‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ a heavenly experience
VALLEJO — Is there some sort of religious revival going on in theater in Solano County?
In the past year there have been several productions with religious themes, such as “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Godspell” and now Bay Area Stage Production’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
The rock opera was originally released as a concept album in 1970 with Deep Purple’s lead vocalist Ian Gillan singing the part of Jesus and Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene. Elliman also sang “If I Can’t Have You” in “Saturday Night Fever.” The rock opera was originally presented on Broadway in 1971 and was one of the earliest collaborations between the celebrated theatrical team of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice.
Jesus Christ Superstar
8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, May 20-21
4 p.m. Sunday and May 22
The Fetterly Playhouse, 3467 Sonoma Blvd., Suite 10, Vallejo
http://www.bayareastage.org
Three out of four stars
The play basically tells the story of Jesus Christ’s last week on earth leading up to his crucifixion and is based loosely on the gospels in the Bible. “Jesus Christ Superstar” uses anachronisms like rock music in a story that took place 2,000 years ago.
Bay Area Stage Productions added more — such as employing a huge screen at the back of the stage that showed post-apocalyptic images as well as trippy visuals throughout.
There are many talented folks who brought the show to life and they include:
– Kyle Stoner as Jesus of Nazareth, who pulled off the challenging role of the God/man filled with both the power of the almighty as well as the emotions of a human, which came across in his passionate vocals.
– Nick Thompson as Judas Iscariot, who exhibited a commanding presence and a rock ‘n’ roll voice as the tortured betrayer of Christ.
– Casey Ellis as Mary Magdalene, who was absolutely fabulous and her creamy, powerful voice sailed all around the Fetterly Playhouse for the Arts.
Other strong vocalists include Courtney McAllister as Annas, Sydnee Ortiz as Simon, and Kiernan Donleavy as Peter.
The show features well-known numbers like “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” (nailed by Ellis) and many are quite a challenge to sing. For the most part, the cast delivered big time especially on numbers like “Everything’s Alright,” “Hosanna” and “Superstar.”
Jeff Lowe came out of the director’s chair to play the role of Pontius Pilate (and killed it) and he did it quite literally as his throne onstage had the word “director” on the back.
A couple of special treats were Obdulio Butler Jr. in the role of Caiaphas and Dan Monez as King Herod. Butler’s bass voice hit notes in songs like “This Jesus Must Die” that were so low that only dogs could hear. Monez did a rousing version of “King Herod’s Song (Try it and See)” accompanied by 1920s-era flapper dancers.
The showstopper, where everything came together in a dazzling moment of theatrical synergy, was “Could We Start Again Please,” which featured Ortiz, Donleavy and Ellis providing heavenly harmonies with two dancers performing a delicate ballet behind them while simultaneously billowing clouds were shown on the video screen. Simply beautiful.
Choreographer Jamie Roman obviously had the cast putting in several hours of sweat-drenched rehearsals for them to be as tight and fluid as they were.
The costumes (Stacey Loew) were very nicely done. I especially loved the Pharisees’ sinister-looking “black trench coat Mafia” motif set off with what looked like championship boxer belts.
“Jesus Christ Superstar” is Bay Area Stage Production’s first musical. I haven’t ceased to be impressed by “The Little Local Theater Company That Could.”
In the program, Jeff Lowe described how he created the recycled world look of the play by using whatever he could find at the Fetterly. The show is entertaining, inventive and affecting.
Still, there are times when it reaches, but doesn’t quite connect. It reminds me of how sometimes you can put great musicians together into a supergroup and they just don’t gel completely.
Do not misunderstand what I am saying; this is most definitely a play worth experiencing and if anything the reason my socks weren’t blown off is that Bay Area Stage Productions has raised the local bar very high with a string of excellent productions (“Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “True West,” “Buried Child”) and my expectations may have been a tad higher than they should be.
“Jesus Christ Superstar,” while maybe not walk-on-water miraculous, still has several transcendent moments not to be missed.
Reach Fairfield freelance writer Tony Wade at getthelowdown@sbcglobal.net.
Short URL: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/?p=43762
Posted by Tony Wade
on May 9 2011.
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