: 5/1/06 at 12:31 AM

#19

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:32am

Alice Cooper! Even better than his rendition of the song is his "head shot" in the booklet of the CD. It has headshots of all the principal singers; they're all serious, b&w professional shots, and then there's Cooper's...oh god it's beautiful.

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"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being." --Phylicia Rashad

#20

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 5/1/06 at 3:11pm

Try It And See was written for a contest or something. It sounds like a 50s commercial.

#21

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:40pm

And I think Barry Dennan did Herod like he was drunk. :P Some of his lines sounded drunk.

#22

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 5/1/06 at 10:47pm

The Herod on the Aussie cast is a guy named "Angry" Anderson, and yes Emcee.....Australia is an English speaking country

I think the original Herod will always be my favourite. I hated Rick Mayall, but I also really enjoyed Anderson.


Also, I think Johnny Farnham might be in the top 3 Jesus's

#23

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 5/3/06 at 8:13pm

My mom said that Josh Mostel's Herod is cute, Rik Myall's is scary, and Barry Dennan's is drunk.

#24

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 5/3/06 at 11:53pm

I think it is a complex number. I would think you need to have a bit of many major emotions. Able to turn on a dime. i've never seen a Herod I loved all the way...but i love the show.

#25

re: Jesus Christ Superstar--Herod's Song

Posted: 5/4/06 at 7:43pm

I read in a production note on Herod that his unstability is what makes him scary; you never know when he's going to snap.