Spoilers ahead for “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
One of the more controversial yet critically acclaimed musicals came to Oakland University’s Varner Studio Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 15 to a sold-out crowd.
“Jesus Christ Superstar” by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, shocked friends, families and musical theater fanatics alike with stunning direction by guest director Suzi Regan and absolutely standout lead performances by Rachel Nesbitt (Judas) and Faith Green (Jesus).
You may have noticed that the main cast roles for JCS are performed gender-bent. This subversion is extended to almost the entire cast with Simon, Annas, Pilate and King Herod’s roles being played by women — as well as there being women apostles thrown in the mix.
The casting is not just there as a progressive move, the casting is truly superb. Each role is cast perfectly and Regan’s direction aptly gives each actor and actress room to fully embody their characters.
As Judas, Nesbitt opted to go for a more modern take on the classic tale of the betrayer.
“I think it is so important because it will give a fresh perspective to the character and it will also benefit the actor and maybe it will benefit somebody in the audience,” Nesbitt said.
Nesbitt’s performance was my favorite among the cast. Not only did she make and subvert expectations of what an already established character in the religious canon could be, but she frankly sang her heart out — all the way from the character’s introduction until his untimely and pitiful demise.
Nesbitt’s best musical numbers were “Heaven On Their Minds,” “Damned For All Time/Blood Money” and of course, “Judas’s Death.”
Not only did JCS get me to sympathize with Judas, but it got me to think Jesus was not an infallible person. He was human, after all.
Green’s interpretation and performance as Jesus really sold me on the whole idea of a passion-themed musical. She wanted to respect the fact that this was such an important story for millions of people, but also wanted to highlight that this is an important part of recorded history.
“Even if he wasn’t some messiah I think that’s a human man and I am telling a very human story. And I want to respect the fact that people did get crucified, people did get tortured and killed, people were oppressed by their governments — all the time throughout history,” Green said.
Green’s best moments included her performance in “The Temple,” “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)” and “The Crucifixion” — the last of which sees Green’s character put up onto a cross and beg for mercy as life slowly leaves his eyes and he eventually succumbs to his fate.
I was moved and outright brought to tears by the whole story and ordeal. As a critic and as a person, I have never had a truly eye-opening experience like this while viewing musical theater.
The overall themes of overcoming oppression, standing strong on your morals, what it means to be close to someone and the overarching message of faith are ever-present in the original source material and Regan’s adaptation, but they don’t overpower the music — which is one of best things about the production.
Compared to the Broadway recordings, the film soundtrack and the original studio recording, OU’s 11-piece orchestra did a pretty good job keeping pace with the performers.
It was refreshing to see and hear a rock opera musical that was not completely full of itself sonically and theatrically — Regan did a great job of balancing every single element that could have gone and tampered with the experience and made sure it did not.
“The legacy of JCS is validated when a whole new generation (who were not a glimmer in their parent’s eye in the 1970s when first produced) can find meaning in the music, words, story and make their own, in their own voice, for their own time and share with an audience of their peers. Super gratifying to witness,” Regan said.
The supporting cast, chorus, ensemble and muses also did an excellent job not taking away from the main performers, but also not fading into the background either.
If you have not bought a ticket already and you want to see this amazing, fantastic adaptation, it might be too late. During the final dress rehearsal — the performance that I saw — it was announced that tickets to OU’s JCS were sold out.
JCS will be performed at OU’s Varner Studio Theatre until Saturday, Feb. 24.
Rating: 5/5 stars
