Jesus Christ Superstar - Regents Park Open Air / Barbican

I was at yesterday's matinee. I loved this production and wish I could see it again. Ricardo Afonso and Robert Tripolino were excellent and the whole cast gave it everything they had. A two-show day must be exhausting, especially for the dancers. I was pleasantly surprised by Matt Cardle too; I thought he played the role of Pilate well and his acting was believable. I took the advice of some posters on here and booked the left side of the stalls - brilliant views of the Last Supper tableau and the Crucifixion. I liked the contemporary feel too, with the clothing and the use of the mics portraying Jesus as a celebrity rock-star type figure. The glitter and silver paint was also a unique touch and very effective.

The couple sitting next me displayed some bad audience behaviour, unfortunately. I have no idea why the woman, in particular, came to see the show as she clearly didn't want to be there. She was slouched so far down in her seat that she was almost horizontal and seemed to be asleep during some parts. Constant fidgeting, talking, loud sighing, rustling her crisp packet and loud chewing. In Act Two, she had her head in her hands during the trial of Jesus (through boredom, not emotion) and her partner laughed loudly at inappropriate times (after the betrayal scene) and during the applause after each song, he shouted random comments to the stranger next to him. It was bizarre and the cast must have noticed.

But anyway, it was a brilliant show and I'm glad I chose to see this instead of Joseph at the Palladium. Would love a cast recording so I can experience Ricardo's amazing vocals again.

Funny you should mention bad behaviour... I've noticed at JCS and at Evita yesterday how one or two people (always near the front stalls in the eyeline of the actors) can't resist chair-dancing and mouthing the lyrics. Not only is this disrespectful to the performers and the production, it's very selfish and shows an astonishing lack of self-awareness. Such people either genuinely don't care, or perhaps have a need to be the centre of attention. Probably one for the bad behaviour thread but it seems today's "selfie" culture means that the idea of talking, taking pics, etc. during performances is becoming more frequent.

I saw it again for the second time earlier this week and fell further in love, though I do prefer Rosie's voice as Mary.

I'm disappointed - but perhaps none more so than the cast - that there won't be a cast recording to preserve this production. And Ricardo's performance.

Has this been confirmed? Such a shame not to capture a proper recording of it.

Not officially. I only had a chat at stage door with both Ricardo and Robert, and was told it most likely won't get the go-ahead. You can hear the disappointment in Ricardo's voice. I'm still holding out for a tiny slither of hope, and am glad the show is selling so well in its final stretch.

So I can't think of any limited West End run of any ALW show that has ever had a cast recording sadly.

In fact no revivals have ever had one, other than those that didn't have an official RUG/Really Useful Records pre-existing one (the Tim Rice ones basically - 1991 Joseph, Lyceum JCS and Adelphi Evita).

(3 semi exceptions - Starlight Express got recorded again when they launched the 1992 'new' London version; and the one offs of Sarah Brightman in Song and Dance and the Phantom RAH concert did get released).

Am sure have forgotten stuff - let me know!

So it REALLY would have broken the mould if JCS had had one.

Thinking about it though - even though we on here are desperate for a recording of the Barbican cast, I can totally see how a full CD polished recording would not be profitable. Joe Public has never heard of these people and there are a million cast recordings out there.

Must say though, in this day and age, how hard can it be to take a sound board recording, tidy it up a bit and release it as a digital only version for say a tenner or less. Doesn't need to be a full release at all. But when they have so many fans desperate for them to make one, would this not be a fairly easy thing for them to do? And generate much good will. I do think as ALW fans we don't get rewarded much. Other shows do lots for the fans.
(I am asking the question, I have no idea of the physical process of doing this!). Surely can't be that expensive to do this though, so even if only 1000 people bought it, would still turn a small profit. Or even a CD that they sold only at the theatre or through their website.

I really wish people were a bit more creative now - surely in 2019 there is the technology to do this very easily.

(I do know though that ALW is OBSESSED re quality of his work that is out there. The 25th version of Starlight in Bochum was recorded and was not released until two years later as it kept going backwards and forwards at RUG before they would sign it off. We are now in the same problem with the 30th version. That was recored over a year ago but no sign of it being released).

ANYWAY, ceebee you are bribing the sound guy tonight and then distributing to us tomorrow, right? Can't wait ;-) !!

Moby Dick was recorded just for the cast, and that somehow managed to get released, and it's a pretty good recording of the show. I know I'm dreaming, but would love for the same to happen for this.

I'm looking forward to hearing reports from the final performance. The atmosphere should be electric.