Do You Think You're What They Say You Are?
Apprently not.
So this is a bit of rant but I need to get this off my chest.
I saw JC Superstar yesterday and it is one of my top 3 musicals.With that said I was exposed to the revival in 2001 on B-way and it kicked ass. It was modernized to a t. Jesus looked kinda hippie and everyone was in street clothes, kinda modern days. There were posters and graffiti on the walls that were pro Jesus. The temple sequence had people selling rocket launchers strippers etc. and any gaurds were decked out in leather, face masks and cattle prods. Pilate looked kinda like a leather clad general modern general with a trenchcoat...
So, imagine my dismay when I think I'm to see this modern version and its the 1970's version. SNOOOOREFEST. To make matters worse Jesus was 68. ( the original from the movie) Now for 68 he was good... but his voice gave out frequently and the rest of the cast was not strong enough to support it. They had to lengthen some of the songs by measures to account for him needing breaths or time to restructure the line because his voice would give out. Please forgive me if I'm wrong but isn't Jesus supposed to be this youthful man with a hella strong voice and conviction in it?? (Yeah none of that there)
They made Herod a queen (very VERY flamboyant) and NOBODY who was 'evil' really mocked or jeered or made themselves REALLY evil. They didn't make it seem like they were legit annoyed/ammused enough at the man's AUDACITY and LUNACY to say he was a KING. They were more like 'uh... alright... well... you're...kinda a problem I guess... lets... do this because....this is how this play goes..' It was devoid of emoton. No connection to any of the characters. The 39 lashings looked faked as Jesus all but produced a force field around himself. The priests were blah and weren't forceful or worried at all. There was no pressure from them for Judas to take the money or give up the info.... (like in the Bway version they had to have gaurds gently 'remind' him of who was boss so that he gave it up mostly out of fear) And Pilate was a whiny bitch who was about to cry or coddle Jesus most of the time. The Last Supper was blocked all wrong as the Apostles tried to fight Judas to keep him from leaving and then had a hugfest before bed (where in the GOOD version they are pretty much all but can-caning in the back, drunk out of their minds, letting Judas's emotions towards Jesus and any fear and regret he has play out with Christ alone and without people wrestling him to the ground) Perhaps it was just the version I saw but Herod was a king of a casino type big shot who really dug into Christ and mocked him, laughed at him and was generally what you would expect from someone who thinks they are greater than a stupid little man from a small town. Pilate was unsettled and slightly angered by his dream and the prospect of being the scapegoat, which turned into mockery at Jesus and eventually just anger at the crowd with a tinge of inner battle (as opposed to nearly crying at the thought and cradling Jesus before washing his hands...completely contradictory emotions to the point of not believing it. NOTE: THE MOB MISSED THEIR BEST LINE IN THIS SONG 'KILL HIM HE SAYS HES GOD HE'S A BLASPHEMER HE'LL CONQUER YOU AND USE AND EVEN CEASAR!!') Judas went mental before he died...and took far too long to do so in my opinion. As opposed to being overwhelmed with guilt and just singing that way he chose to writhe on the stage and act like something was poking at him and thus swatting and screaming... LAME. Just show how wracked wth grief you are and have that build until you have this realization that you are going to kill yourself because its the only way out and what you deserve. Don't go nuts over it. You again, loose emotion there. The Leper scene was all wrong as Jesus pretty much says 'get away theres too many of you/Heal yourselves' and theres NOBODY NEAR HIM! Granted he is 68 so the lashings had to be gentle and people can't tear at him like that but STILL!!!! You loose that 'Holy hell he's under a ton of strain! I feel for him! Oh my god so much pain! I'm horrified and moved by what he went through.' (NOPE)
Superstar was so much better in the modernized version as well.. with the aspect of a camera crew follwing Judas (or his damned soul dressed in black and red leather decked out as a damned Billy Idol) as he sings mockingly to Christ who is pulling his cross across stage (and even sits on it at one point)it also allows for the backup girls to provide distraction to the camera crew as you watch Judas apologise and sob to Jesus who seems to not see him. (this version didn't even HAVE jesus drag his cross LEST HIS ARMS BREAK OFF) and Judas was in white... a color that is, in my opinion assocated with good and pure things.... and thought moonwalkin was far too awesome.
In the end I maintain it was a waste of $60 and several hours. The saving graces were found in Mary M.s voice and the amusing comments my brother made. If this show is to even tour or be successful again I suggest they rehire the directors and choreographers who did the 2001 B-way version and keep Jesus at the age he was when he died.... LAMEEEEEEE...
