Jesus Christ Superstar Live! - NBC 2018

If you search JESUS CHRIST NBC it’s the 14th result.

I remember some religious members of my family disapproving because of the audacity and disrespect of dealing with religious themes using modern music. Presumably there's somewhere in the New Testament that says "You can celebrate these events with any musical style or instrumentation that develops over the next 17 centuries or so, but for anything that comes along after that you can forget about it".

Oh god. The audiences persistent rapturous response is insufferable.

This is a direct product of all those trashy unintelligent singing contest programmes where the audience erupt, as if prompted by cattle prod, to every opening line and change in dynamic.

Here they’re even worse responding to every characters entrance and re-entrance, opening line, dynamic and key changes and in some cases actually cheering to changes in lighting. As a result none of the songs are able to breathe and this makes for a very laborious experience.

Vocally, I quite enjoyed John Legend as Jesus, but physically he appeared far to cock-sure for a man aware of his imminent destiny. Simon Dixon was ok as Judas, but I much preferred Tyrone Huntley’s approach at Open Air. What’s her face as Mary sang flat for most of it, must have been channeling her inner Mel-C.

Visually, the production design was great and well executed for television. Maybe with the exception of part 2 of “The Temple” which looked like the Thriller music video, bathed in green lighting and zombified ensemble.

Didn’t manage to get all the way through it in one sitting, so will revisit the full thing at some point, but it was a much more successful attempt at live-tv-musical production though. More of it please.

Looks like the Regent’s Park production is going on tour in the US on the back of the live version:

www.broadway.com/buzz/191663/exclusive-jesus-christ-superstar-to-launch-north-american-tour-in-2019/

I loved this production last summer, would love for it to tour over here!

I think thats an incredible accolade for the production team behind the Open Air production. Most deserving.

Finally got round to watching it this morning. There were many good things about it.

The energy throughout was great - until they stopped for the adverts. It would have been so much more satisfying without the pauses - which robbed it on the dramatic flow necessary to make it all really land.

Legend really doesn't have the power at the top of his voice like a Balsamo. But he does have presence - which is key to the role. You could get a sense of why people might follow him.

Dixon made a very fine Judas. He had the acting and vocal chops to carry it off with aplomb. Bareilles had some wonderful moments as Mary - she never overdid it (which is all too easy with an under-written role like that)

I loved the rock authenticity from Erik Grönwall and Norm Lewis landed most of his low notes - though was perhaps not as menacing as he could have been.

Ben Daniels was going great guns as Pilate - until his final bars where the screaming just went wrong. Shame as up to that point he had been unexpectedly good.

I thought the flying effects for the crucifixion were very effective. Simple (in terms of look - though I doubt in execution) but very effective.

The choreography was not original. Too many literal moves for my taste. I also thought that Herod's Song needed more pizzazz from the dancers (there were some serious timing issues in the final chorus kicks) - Alice Cooper really did just phone it in. Not as good as his earlier incarnation in the role.

It was a well put together piece of musical entertainment. Not perfect. It didn't redefine the way you do musicals on TV. But it served the piece well enough.

Ordered the CD from Amazon and became available for auto rip yesterday.
Have to say I struggled to listen to it, the audience cheering for EVERYTHING is constant and very irritating. No idea why they made the recording like this as you can't see what they are cheering for. And it never ends. I really want to hear the voices and orchestration.

Assume is less annoying if you are watching. Does anyone know if there will be a DVD/Blu-ray release?
Thanks.

Whole album is available on Spotify

I enjoyed it, and thought Sara Bareilles made a wonderful Mary. I love her voice and that she kept it subtle and classy. Brandon VD also made a fantastic Judas, and even John Legend was OK - better than expected.
I thought the performance had great energy and I enjoyed the crowd reaction, I thought it added to the excitement of a live performance and blended with the 'on-stage' action.
I disliked Annas; the actor couldn't seem to decide what register to sing in, and kept changing.
I never think the bits with the officialdom work as well as the rest of the show, and this production didn't change my opinion on that. And I dislike Herod being quite so panto. But overall, I liked it and thought the end was spectacular.

Available to order on DVD from Amazon - out 15th June..

Wow!