Holy moly! The celebrated rock musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, is now playing in Melbourne. This award-winning production by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber is set in the final weeks of the life of Jesus Christ, seen through the eyes of Judas. Find this exciting rock opera at the Princess Theatre.
Jesus Christ Superstar
The 1970s score was first released as a concept album, and the show opened on Broadway in 1971. The original production in London ran for over eight years, making it the longest-running musical on the West End at the time. When it first came to Australia in 1972, it played for over 700 performances in Sydney, Melbourne and other cities. Over the years, this musical has been made into a film and has had revivals on Broadway and the West End. There was also an Australian arena tour featuring John Farnham, Jon Stevens, Kate Ceberano and more in 1992.
Melbourne show
You don’t have to be religious to watch this musical, but it certainly does help to be familiar with the events surrounding Jesus and his crucifixion. As a rock opera, this musical is all songs, no dialogue, which makes it a little tricky to grasp what is going on if you’re not already aware of the major characters and events. It was also a little hard to hear the lyrics on opening night, adding to a sense of confusion. Despite this, the music was absolutely powerful, and this genre of music appeals to you, you’ll certainly have an excellent time.
International recording artist, Michael Paynter, shines in the role of Jesus. He brought the house down with his powerful rendition of Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say).
Meanwhile, Javon King brings plenty of charisma to the role of Judas, and his betrayal and subsequent guilt is heart-breaking to watch.
Another stand-out of the show is Reuban Kaye as King Herod, who brings some much-needed levity to an otherwise grim tale. His appearance is brief, but unforgettable.
Other notable performances include soul and blues vocalist Mahalia Barnes as Mary Magdalene and Peter Murphy as Pontius Pilate, who both bring their A-game to this energetic show.
The show is playing in Melbourne from now until June 22.