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| Left to right: Brian West, Brian Morris and Greg Wood in Jesus Christ Superstar. Photo by Bunny Miller. |
Jesus Christ Superstar
Lyrics
by Tim Rice, Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber
Choreography
by Rebecca Chaney
Music
Director Doug Jones
Directed
by Janet Morris
Reviewed
by Craig Nolan Highley
Entire
contents are copyright © 2012, Craig Nolan
Highley. All rights reserved.
The Clarksville Little Theater certainly has ups and downs when it
comes to the quality of their productions. But when they are on – they are on. And that is certainly the case with
their latest production, a revival of the classic Rice/Weber rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar.
It was originally conceived as a two-record concept album released
in 1970 before moving to the Broadway stage in 1971 and has been revived
countless times all over the world. Once considered highly controversial (the
original album was banned from BBC radio for being sacrilegious), it’s now
beloved: a passion play set to rock music that’s just infectious. Taking a lot
of liberties with the Sacred Texts, the opera dramatizes the final week in the
life of Christ and casts Judas Iscariot, one of the Bible’s most hated
villains, in a sympathetic role.
This interpretation of the story presents Jesus as a tortured
soul, struggling to reconcile his Divinity with his humanity as he leads his
apostles in the way of the Lord. His best friend and confidante Judas is
increasingly more disturbed by the road his Master is taking, to the point that
he worries about Jesus’ true motives. Both men seem to have a less than pure
interest in the lovely former prostitute Mary Magdalene, who struggles with her
own feelings for the Son of God.
Everything about CLT’s current production is stellar, starting
with the casting. As Jesus, Brian Morris gives the performance of his career.
His singing is flawless and he certainly looks the part, but he has found the
character’s emotional center and at times he is heartbreaking to watch.
Similarly, Jason Potts’ Judas (arguably the show’s true leading role) is an
emotional wreck and Potts lets raw emotion trump the character’s high notes
with an amazing skill.
Carrie Cooke’s Mary Magdalene is just lovely both in looks and
voice. We can feel her struggle against her baser instincts, especially on the show’s
two best numbers: “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” and “Can We Start Again
Please.”
The show’s more villainous roles are also given a nice touch here,
from the Matrix- and Hellraiser-inspired interpretations of
the High Priests (Mason Stewart, Dan Canon and Jeff Mangum) and the completely
cartoonish King Herod (Greg Wood, in the show’s most rousing song-and-dance
performance). Bo Cecil also gives a nicely sympathetic turn as a tortured
Pontius Pilate, especially with the touching “Pilate’s Dream” number.
Janet Morris continues to top herself with each new show she
directs, at CLT and elsewhere, and this is no exception. She has staged some
amazing set pieces, and has directed a huge ensemble, expertly allowing every
single cast member their own moments to shine.
Finally, the set design (by director Morris and stage manager
Kevin Butler) is simple yet effective, evoking traditional Passion Plays with a
nicely anachronistic modern twist, complemented by multiple-period costume
designs (by Morris, Jayme Thomas, Katie Hay, Bryce Blair, Rebecca Chaney and
Jennifer Starr Tennant). All of this is given life by the moody and beautiful
lighting designs of Nick Dent.
The real magic of Jesus
Christ Superstar may well be the way it can be enjoyed by everyone, no
matter what your religious beliefs. (In fact, I happen to know that among the
cast and crew there is an amazing diversity of faiths, even a few agnostics and
atheists.) But no matter what your personal belief system may be, I challenge
you to try to keep a dry eye at the show’s emotional and ominous conclusion,
which doesn’t even provide a curtain call to break the levity.
By far one of the best pieces of Community Theater I have seen in
quite some time. Not to be missed!
Jesus Christ
Superstar
Featuring Polina Abramov, John Aurelius, Bryce Blair, Dan Canon,
Bo Cecil, Carrie Cooke, Ellie Delap, Eddie Dohn, Elisa Freeman, Katie Hay,
Nicholas Johnson, Karissa Kathryn, Jeff Mangum, Brian Martin, Martha McLain,
Mike Miller, Drew Moore, Brian Morris, Mary Rose Pinotti, Heidi Platt, Jason
Potts, Andrea Rose, Mason Stewart, Jennifer Starr Tennant, Laura Van Fossen,
Brian West and Greg Wood.
May
11-20, 2012
Clarksville
Little Theatre
301
E. Montgomery Ave. Clarksville, IN 47129
812-283-6522
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