Jesus Christ Superstar - Regents Park Open Air / Barbican

JCS is such a hit or miss thing... The score is legendary (especially when it's sung by actors who can actually sing it). I saw the tour in college with Ted Neeley (who was old 25 years ago to be doing that... shocked that he's still doing the role) And back then, I was just getting into ALW so I enjoyed it. Nothing particularly memorable or anything. When I saw the Broadway revival in the early 2000's which was a stripped down version of the Steve Balsamio one (the one that was filmed and released on video) was awkward. The guy who played Jesus (I think Glen Campbell?) was overdramatic to me - the production was a flop only running for a few months. Maybe 10 years later it was revived again after all this buzz about Des McAnuff's version of it in California and they brought that production to NY. I don't think that lasted three months. The NBC - Television production a year ago was the biggest splash that JCS had in the states. I think some of the praise was a little over the top. John Legend was not as great as the post-performance spin would tell - most notably not nailing the note in Gethsemane (that really bothered me how it was obvious they had PR people working overtime to say he had done so when we just watched him not do it) But the production, the energy, the rest of the cast was really awesome that it definitely attracted a lot of new interest over here.

I'm really curious that this Regents Park production is beginning a North American tour either this fall or early next year and wonder how it's going to transfer here... After filming it a few times, (the Arena tour, the film, the video of the 2000's revival) I can see them not doing this one. But with so much praise for it, will ALW find it hard to resist another go at it?

We were at the Saturday evening performance too! I'd never seen it before and was very glad we'd gone, I didn't think I knew too many of the songs but it's amazing how many had seeped into my consciousness over the years. Although the only version of Gethsemane that I'd heard before was Michael Ball's version which is just not the same at all now that I've seen the show.
I had brought a ticket for it at Regents park in it's second run, but it ended up being the only right in that run that was rained off.

We had a great evening. We were in the left of the upper circle and did feel that the sound was a bit off during the first half - although I'm not sure that's because it was just a non familiar show to us, or whether it was down to where we were sitting. It did seem to calm down during the second half.

Having seen the set when we were waiting in Regents Park I was glad to see they hadn't changed much, if at all, from what we'd been going to see. Ricardo Afonso was just fantastic and I'm glad we got to see something that was pretty much completely new to us.

After singing alot of the songs all over the weekend, I wondered if anyone has any recommendations for any of the recordings that are currently around. I, too, would love this to be done with the current cast.

Ceebee - yes in fact from where I was sitting on far right you couldn't really see the tableau - I knew it was there from previously seeing it but do wonder had this been my first time would I have realised?

Good spot re Barbican being dark. I do hope it does get extended! I don't know how well it has sold though - there does seem to still be quite good availability for the whole run. Though TBO not sure how much this has been advertised? Also do people who stick to West End know what's going on in the Barbican/make the trip? Confess to not really knowing who their normal audience is. I have only ever been there before for the Les Miserables 25th tour....
Having said that, really was delightful to be somewhere different. On a Saturday the surrounding streets were so quiet; the bar and foyer areas are vast compared to the cramped West End and leaving to get back to tube was Heaven compared to the tourist hell I experienced on leaving the Queen's into Shaftesbury Avenue earlier last week.

Chernjam - nice summary of the US productions. I did actually quite like the televised version - I have the DVD. I normally hate these television events so was really pleasantly surprised. Liked the vast imposing set.

Lemansky - so many recordings and most of them from the 70s and sure everyone will have an opinion. My go to is the 1996 London recording of the Lyceum production (though weirdly it's not advertised as being the CD of that production, but minus substituting Alice Cooper as Herod, it is). Though still rocky, it has a slight musical theatre style edge which works for me. And an exceptional cast with Steve Balsamo, Zubin Varla and Joanna Ampil. It also sounds a lot more modern than the 70s versions and sounds cleaner/better quality, reflecting I guess advances in recording technology. Anyway, it works for me!

This confused me for years. I saw the Gale Edwards/RUG tour in Bristol (and I also have the DVD based on it) and not having seen the Lyceum version just assumed that with the same director and producer it was the same production. Only found out years later that it wasn't.

Everything I have subsequently learned about the Lyceum version puts it high up on my list of productions I deeply regret missing.

You are asking a lot Dom! What was it? Like 21 years ago?

