Jesus Christ Superstar
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Cititour.com Review
Jesus certainly isn't underrepresented on Broadway right now. A revival of Godspell, an early Stephen Schwartz musical, came to town in the fall, and now spring brings Jesus Christ Superstar, the rock opera that launched the careers of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice more than 40 years ago. Directed by Tony winner Des McAnuff, this sonorously resplendent revival, a mixed bag of richness and flatness, comes to Broadway courtesy of Canada’s Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
At its best, Lloyd Webber and Rice's sung-through musical is still a brisk, rollicking and fun show that chronicles Jesus' final days before his crucifixion. But watching McAnuff's solid if unspectacular revival reminds one that the pair had yet to hone the stylistic flourishes that would make future shows such as Evita, also back on Broadway, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat so unforgettable.
Not that Superstar lacks for memorable numbers. The title song, sung by Judas (Josh Young, looking fetching in a body-hugging blue ensemble), brings down the house. And Mary Magdalene's big ballad, "I Don't Know How to Love Him," resounds with earnest beauty in the hands of Chilina Kennedy. Paul Nolan, who like Young and Kennedy, is making his Broadway debut, is less distinguished as Jesus, who comes across as rather passive and nonchalant. That's often the case with this production, although the always watchable Tom Hewitt as the unyielding Pontius Pilate and Bruce Dow, camping it up as King Herod, provide welcome relief.
But barring a knockout production, audio may be the best medium for Jesus Christ Superstar. All the better to worship the show's powerhouse score without having to sit through a show that doesn't have that much to offer once you know the ending.
By Diane Snyder
Visit the Site
http://www.superstaronbroadway.com
Cast
Paul Nolan, Josh Young, Chilina Kennedy, Tom Hewitt, Bruce Dow, Marcus Nance, Aaron Walpole, Matt Alfano, Mary Antonini, Karen Burthwright, Jacqueline Burtney, Mark Cassius, Ryan Gifford, Kaylee Harwood, Jeremy Kushnier, Mike Nadajewski, Melissa O’Neil, Laurin Padolina, Katrina Reynolds, Jaz Sealey, Jason Sermonia, Julius Sermonia, Lee Siegel, Jonathan Winsby, Sandy Winsby, Krista Leis, Matthew Rossoff
Open/Close Dates
Opening 3/1/2012
Closing 7/1/2012
Box Office
800-745-3000
Theatre Info
Neil Simon Theatre
250 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
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