Jesus Christ Superstar Review
by Rob Snyder

I scored some free tickets to a local production of this Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical.  Hard to believe it's been around since 1971.

No, I haven't seen the musical before nor the Oscar Award-winning film version.  However, the original cast soundtrack was in my house.  That would have been "back-in-the-day" when there was only one music player in the whole house.  I don't remember who actually "owned" the vinyl, but it did get played a lot to the point where I can still remember some of the tunes today.

I went in with no expectations (free tickets!) other than having a good time at the theater.  That's how Christians should approach this, too, as it's clearly a humanistic portrayal of Jesus's final seven days. If you're looking for Bibical insight, you're not going to find it.

This version of the musical opens with Jesus performing a miracle by raising a man (not Lazarus) from the dead.  The musical remains true to the idea that on Palm Sunday Jesus is welcomed as a hero (nicely done in this production) but in less than a week literally everyone turns their back on him  By and large, the musical shows the "human" side of Christ; his compassion, passion, anger, and doubt.  The one aspect of his "character" that I did not care for was the underlying cynicism during "The Last Supper."

Out of the Apostles. Judas has the most prominent role.  He's worried that "Jesus-mania" is getting out of hand and at first is reluctant to betray Jesus.  One thing I didn't get was the return of Judas after his suicide, but this is, after all, a dramtization.

I totally disagree with a local reviewer who says the musical, while not a resurrection story (agree) offers "hints of triumph at the end."  I did not see that at all.  In fact, the last scene is labelled "John 19:41."

"Jesus Christ Superstar" is also a product of its time.  Some of the guitar parts are trippy and/or Shaft-like, while "What's the Buzz" comes across today as a painful effort to be "hip."

However, I still am moved by the song "I Don't Know How to Love Him."  The lyric "It scares me so" is just so powerful and rings true today for many on their spiritual journey.  It's also about Jesus's love for the social outcasts, something that many of us miserably fail to reflect.

I enjoyed the show.  No, I didn't necessarily get any new insights, let alone converted.  However, in many ways it's far more "Christian" than some of the Chrisitan music I've listened to over the years.  It is a dramatization, nothing more nothing less.

Most of the actors and musicians were from the area, I thought they did an excellent job.  I would recommend "Jesus Christ Superstar," it is art worth supporting.  However, as a Christian production the musical "Hero" is superior.

 http://www.thegrandoperahouse.com/