Jesus Christ Superstar, Milton Keynes Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Mel Randle
I was ecstatic when I was invited to review Jesus Christ Superstar. Being a mega Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, this is up there with one of my favourite musical soundtracks of all time!
But…. When you are that passionate about something, it is easy for someone to come along with their own interpretation of it and take a wrecking ball to something that you love. Thankfully that is not the case here and I have fallen in love with the show all over again!!
I don’t even know where to start, there are so many things I could say, or I could wrap this up now with three words – Wow! Wow! Wow!
The main thing I want to get across is just how incredible the singing is. I could have quite easily have watched the whole thing with my eyes closed and loved it just as much. The voices of Jesus (played by Ian McIntosh) and Judas (played by Shem Omari James ) were out of this world. They hit notes you didn’t think possible. And the rest of the cast were just as worthy of the standing ovation at the end.
The set was unchanged throughout, with echoes of the 1973 movie using a scaffold structure as staging. A huge fallen cross lay across the stage almost like a catwalk for actors to perform. Then there was the tree. Seriously not as crazy as it sounds. With huge spot lights and clever use of props and microphones, the staging was beautiful.
The costumes and dancers/disciples were street dance with a middle eastern sandy desert feel. I have to admit I did struggle to understand what they were trying to express through their dance a lot of the time but the singing and staging were so amazing, I didn’t actually care. They added to the overall energy and spectacle.
I could talk you through the whole production, but I urge you to see it and I don’t want to ruin it for you, so I think I need to focus on what I consider the three main elements which could make or break any JCS production – Gethsemane, Herod’s Song and the Crucifixion.
Gethsemane was one of the best musical performances I have every seen! Jesus, a microphone and a guitar. And yes he did hit those notes! I want to see it over and over again.
Herod’s song – think Julian Clary meets Adam Lambert. Wasn’t the best vocal Herod I have heard but definitely the glitziest. The costume nearly blinded us when the light hit it!
And the crucifixion left us with goosebumps. The atmosphere created by the spot lights and dry ice was spine tingling. There wasn’t a sweet wrapper rustling in the house.
The show has an age guidance of 10+. The depiction of the lead up to the crucifixion was harrowing and could upset some people. The make-up of Jesus having been whipped was just awesome – maybe a little bit to realistic! I do think if you don’t know the plot, younger people could find it harder to follow.
Rating: 5/5
Jesus Christ Superstar is on at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 4th November.
Tickets priced from £13.00
Purchase tickets through ATG website here….
https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/jesus-christ-superstar/milton-keynes-theatre/