Jesus Christ Superstar at Mayflower Southampton Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Helen O
Having last watched Jesus Christ Superstar as a school production, some 30 odd years ago, I jumped at the chance for an opportunity to watch the Regents Park Open Air Theatre Production, which is a modern re-imagined version of the show, at the Mayflower Southampton on opening night, last night.
We were seated in the stalls in row G, to the right hand side of the stage as you look at it, which gave us a clear view of all of the action on the stage. The seats at the Mayflower Theatre have ample legroom and are comfortable, so all we had to do was sit back and enjoy the show.
The thing that caught our eye straight away was the huge cross which dominated the stage during the entire performance, hinting at the inevitability of the ending we should expect to witness. There was a darkness to the set, depicting the gravity of the storyline unfolding. In fact, there were no set changes throughout the performance.
With music and lyrics by the exceptional duo of Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Sir Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of the events which unfold over the final weeks of Jesus’ life ultimately leading to his crucifixion. However, the story is told from the point of view of Judas Iscariot (played with conviction by Shem Omari James), one of Jesus’ twelve apostles; the one who betrayed him. With important moments in this tale portrayed including Judas’ betrayal, the Last Supper, Peter’s denial and ultimately the Crucifixion.
Despite being written over 50 years ago, this modern day adaptation stands the test of time. The music remains current and fresh, presented with a contemporary feel. The use of hand-held microphones throughout the performance was a great way of depicting the story in a concert-like manner. The creative use of the props to conceal the microphones during certain scenes, was really clever.
I loved how the live band were incorporated into the stage performance, rather than being hidden out of sight, adding to the concert-like feel and showcasing their skills.
With all the actors wearing contemporary clothes (I hadn’t expected to see Jesus wearing a hoodie), the performance was brought right up to date, by director Timothy Sheader and it worked. Add to that the amazing, high energy choreography by Drew McOnie, it’s easy to see how this reimagined, modern day production won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.
From the moment the actors appeared on stage, there was a high energy, with extremely complex choreography. With resident choreographer, Christopher Tendai showcasing his amazing talents throughout.
The standout performance for us was Hannah Richardson as Mary Magdalene, delivering her rendition of ‘I don’t know how to love him’; it was absolutely perfect and gave us goosebumps. In fact, her delivery of each of her songs was phenomenal.
Luke Stevens played an almost mean and moody Jesus, which was a step away from the character I had expected to see depicted but was a refreshing change and he was amazing…a Superstar, in fact. What a voice, particularly when he performed ‘Gethsemane’.
We thought the depiction of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, for 30 pieces of silver was genius. He dipped his hands into the chest offered by Caiaphas and when he withdrew his hands, they were coated in silver paint, which was present throughout the remaining performance. Also, the use of glitter to represent the 39 lashings that Jesus received prior to his crucifixion, was brilliantly done.
Some ‘light’ relief (if you can call it that) was provided by Timo Tatzber, as King Herod. Clad in a decadent gold cape, he brilliantly performed King Herod’s Song where he requests Jesus to perform some of his famous miracles, but when Jesus doesn’t bow to his demands, sends him straight back to Pilate to await his fate.
As the performance is completely sung, it relies on the clarity of the vocals to tell the unfolding story. Unfortunately with some of musical numbers, including those by Shem Omari James’ (Judas) it was difficult to hear some of the lyrics. However, as the story is so well-known and with the amazing choreography on stage, you could sense what was happening.
The finale of the crucifixion was suitably intense and brilliantly portrayed, culminating in a very clever depiction of Jesus hanging from the cross, with his crown of thorns. Although, I hadn’t expected an electric drill to make an appearance; again adding to the contemporary feel of the performance!
The atmosphere in the audience was intense, with the cast receiving a standing ovation, which they richly deserved.
With a running time of approximately 2 hours, including a 20 minute interval, the performance time was just right, to keep us engaged and absolutely flew by, as the momentum kept going through the entire performance.
The tickets range between £27.50 and £49.50, so there’s a ticket price for everyone’s budget to see this fabulous show! I think it’s great value for money.
The show is running from Monday 25th March 2024 until Saturday 30th March 2024, with a matinee performance on Saturday 30th March 2024. It is recommended for age 10 years and over, which although is appropriate, given how well-known this part of Jesus’ life is and forms the basis of the curriculum in most schools, the performance is still quite dark and gruesome in parts.
Rating: 4.5/5
RRP: Tickets range between £27.50 and £49.50
Buy tickets here: https://www.mayflower.org.uk/whats-on/jesus-christ-superstar-2024/ Jesus Christ Superstar is appearing at the Mayflower, Southampton between Monday 25th March and 30th March 2024.
Full address of the Theatre: The Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1GE