Jesus Christ Superstar - U.K. Tour

Same same 💜 I don’t know if I will ever experience such pent up expectation/release again from a show.

To be fair, I’d be happy to never have the circumstances that lead to such an ecstatic response again 😹

Saw this in Edinburgh last night.

First the good - the vocal performances were excellent. I liked the set with the giant cross being used as, well, everything. I thought the crucifixion was really well done, and not too traumatic for either audience or actor. Again, Judas' death had been cleverly thought about in terms of how to stage it.

Now the rest: What is this? Is it a concert with costumes and movement, in the same ilk as Six? If so, it feels outdated. Is it a gig musical? In which case Middle Child do it better, IMO.

I think I place much of the blame for being distinctly underwhelmed on the text here - there seemed to be zero attempt at story-telling, and 'stuff you' if you don't know who all the supporting characters are. Whilst I was raised going to church every single Sunday, and so do know the story, and who the characters are, it cannot be denied that we are becoming a more secular society, and I wonder if the younger generations, who probably haven't been frog-marched to church every week, understand the nuances here? Or even the broad sweep of which parts of the final weeks of Jesus' life are being referenced? I know that the narrative of the UK is still that we're a Christian country, and that every school has a nativity play every Christmas, etc, but I'm not sure the Easter story gets as much attention? All of this makes me think that this piece has a limited future lifespan unless a book is added.

Being sung all the way through means that the story-telling has to be conveyed very strongly, and I just didn't feel like it was here. I've seen a filmed version of this, where they focused on what I'll describe as 'the mob factor', and imposed an armed police force cracking down on crowds etc. That really seemed to work, to build the atmosphere of Jesus being seen as a dangerous radical, and someone who the authorities felt needed to be stopped at any cost. Here, it just felt like a bloke singing some songs, then some other people singing some songs, and then some 'contempo-wafting' movement. There wasn't any tension - it just felt like a series of things happening one after another, with no real motivation?

Perhaps it was the fact that it was the final performance in Edinburgh, and the weather has been vile all week up here, and the cast now have to relocate to Leicester (a long drive), but there was just a distinct lack of energy to the whole thing.

The whole thing also felt weirdly sanitised? Like, those final weeks, there's supposed to be tension building on the streets, local leaders who feel under pressure from both their subjects, and Rome, and a sense of desperation from the local population who just want someone to come along and solve their problems and make their lives better, and get rid of the uncaring politicians who rule their lives whilst knowing nothing about the reality of how they are living. There are surely enough parallels there with the current situation in the UK, for something interesting to have been done with this? But it just felt like they'd shoved a set on a stage and dashed through the whole thing.

Talking about dashing through the whole thing - the band seemed to rarely stop, and I felt there were a few moments where what action there was could have benefited from pausing, just for a few seconds. As it was, it felt like there was little variety in mood - again, it felt like a rush to the finish. Mary's song felt like it came from nowhere, narratively speaking.

The other thing I will say is that, obviously, they have had to shove an interval in, to appease the powers that be at the various places this is going to. But I think this decision is what leads to much of my ambivalence about this. Going all the way through without a break would allow for that sense of tension and claustrophobia to build, and for everything to just feel more intense.

I will say that I can see how this would have worked in the RPOAT, with the intimacy, and some of the lighting choices towards the end - but here, in the barn that is the Edinburgh Playhouse, it did not. Sorry if you loved it, and it seems like it worked at the OAT and the Barbican. But not all of us live in London, and as much as I try to go and see stuff there, I can't always find the time or the money to do so. I think I'd like to see a filmed version on NT Live/at Home, so I could see the 'original' revival version, and maybe see what has everyone else raving about it.

I struggled to watch the NBC thing. Legend was hopelessly miscast and I have no idea why he was, other than his ‘name’. He gave a tender and gentle reading of JC but sang it like The Temptations! Things being ‘souled’ inappropriately is my bete noir. See also John Partridge mutilating ‘Bui Doi’ when he was John in ‘Miss Saigon’.

Having seen this tour twice in Leicester (loved it amazing great cast Matt Bateman randomly playing musical instruments in the second act my beloved etc) I have to ask this. Has any one ever had trouble or overheard anyone saying they couldn’t identify Judas. I ask this because I’ve over heard people at both performances saying this and even one person thinking Shem was Peter and only realIsing who he was with the silver in damned for a time. I’m just confused since I fell Judas walks around the stage with a giant sign saying IM JUDAS over his head.

I'm there on Thursday so will let you know! BTW, it's also in Canterbury later this year if you fancy a train trip down to Kent.

Wow - who scheduled this show for the Churchill Theatre? What a horrible pokey place. Terrible acoustics. Everything compressed on stage, choreography was a mess, sound was awful - sounded like a 1980s Yamaha keyboard at times. Half the cast couldn't be seen as lighting was so poor.

The positive... Luke Street absolutely saved this performance tonight as the alternate Judas. Absolutely superb - vocally brilliant, edgy acting, really owned the role.

I saw this touring production in Milton Keynes and it was superb, but tonight I felt it was messy and tired. The alternate Jesus could belt the high notes but that was about it.

Luckily for the producers, this show is sold out in Bromley - just as well really because I couldn't recommend it off tonight's performance.

I hope it'll be better in Canterbury in June in a decent theatre with decent sound.

I blame the theatre not the cast. What a fleapit.

 oh dear!

I think I was comparing it to my local non west-end theatre, the new Wimbledon, and so to me anything is better in comparison. 

Completely agree about Luke Street - I've actually now booked to see one of his Jesus dates in Crawley, but not holding out much hope for that Theatre.

Dare I ask, how was Julian..?

Saw this at Curve last month. I thought it was incredible, one of the best productions of a musical I've seen. Surely ALW's best score?

Great info, thanks for sharing ceebee!

I guess my lack of comparison to the Barbican/OAT probably aided my enjoyment then.

Also counting myself extremely lucky to have seen the Ian/Luke combo on Monday then. Tuesday definitely didn't hit the same, though it was great to see him giving his all as Simon, too. Very much looking forward to seeing him as Jesus.

Desperate to see Luke's Judas - anyone know if he publishes dates?

Also, anyone know who the alternate Jesus will be now Charlie is going to do that thing at the Lowry (and if they've published dates)?

Thanks :-)

Yeah I'd love to see him. From when he covered roles in Bat to his stunning Simon in this - his voice really does sound thrilling! And Ricardo would be my fave previous Judas (God I wish they'd professionally recorded it at the Barbican) so this comparison pleases me!