Review: SMT's High Energy JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Lacks Depth

Let me start out by saying I do not like "Jesus Christ Superstar". I think it is a completely overrated show. Repeating the same lyric 50 times does not make a song! So it's more than an annoyance that every few years someone feels the need to resurrect it (pun intended). I mean in the past eight years I've seen it four times. In fact the current production at Seattle Musical Theatre is the third production in four years where they've chosen to set it in a post-apocalyptic world. I can only attribute its constant remounting to religious fervor and a mass familiarity with the source story. So I'm going to try and keep my disdain for the piece in check and focus on the performances. Unfortunately, as good as the performers were vocally, there was a severe lack of depth in these iconic characters plus a bad sound system which didn't aid the performers in getting me through the afternoon.

As I said, we all know the source story that Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice have been using to cash in on for the past 45 years. Charismatic leader Jesus (David Caldwell) tries to spread his message of love and peace through the land but those in power want no new ideas so they keep trying to shut him down. They continue to fail until they convince one of his main cohorts, Judas (Sara Henley-Hicks), to betray his whereabouts to them so they can arrest him and eventually (spoiler alert) put him to death. No it's not the latest Mad Max movie but the design of this post-apocalyptic world seems to have come right off the screen.

Director Billie Wildrick has introduced her own spin on this one by adding in a character of "Watcher", a young angel played by Jaryn Lasentia who doesn't really add much of anything to story but amps up the "awww" factor when he sings. But none of the characters, including Jesus, seems to have much in the way of depth or levels throughout the show and without that there's no arc or growth to be had. Jesus starts out kind and selfless and stays there. Judas starts out bitter and angsty and stays there. The choreography from Troy Wageman is engaging and lively but it doesn't much move the story along but rather pauses it for a dance break. But at least it was exciting to watch. And that sound system lent nothing to the enjoyment of this rock opera as each time anyone wailed (which people do a lot in rock operas) the sound would peak and distort and made everyone come across as if they were singing in a tin can.

Caldwell has probably the best voice up there and was the one I could hear the clearest. He's got some killer pipes but needs to work on adding some levels to his characterizations. Same with Henley-Hicks who was battling a foot injury which they've incorporated into her character but kind of took over the character as her movements seemed all about battling the handicap. And she can certainly wail but needs to make her wailing more understandable. Megan Tyrell as Mary Magdalene showed off her wonderful voice but she too had character issues as she just seemed all about an over abundance of pathos. The same downfall could be said for Michael Cimino as Herod who just kind of spoke his one solo number and mugged his way through it. In fact it was some of the smaller roles in the ensemble that seemed to have the most in the way of character and levels. Wageman who pulls double duty as choreographer as well as playing Pontius Pilate managed some nice moments struggling with what he had to do as did Garrett Dill as Peter, the apostle who would deny his leader.

If you can't tell, not much from this production made me overlook my dislike of the show. The dance was good and some of the voices soared but the lack of character development made the story fall flat. And so with my three letter rating system I can give this a mere MEH. And if I could ask the Seattle Theater Community a favor, let's give this one a rest for at least five years, OK?

"Jesus Christ Superstar" performs at Seattle Musical Theatre through October 4th. For tickets or information visit them online at www.seattlemusicaltheatre.org.

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