The acclaimed 50th Anniversary tour of the iconic rock-musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, presented by Broadway in Victoria, is now playing at Victoria’s Royal Theatre until January 7, 2024.
Featuring dramatic sets and staging based on the 2017 Olivier awarding-winning production from Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, the Royal Theatre production starts off strong with the talented five-piece band’s rendition of the overture. Drew McOnie’s cutting-edge choreography mesmerizes as the cast of up to two dozen performers filling all levels of the stage with their movements.
The ground-breaking sung-through rock opera with lyrics and music by incomparable Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the, at times quite dark, final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ, told mainly from the Judas’ point of view. Known as a the quintessential rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar includes a cavalcade of styles, from the rock tracks like ‘Heaven on Their Minds‘ by Elvie Ellis as Jusas or ‘Gethsemane’ belted by Jack Hopewell as Jesus or the deep tones of ‘This Jesus Must Die‘ lead by Grant Hodges as Caiaphas and Mekhi Holloway as Annas. Jaden Dominique as Mary slows things down with the Hot 100 pop ballad ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, then Alec Diem does a scene-stealing turn with the Ragtime-infused ‘King Herod’s Song’ and the entire company swings from spiritual-revival ‘Hosanna’, to the anthemic ‘Superstar’.
The entire production is lush and fills the ornate National Historic Site designated theatre with energy, most of the audience rising to enthusiastically meet the energy. The only small quibble on opening night seemed technical when the cast handed off the wireless mics between lead singers, it sounded like the audio or our ears took a moment to adjust to the new voice. Some of the more raucous rock moments sounded a bit ‘shouty’ with a hand-held mic mimicking a concert setting.
Playing until January 7th at Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street, Victoria, now is the opportunity to check this renewed 50th anniversary tour production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR off your Broadway checklist. Visit broadwayinvictoria.com for showtimes and tickets.