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The story of the final days of Jesus Christ has been told and retold hundreds of thousands of times in the past 2,000 years, and “Jesus Christ Superstar” by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber is yet another version of the story -- the 1970s rock opera version. The show began as a concept record album in 1970 and was then reincarnated on stage and in film. Ted Neeley, who starred in the film, graced the stage at the Tennessee Theatre Monday night as Jesus of Nazareth. Neeley belted out the difficult songs with ease, still sounding almost the same as the recording of “Superstar” that those of us who grew up in the 70s remember.

Neeley received spontaneous applause from the audience several times, including his first appearance at the beginning of the show and for his famous musical screams as he chases the moneychangers from the temple.

As a matter of fact, the entire cast does a wonderful job with the music, particularly Darrel R. Whitney as Caiaphas whose booming bass voice sent chills down my spine. James Delisco does an adequate job as Judas Iscariot, although I often had trouble distinguishing the lyrics of his songs. Cristina Sass as Mary Magdalene sings “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” beautifully and Mark Baratelli’s version of “King Herod’s Song” was one incongruous bright spot in an otherwise somber show.

The sparse set seems appropriate for a rock opera with a simple metal bridge and pillars of lights placed on either side of the stage in true rock concert fashion. And this is the way “Jesus Christ Superstar” works best – as a rock concert with a concept and virtuosic songs. It’s hard to translate the 1970 record album onto the stage, and if you didn’t already know the story of the final days of Jesus, it might be difficult to follow in this stage production.

The crucifixion scene was a bit too melodramatic for my taste, and there were not many original ideas in the direction of the show, but if you love the music from “Jesus Christ Superstar” then the five piece rock band and the fine vocals of the cast will give you your money’s worth.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel
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