The stage at the Lyceum was quite magnificent; like a natural amphitheatre with a bit of seating around the back too (so onstage), and therefore essentially staged in the round. It wasn’t in any way flashy, just classy earthy tones against the luxurious purples of Pilate and Herod. The crucifixion was breathtaking, as was the patch of rain that followed it. I preferred Ramin Tikarams’ Judas to Zubin Varla, but so much has been said of Steve Balsamo’s Jesus. None of the hyperbole does his performance justice. He went on that journey every single performance (that I saw at least), the realisation of his fate etched on his otherwise blank face as he dealt with it. The emotion when he sang has been hard to match since.

I remember very little of the tour. I enjoyed Arvid Larsen and I think Cat Simmons was Mary. It still used the spotlight crucifix and roughly the same direction but was without the grandeur of the set or the next level JC.

Maybe take this with you to make sure you don't accidentally open your eyes

I was eyeing up side upper circle for £18.50. As I don't live in London I prefer to avoid the uncertaintly of day seats, especially as the Barbican is a bit out of the way to go somewhere else if you get there & find there aren't any affordable last minute seats available.

Holy crap. All the praise is justified - this is just as spectacular as, and perhaps even better than, the original run at Regent’s Park. While the ‘rock concert’ vibe suffers a little from the move indoors, it is more than made up for by an exceptional cast and the electric atmosphere that is generated inside the Barbican theatre.

Robert Tripolino and Ricardo Alfonso are role-defining performers here. This is the only production of JCS that I’ve seen live, but I doubt I’ll witness a better Jesus or Judas than I did tonight. They build on Tyrone Huntley and Declan Bennett’s performances, add their own strengths to the mix, and make a formidable duo. My jaw actually dropped listing to their incredible voices. Regarding Sallay Garnett - I’d love to hear what people heard at the earlier previews because she showed no signs of having a weak voice tonight. Her vocal tone is unique and makes for a nice fresh spin on these songs, and while she sticks to her (very well controlled) head voice for most of the show, she also nails the belted sections in IDKHTLH. Matt Cardle makes a strong, compelling Pilate and Samuel Buttery brings camp more than craziness to Herod. Cavin Cornwall and Nathan Amzi both give great performances as Ciaphas and Annas, but behind such attention-drawing Jesus and Judas their characters don’t make quite the same impression as in previous runs.

The staging retains its original brilliance, with Sheader’s direction cutting through the less driving sections of the show with simple and elegant choices. McOnie’s choreography is still bonkers but somehow fits perfectly with the atmosphere. Between the two of them, they bring a truly unforced contemporary feel to the show (unlike the slap-around-the-face modernisation in the arena tour) and turn the most cliche moments of the show into the most innovative.

If anyone is on the fence about seeing this, just take the dive and do it. Whether or not you like the show itself, this is a must-see production. King George isn’t in this show, but I will most definitely be back.

(Ok, now that the review-y stuff is done: regarding seating - I was at the very end of row C in the stalls, at the high numbers/auditorium left side. My view was completely unrestricted, I would definitely advise going for high numbers rather than low if only for a good view of the tableaux. There were two technical hitches tonight - a bit of a mic mix-up at the transition into IDKHTLH which was swiftly remedied, and a white light that cut out half way through the scene that ends Act One. Both things that are easily fixable, I’m sure. Otherwise, you’d never have known that they’ve only had a handful of previews, it’s in brilliant shape ready for press night tomorrow.)

Based on the reviews here i have now booked for August. I've not seen the show since the Lyceum production.

Also taken the plunge, booked for next Monday, have to admit Barbican membership is one of the best, saved £12 on a £45 ticket, membership this year has more than paid for itself and yet to see a dud.

Always been on my radar due to the Ian Gillan connection, one of the greatest rock singers of all time and therefore intrigued by his involvement in a LW musical.

Its totally different. The Lyceum was a marvellous production, with a fab John Napier set and excellent cast, but directorially rooted in the mega-musical style. Gale Edwards did a great job, Steve Balsamo as Jesus was fantastic, Zubin Varla's twitchy obsessive Judas was excellent, and Josnna Ampil's Mary was to die for. I LOVED the production.

But....

The new Regent's Park production blows it out of the water. Truer to the original concept album, it trades in orchestral sweeps and majesty for pure rock and grit. This new Barbican cast is mindblowingly brilliant. I too had to pick my jaw off the floor. Sometimes I just shook my head in disbelief at the vocal greatness on that stage. It is no disservice to Steve Balsamo to say it has taken nearly 25 years for somebody to usurp him as the king of Gethsemane. Drew Sarich came close, but at the Barbican Robert Tripolino absolutely nails it with his voice and his acting. That said, I feel Ricardo Afonso is the stand-out of the two. Such is the high calibre of both, i already feel this cast is an absolute treat for anybody lucky enough to see them. I can't say enough good things about this production.