After an appearance last season at the Muny and a live broadcast this Easter, St. Louisans have another opportunity to catch Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's classic rock opera that’s been around since the '70s. Loosely based on the Gospels, Jesus Christ Superstar details the last week in the life of Jesus Christ -- a demanding show for any company, and Stray Dog’s production has some hits and some misses.
Omega Jones in the title role stands out as one of the show’s hits. With strong vocals (and a great upper-register), Jones’ charismatic presence is easygoing, winning over the audience and justifying the devotion of Jesus’ followers. His frustration when a flood of appeals from the down-trodden threaten to overwhelm him at the end of a nicely staged, “The Temple”, is well played, and after laying down a groundwork of growing despair, Jones delivers one of the high points of the night with “Gethsemane” -- full of hopelessness and appropriately jaded insolence.
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Jesus Christ (Omega Jones),
Mary Magdalene (Heather Matthews)
and the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Photo credit: John Lamb
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Lavonne Byers’ unconventional casting as Pontius Pilate was a nice move. As the Roman who’s charged with governing Judea, Byers, with the strongest acting of the night, is all bluster and sneering during her first meeting with Jesus (“Pilate and Christ”). But finding no guilt in him, and not wanting to bear the responsibility for his death, Byers’ smoky-voiced pleas with the angry mob to spare him in “Trial Before Pilate and the Thirty-Nine Lashes”, packs a real punch.
Jonathan Hey is Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest who plots to have Jesus killed to keep the peace with Roman authorities. His growling bass is intimidating, and his annoyance with Jesus and his rowdy disciples is palpable. His sidekick, Annas, is played in reptilian fashion by Mike Hodges, who can barely make a move that isn’t slithery. Heather Matthews lends reliably solid vocals to the role of Mary Magdalene. Donning a black surgical mask before she is “healed”, she conveys the most emotion in “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”. Nice work also by Riley Dunn as Simon Zealotes, Kevin Corpuz as the disciple Peter and Gerry Love as King Herod.
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(Upper left) Judas Iscariot (Phil Leveling),
(Far Right) Caiaphas (Jonathan Hey)
and the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Photo credit: John Lamb
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Though Jesus gets the billing, the story really belongs to Judas Iscariot (played here by Phil Leveling), whose infamous disloyalty made his name and the word “traitor” synonymous. Agitated by his friend's growing popularity and nervous about the possible consequences, Judas sets off on a path that leads to betrayal and immediate regret. The vocal rigors of the role seemed a challenge for Leveling, but he characterizes the emotional ups and downs well. Under the music direction of Jennifer Buchheit, guitarist Aaron Doerr and percussionist Mike Hansen tackle Lloyd Webber’s rock score confidently, but the brass sounded a bit tentative on opening night, selling the fanfare portions in a couple of songs short.
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Jesus Christ (Omega Jones),
Mary Magdalene (Heather Matthews)
and the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Photo credit: John Lamb
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Like many iconic musicals and plays, JCS can be plopped into any time period or dressed up in any fashion you like. The time period for Stray Dog’s staging is “A distant future…”, allowing a fair amount of aesthetic latitude. Costume designer Eileen Engel outfits the cast in blacks and dark grays, with hints of red for the Jews and purple for the Romans. Hair and makeup designer Miles Bledsoe has everyone in distinct bands of eye makeup, giving the production a stylish, goth look. Stray Dog opted for something different in not starting out with Jesus wearing white, like so many productions tend to do. But the changing of his jackets throughout seemed to subtly symbolize a progression from his expanding influence to his inevitable fate.
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Jesus Christ (Omega Jones),
Mary Magdalene (Heather Matthews)
and Judas Iscariot (Phil Leveling).
Photo credit: John Lamb
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Director Justin Been keeps the action running smoothly, and the ensemble works together like a well-oiled machine, executing the crisp choreography that Mike Hodges provides admirably. Tyler Duenow adds moody lights to Josh Smith’s scenic design that includes 2 massive set pieces, one brick and one stone, that dominate the stage. Typical for Stray Dog shows, great use is made of the house, as the roads to Christ’s trials lead the ensemble up and down the aisles of the Abbey.
While it’s not perfect, it’s an engaging production with enough satisfying performances and creative touches to make it worth checking out. It’s playing at Tower Grove Abbey until the 28th.
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Jesus Christ (Omega Jones)
and the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Photo credit: John Lamb
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JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Directed by Justin Been
Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee Ave.
through April 28 | tickets: $25 - $30
Performances Thursdays to Saturdays at 8pm, additional performances 2pm Sunday, April 22 and 8pm Wednesday, April 25 *Added performance on April 18 at 8pm
Cast
Jesus Christ: Omega Jones
Judas Iscariot: Phil Leveling
Mary Magdalene: Heather Matthews
Pontius Pilate: Lavonne Byers
Caiaphas: Jonathan Hey
Annas: Mike Hodges
Peter: Kevin Corpuz
Simon Zealotes: Riley Dunn
King Herod: Gerry Love
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King Herod (Gerry Love)
and the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Photo credit: John Lamb
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Priests
Tristan Davis
Corey Fraine
William Humphrey
Ensemble
Michael Baird
Maria Bartolotta
Tristan Davis
Ebony Easter
Corey Fraine
Stephen Henley
William Humphrey
Lindsey Jones
Tim Kaniecki
Gerry Love
Kevin O’Brien
Belinda Quimby
Dawn Schmid
Chrissie Watkins
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Jesus Christ (Omega Jones), Priest (William Humphrey),
Caiaphas (Jonathan Hey),
Pontius Pilate (Lavonne Byers), Annas (Mike Hodges)
and Priest (Tristan Davis).
Photo credit: John Lamb
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Creative
Artistic Director: Gary F. Bell
Hair and Makeup Designer/Scenic Painter: Miles Bledsoe
Lighting Designer: Tyler Duenow
Choreographer: Mike Hodges
Costume Designer: Eileen Engel
Costume Stitcher: Amy Hopkins
Stage Manager/Production Manager: Robert M. Kapeller
Assistant Stage Manager: Joshua Littrell
Scenic Designer: Josh Smith
The Band
Reed: Kelly Austermann
Music Director/ Piano: Jennifer Buchheit
Guitar: Aaron Doerr
Violin: Steven Frisbee
Percussion: Mike Hansen
Horn: Liz Kuba
Cello: Michaela Kuba
Bass: M. Joshua Ryan
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