The Most Powerful Jesus Christ Superstar
““You can rock the critics if you try”
Herod
I think this is the sixth time I have seen this production of Jesus Christ Superstar. It originated at Regent’s Park in the Open Air which felt like a crowd of people having found out about happiness and the meaning of life. I returned that year in 2016 with my family, and again in 2017. In 2019 I saw it again, for the first time indoors at the Barbican, and in 2020 once more at the Open Air but under distancing regulations for both the audience and the cast with redesigned choreography.
It was Drew McOnie’s dance which made the initial impression but now I am looking for an audio recording which has the wonderful guitar riffs which are distinctive to Timothy Sheader’s production. Now at Wimbledon New Theatre for a criminally short week but on tour to the rest of the UK (details below) and simultaneously in the USA, Netherlands, Japan, Norway and Hungary.
It is a wonderful show and remains true to the original. The overture is exciting and a strong start to the rock ethos of the musical. “Heaven on their Minds” introduces Judas (Shem Omari James)’s misgivings followed by the full of energy “What’s the Buzz?” Mary Magdalene (Hannah Richardson) tries to calm Jesus (Ian McIntosh) with the gentle ballad “Everything’s Alright”.
One of my favourite scenes is next with the High Priests, Annas (Matt Bateman with his wonderful voice and Caiaphas (Jad Habchi) whose register is as deep as the ocean and just as sexy. The moment when they up end their ceremonial staffs for them to become microphones still scores for sheer drama. They switch from “This Jesus Must Die” to the crowd pleasing “Hosanna” a brilliant tune we can all identify with. “Tell the rabble to be quiet,” sings Caiaphas but Jesus’s followers respond with more “Hosanna” which might be my favourite song from the show.
The only scene which I found less effective in the indoor space is the clearing of the traders from the Temple which starts with gold lit crosses and ends with Caiaphas counting his gold. The superb Hannah Richardson sings the evocative hit single from the show, “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”. “Damned for All Time/Blood Money” from Judas and the priests has choreography to die for.
Act Two goes into the clever recreation of Da Vinci’s painting of “The Last Supper”. Jesus sings “Gethsemane” and “The Arrest” sees Judas’s betrayal of Jesus. We can now see the band on the Upper level along with the High Priests. Judas accepted the silver but his hands are permanently silvered.
Herod (Timo Tatzber) enters for his song which always reminds me of the Elvis like entrance of the Pharoah in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. The chorus dance with their heads on bloody plates as we remember the Slaughter of the Innocents.
Judas sings falsetto and goes to his death with shame. The crowd turn on Jesus and tell Pilate (Ryan O’Donnell) to crucify him. Of course Peter has denied Jesus three times as predicted. The final scene of the Scourging of Jesus is played out with sparks flying at each of the 39 lashes but the pain shown by Ian McIntosh is very moving.
This is the best production of Jesus Christ Superstar I ever hope to see and I would give it six stars if I could from Theatrevibe, the site that doesn’t do stars.
Musical Numbers
Act One
Overture
Heaven On Their Minds
What’s The Buzz
Strange Thing, Mystifying
Everything’s Alright
This Jesus Might Die
Hosanna
Simon Zealotes / Poor Jerusalam
Pilate’s Dream
The Temple
Everything’s Alright (Reprise)
I Don’t Know How To Love Him
Damned For All Time / Blood Money
Act Two
The Last Supper
Gethsemane
The Arrest
Peter’s Denial
Pilate and Christ / Herod’s Song
Could We Start Again, Please?
Judas’s Death
Trial by Pilate / 39 Lashes
Superstar
Crucifixion
John 19:41
Production Notes
Jesus Christ Superstar
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Directed by Timothy Sheader
Choreographed by Drew McOnie
Cast
Starring:
Ian McIntosh
Shem Omari James
Hannah Richardson
Ryan O’Donnell
Jad Habchi
Matt Bateman
With:
Luke Street
Timo Tatzber
Jasmine Jules Andrews
Daniel Bowskill
Carla Bertran
Pàje Campbell
Myra Carmen
Eloise Davies
Francis Foreman
Louise Francis
Joshua Hawkins
Casandra Lee
Darius J James
Stephen Lewis-Johnston
Jordan Michael Todd
Jago Mottart
Mia Musakambeva
Timothy Roberts
Esme Rothero
Christopher Tendai
Creatives
Director: Timothy Sheader
Choreographer: Drew McOnie
Designer: Tom Scutt
Musical Supervisor: Tom Deering
Lighting Designer: Lee Curran
Sound Designer: Nick Lidster
Musical Director: Grant Walsh
Information
Running Time: Two hours with an interval
Booking at Wimbledon until 18th May 2024
Then touring to all 2024
21st to 25th May The Lowry
3rd to 8th June New Victoria Woking
11th to 15th June Sunderland Empire
17th to 22nd June Marlowe Theatre , Canterbury
24th to 29th June. Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield
1st July to 6th July Cymru, Llandudno
9th to 13th July Pavilion Southend
16th to 20th July Princess, Torquay
29th July to 3rd August King’s Theatre, Glasgow
5th to 10th August Everyman Cheltenham
12th to 17th August Winter Gardens, Blackpool
MORE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED
Theatre:
New Theatre Wimbledon
93 The Broadway
Wimbledon
London SW19 1QG
Tube: Wimbledon
Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge
at the New Theatre Wimbledon on 14th May 2024
