Post by mikef6 on Apr 16, 2018 1:49:16 GMT
Here are some comments of the 1973 film and the recent live broadcast on NBC. Would love to here other views of these two productions as well as any others you’ve seen as well as opinions on the musical as a whole.
Jesus Christ, Superstar / Norman Jewison (1973). This musical (excuse me, “rock opera”) has always been a guilty pleasure. I have struggled for nigh onto 50 years to NOT like this Webber and Rice piece, ever since hearing the original concept album in early 1971. But, Dog save me, I absolutely love it. Don’t know why. Haven’t a clue. I just always have. This film is an acceptable version. We can get a pretty good idea of how it goes. Ted Neeley’s hippy-dippy Jesus is a high point. Yvonne Elliman repeats her performance of “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” from the original album. Carl Anderson, who had played Judas on Broadway, got the call for the movie. What’s really wrong with this film are several misguided attempts to “open up” the musical. Thus, during “Gethsemane” we get Neeley climbing over a rocky mountain while he sings. “Herod’s Song” (with Josh Mostel) is a mess with so much camera action going on that it distracts from the music. Besides, Mostel without his shirt is not a pretty sight. Simon Zealotes’ frenzied dancing got laughs from movie audiences. And how about Judas being chased in the desert by modern army tanks? Wow. Contemporary Commentary! As I said, acceptable but not definitive. Anyway, Neeley made a career singing Jesus in JCS for stage productions, so good for him. From 1992 to 1997 alone he sang the role about 1,700 times. FUN FACT: the actor/singer playing the Apostle Peter and billed as Philip Toubus became known – starting in 1974, the year after JCS – as Paul Thomas who went on to become a classic era porn star with a career as a sex performer lasting into the new century.
Neeley (foreground), Carl Anderson (third from front, pink shirt), Paul Thomas (far end, shirt opened down front)
Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert / David Leveaux and Alex Rudzinski (2018). The NBC TV network continues its occasional series of Broadway musicals broadcast in a live performance. This may be the best one yet and the finest recorded version since the original concept album from 1970. There was a lot of pop music and Broadway talent involved in this production. I only recognized two of the names in the cast. I guess I have a lot to catch up with. In the role of Jesus is a singer/songwriter/musician who has modestly taken the professional name of John Legend. I listened to a couple of his hit songs which were nice enough. He is sort of an R&B crooner but doesn’t have the range or lung power for Jesus’ Big Moments. The “Gethsemane” number, for example, is transposed down to make it more comfortable for him but he still can’t handle the two explosive falsetto high notes at the song’s climax. But don’t think Legend’s performance here is a deal breaker. His pleasant voice, acting, general demeanor is attractive. Let me briefly mention other major cast members. Brandon Victor Dixon (took over the Aaron Burr role in “Hamilton” from the role’s originator) is a powerful and dynamic Judas. Sara Bareilles (singer/songwriter, scored the 2015 musical “Waitress”) as Mary Magdalene made the rock standard “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” seem new. British actor Ben Daniels was a strong Pilate, Florida-born Norm Lewis (Javert in the 25th Anniversary Les Miz concert) has the perfect deep bass voice for Caiaphas. But almost stealing the show and bringing down the house was rock legend Alice Cooper as King Herod. For the time being, the complete production (and some individual song scenes) can be seen on YouTube. Don’t miss it.
Alice Cooper and John Legend
Jesus Christ, Superstar / Norman Jewison (1973). This musical (excuse me, “rock opera”) has always been a guilty pleasure. I have struggled for nigh onto 50 years to NOT like this Webber and Rice piece, ever since hearing the original concept album in early 1971. But, Dog save me, I absolutely love it. Don’t know why. Haven’t a clue. I just always have. This film is an acceptable version. We can get a pretty good idea of how it goes. Ted Neeley’s hippy-dippy Jesus is a high point. Yvonne Elliman repeats her performance of “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” from the original album. Carl Anderson, who had played Judas on Broadway, got the call for the movie. What’s really wrong with this film are several misguided attempts to “open up” the musical. Thus, during “Gethsemane” we get Neeley climbing over a rocky mountain while he sings. “Herod’s Song” (with Josh Mostel) is a mess with so much camera action going on that it distracts from the music. Besides, Mostel without his shirt is not a pretty sight. Simon Zealotes’ frenzied dancing got laughs from movie audiences. And how about Judas being chased in the desert by modern army tanks? Wow. Contemporary Commentary! As I said, acceptable but not definitive. Anyway, Neeley made a career singing Jesus in JCS for stage productions, so good for him. From 1992 to 1997 alone he sang the role about 1,700 times. FUN FACT: the actor/singer playing the Apostle Peter and billed as Philip Toubus became known – starting in 1974, the year after JCS – as Paul Thomas who went on to become a classic era porn star with a career as a sex performer lasting into the new century.
Neeley (foreground), Carl Anderson (third from front, pink shirt), Paul Thomas (far end, shirt opened down front)
Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert / David Leveaux and Alex Rudzinski (2018). The NBC TV network continues its occasional series of Broadway musicals broadcast in a live performance. This may be the best one yet and the finest recorded version since the original concept album from 1970. There was a lot of pop music and Broadway talent involved in this production. I only recognized two of the names in the cast. I guess I have a lot to catch up with. In the role of Jesus is a singer/songwriter/musician who has modestly taken the professional name of John Legend. I listened to a couple of his hit songs which were nice enough. He is sort of an R&B crooner but doesn’t have the range or lung power for Jesus’ Big Moments. The “Gethsemane” number, for example, is transposed down to make it more comfortable for him but he still can’t handle the two explosive falsetto high notes at the song’s climax. But don’t think Legend’s performance here is a deal breaker. His pleasant voice, acting, general demeanor is attractive. Let me briefly mention other major cast members. Brandon Victor Dixon (took over the Aaron Burr role in “Hamilton” from the role’s originator) is a powerful and dynamic Judas. Sara Bareilles (singer/songwriter, scored the 2015 musical “Waitress”) as Mary Magdalene made the rock standard “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” seem new. British actor Ben Daniels was a strong Pilate, Florida-born Norm Lewis (Javert in the 25th Anniversary Les Miz concert) has the perfect deep bass voice for Caiaphas. But almost stealing the show and bringing down the house was rock legend Alice Cooper as King Herod. For the time being, the complete production (and some individual song scenes) can be seen on YouTube. Don’t miss it.
Alice Cooper and John Legend