Thank you.
So this is a bit of rant but I need to get this off my chest.
I saw JC Superstar yesterday and it is one of my top 3 musicals.With that said I was exposed to the revival in 2001 on B-way and it kicked ass. It was modernized to a t. Jesus looked kinda hippie and everyone was in street clothes, kinda modern days. There were posters and graffiti on the walls that were pro Jesus. The temple sequence had people selling rocket launchers strippers etc. and any gaurds were decked out in leather, face masks and cattle prods. Pilate looked kinda like a leather clad general modern general with a trenchcoat...
So, imagine my dismay when I think I'm to see this modern version and its the 1970's version. SNOOOOREFEST. To make matters worse Jesus was 68. ( the original from the movie) Now for 68 he was good... but his voice gave out frequently and the rest of the cast was not strong enough to support it. They had to lengthen some of the songs by measures to account for him needing breaths or time to restructure the line because his voice would give out. Please forgive me if I'm wrong but isn't Jesus supposed to be this youthful man with a hella strong voice and conviction in it?? (Yeah none of that there)
They made Herod a queen (very VERY flamboyant) and NOBODY who was 'evil' really mocked or jeered or made themselves REALLY evil. They didn't make it seem like they were legit annoyed/ammused enough at the man's AUDACITY and LUNACY to say he was a KING. They were more like 'uh... alright... well... you're...kinda a problem I guess... lets... do this because....this is how this play goes..' It was devoid of emoton. No connection to any of the characters. The 39 lashings looked faked as Jesus all but produced a force field around himself. The priests were blah and weren't forceful or worried at all. There was no pressure from them for Judas to take the money or give up the info.... (like in the Bway version they had to have gaurds gently 'remind' him of who was boss so that he gave it up mostly out of fear) And Pilate was a whiny bitch who was about to cry or coddle Jesus most of the time. The Last Supper was blocked all wrong as the Apostles tried to fight Judas to keep him from leaving and then had a hugfest before bed (where in the GOOD version they are pretty much all but can-caning in the back, drunk out of their minds, letting Judas's emotions towards Jesus and any fear and regret he has play out with Christ alone and without people wrestling him to the ground) Perhaps it was just the version I saw but Herod was a king of a casino type big shot who really dug into Christ and mocked him, laughed at him and was generally what you would expect from someone who thinks they are greater than a stupid little man from a small town. Pilate was unsettled and slightly angered by his dream and the prospect of being the scapegoat, which turned into mockery at Jesus and eventually just anger at the crowd with a tinge of inner battle (as opposed to nearly crying at the thought and cradling Jesus before washing his hands...completely contradictory emotions to the point of not believing it. NOTE: THE MOB MISSED THEIR BEST LINE IN THIS SONG 'KILL HIM HE SAYS HES GOD HE'S A BLASPHEMER HE'LL CONQUER YOU AND USE AND EVEN CEASAR!!') Judas went mental before he died...and took far too long to do so in my opinion. As opposed to being overwhelmed with guilt and just singing that way he chose to writhe on the stage and act like something was poking at him and thus swatting and screaming... LAME. Just show how wracked wth grief you are and have that build until you have this realization that you are going to kill yourself because its the only way out and what you deserve. Don't go nuts over it. You again, loose emotion there. The Leper scene was all wrong as Jesus pretty much says 'get away theres too many of you/Heal yourselves' and theres NOBODY NEAR HIM! Granted he is 68 so the lashings had to be gentle and people can't tear at him like that but STILL!!!! You loose that 'Holy hell he's under a ton of strain! I feel for him! Oh my god so much pain! I'm horrified and moved by what he went through.' (NOPE)
Superstar was so much better in the modernized version as well.. with the aspect of a camera crew follwing Judas (or his damned soul dressed in black and red leather decked out as a damned Billy Idol) as he sings mockingly to Christ who is pulling his cross across stage (and even sits on it at one point)it also allows for the backup girls to provide distraction to the camera crew as you watch Judas apologise and sob to Jesus who seems to not see him. (this version didn't even HAVE jesus drag his cross LEST HIS ARMS BREAK OFF) and Judas was in white... a color that is, in my opinion assocated with good and pure things.... and thought moonwalkin was far too awesome.
In the end I maintain it was a waste of $60 and several hours. The saving graces were found in Mary M.s voice and the amusing comments my brother made. If this show is to even tour or be successful again I suggest they rehire the directors and choreographers who did the 2001 B-way version and keep Jesus at the age he was when he died.... LAMEEEEEEE...
Thank you.