I think it’s fair to say that many of us are very familiar with the music of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR but maybe the show is new to a lot of you. If that’s the case then we can highly recommend a visit to the Wales Millennium Centre this week. There we go, this is our review and I’ve already told you we love it.
Even though the show began life some 50 years ago as an album (because no producer dared put it on stage), it’s not that often we get to witness it live. This tour is really something special too, it’s reimagined and all ultra-modern with direction from TIMOTHY SHEADER. Now of course, they always say something is reimagined when a major tour heads off around the country, but in this case it really is.
I’ve seen a few productions of Jesus Christ Superstar over the years and this one felt the most authentic to the original concept. The emphasis placed on the choreography however took this production to another level.
In the show Jesus is effectively a rock star, a giant in a very cruel world and as such the stage is set like we are going to a gig, which in fact we are, in part. There’s a huge crucifix surrounded with scaffolding and boxes everywhere. There’s also microphone stands dotted around which are used to great effect by the performers. The band are on stage throughout the entire show, with the cast occasionally adding to the musical sound too playing instruments.
This production feel contemporary and very much of the time and yet it loses none of the timeless tradition of the Andrew Llloyd Webber and Tim Rice masterpiece.
We caught up with some of the audience at the end of the opening night, and two of the stars, Ian McIntosh and Shem Omari James…..
The strength of the show is it’s incredible soundtrack, which is every bit a true rock opera mixing from huge rock anthem to emotional ballad, pulling us deeper into the final days of Jesus, played brilliantly by IAN MCINTOSH. Ian knows his way around a rock show, having been in some of the best, in this however his vocal range and acting skills really come through. We go on a journey of love, pain, betrayal and finally acceptance and Ian is brilliant at every turn of the tale.
The rest of the cast deliver some real stand out moments too, particularly SHEM OMARI JAMES as Judas. As Mary Magdeline, HANNAH RICHARDSON has a soulful voice which will really moves you during ‘I Don’t Know how to Love Him‘. LUKE STREET can certainly belt out a song, and TIMO TATZBER brings a touch of 70s glam to King Herod, and actually a much needed moment of light relief in the second act.
The show is relentless from start to finish, it’s a rock opera so of course it is. The story deals with the tense relationship between Jesus and Judas, not something you’d actually read in the Bible, and also hints at a bit of a romance between him and Mary, although you feel it’s Mary who has the greater love for Jesus.
You can read more on that, along with some JCS facts in our original show feature HERE.
As in any rock concert you need great choreography and DREW MCONIE certainly delivers that, and some. You get a real blend of styles which seem to place a greater emphasis and meaning to this already incredible soundtrack.
With a very industrial feeling set the ensemble moved around this huge stage with great ease. I think it’s fair to say the dancing is mesmerising, honestly you can’t take your eyes off the company with their expressive moves and gestures.
At the end of the day however, this is a musical and one with a pedigree as long as any other. Messing around with something so loved and cherished by audiences of all ages is a difficult thing. This production does just that and has come up with a show which is entertaining as much as it is thought provoking and completely relevant in todays mixed up world.
As always you’re left with divided opinions about the resurrection, which will no doubt make for some interesting debate on the way home. One thing we all agreed on last night is that Jesus Christ Superstar is a must see this week, heaven knows when we’ll get it again in the capital.
For me, one of the stand out moments in the show is the flogging scene. Without being bloody graphic in any shape or form, it is absolutely bloody brilliant and captures the essence of what is a barbaric and torturous act.
In a show filled with exceptional individual performances, it is the company in their entirety who bring this production bang up to date. Every member of the cast played their part superbly, and with as good a band as I’ve ever heard on stage, under the musical direction of MICHAEL RILEY, I cannot recommend this production enough.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is at the Wales Millennium Centre through to Saturday 3rd February. Performances are at 7:30pm each evening with a 2:30pm matinee on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets start at £18.00. For more details, and to get yours go HERE.
There’s an age guidance of 10+ and the show contains mature themes and depictions of violence.
The tour then returns to South Wales in April getting to the Swansea Arena from Tuesday 2nd to Saturday 6th. Performances are at 7:30pm each evening with a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday and Saturday. For details and tickets, go HERE.
