Jesus Christ Superstar - Regents Park Open Air / Barbican

Sunday night has been the only exception to the two "set" trios of leads that we've seen so far, which makes me wonder if Tyrone was supposed to be on but wasn't able to for some reason.

Not that I've been tracking who's been on in an attempt to figure out the schedule so I can see everyone, you understand ...

So to add a couple more thoughts now I have come down from last night...

Obviously I was already an enormous fan of this and they could have done it exactly the same as before and I would have been delighted. In fact, I was anxious that I wouldn’t get to see Ricardo on my first visit, because he was my favourite part of the whole thing. So, this is hardly a dispassionate eye.

I felt that there were several improvements, especially in the casting. Cedric Neal as Simon Zealotes smashed it, bringing a worshipful fervour to the song that filled my heart with joy. Shaq Taylor as Herod brings a lovers rock vibe to the song, and he completely makes it his own. I usually endure that song, but he finds something new in it.

I also thought that the revised choreography of the ending had so much more impact and, as a Christian, it went several steps towards resurrection. Some of my Christian friends won’t see the play because ALW doesn’t give us that. massive oversimplification of something much more complex, that is probably very boring for most people on here.

Anyway, wear your mask when you go. We were in row r so I could see backs not faces, but I realised this morning from the selfie we took, that of the six people in the pic (four people not in our party) we were the only two masked.

I'm hoping they extend the lawn screenings through September, maybe then i'll consider going because I could do a pretty cheap theatre weekend with that and Sleepless.

Why doesn’t it surprise me that Kenwright could ruin the resurrection?

Open air theatre have added a bit to the website where they list which seats are singles, to make it easier to find them (if that’s any help?)

Just on the boards at the theatre.

So apparently they're going to be live streaming each performance but only to a screen in the park itself: openairtheatre.com/production/Superstar-On-Screen?dm_i=1XWE

Where to start with this? It works! Definitely more than just a concert, particularly with the superb choreography. It was like seeing old friends again, and there are some memorable tweaks to the vocals - clever use of pauses, dynamic modern twists to the melodies to keep it fresh. Declan/Tyrone/Anoushka on tonight and they all nailed it, as did the whole cast and band. Declan Bennett punches his way through the score with soul, rock and panache. Tyrone Huntley has a rich texture and vocal gymnastics that almost - almost - made me forget Ricardo Afonso superb performances last year in the role. Anoushka Lucas reminded us how glorious she was first time around in the role of Mary. Hard not to praise everybody, but David Thaxton was electric as Pilate, Annas and Caiaphas were superb priests and Herod was the best I've seen.

It is great to see this version decluttered with minimal props, and the minimalism focuses the audience on the actors, lyric and music.

The lashes loses no impact for being socially distanced, and the "innocent puppet" line blends into a very clever crowning and "Superstar" finale.

Theatre in the covid era? It's back on, and emphatically so.

Jesus' crucifixion is very simple but very clever. (Elective resignation is all I will say.)

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I was also there tonight and echo all of that, I thought it was absolutely superb. Being back in a theatre seeing something as good as that has put me on a real high after a really terrible week.

Such a shame I have several entries for the Bad Behaviour thread, but I guess even that is a return to some semblance of normality! [/quote]


Yes - there was what I can only describe as deliberate and childish disobedience from two women on the far right of the audience regarding wearing masks, covert photography/filming and being a general nuisance. Plus - Row C centre left - i paid to see and hear the cast, not to see you head dancing, mouthing lines and waving to your mates in "I don't know how to love him".

Some people need to stay away from theatres, as their crass attitudes do spoil things and are a distraction. I think the front of house staff should just kick such folk out.

Oh, and another pet peeve - audience members with an inability to hang on for the loo for 90 minutes. It's not the effing cinema. Go before or after but don't disrespect the performers and your fellow audience by getting up (more than once) for a loo break. If you struggle in that area, have the decency to buy a lawn ticket where the loos are close and you'll not be in the eyeline of the cast. (I never understand why such borderline incontinents insist on buying tickets so close to the front and then spend half the showtime coming and going for oblutions.)

On the upside, the night ended beautifully with a marriage proposal in the upper tier which was lovely to witness along with the spontaneous audience cheers and claps. Even with masks on, the best of humankind wins out.

OAT should be very proud. The ticket checks, temperature checks and one-way system works perfectly, all staff were polite and friendly, the bar works better (!) with the new system, and the new toilets and grill blocks
are fantastic!

I will definitely be returning with my daughters. The marriage proposal was as the last 1/3 or so of audience were leaving. It was very touching - I might be wrong but a bottle of bubbles was offered either by an audience member/friend or OAT. Still, i found it a moment of profound beauty in such weird times, and wish them both every happiness.

Single seat Row J is available on Regent's Park OAT booking page for Friday 28 August 7.30pm performance. One of the best seats in the theatre and a rare single (very few available now).

This production is remarkably expansive, using the full length and breadth of the "Evita" steps; the choreography is glorious, the Last Supper is still genius, the crucifixion rather clever, and the music is loud and fantastic in equal measure. Oh, and there is a lot of love between the cast and the audience. The waves of emotion and support flowing from the audience to the stage and back are something to behold, despite the distancing and masks.

Has anyone been to the lawn screening of this? I'm going this evening with a couple others and I was going to bring a blanket for us all to sit on but the info hub seems unclear whether we'll be sitting together or still in the socially distanced individual 1.2sq metre spaces and I'll have to bring us a blanket each.