Jesus Christ Superstar

David Michael Moote as Jesus. Photo by Scott Gorman.

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals are known for being lavish, emotional, and filled with memorable songs. One of Webber's most famous shows is Jesus Christ Superstar, a bold rock opera that chronicles the last week in the life of Jesus Christ. Now on stage in a new production directed by Luke Brown at Hart House Theatre, the show is more comtemporary than ever.

Adapted loosely from the Gospels, the story focuses on Jesus (David Michael Moote), his followers, and his relationship with Judas. In the first few minutes of the production, the audience is immediately captivated by Judas Iscariot, played to perfection by Aaron Williams, as he belts out “Heaven on Their Minds." Judas is concerned that Jesus is becoming more and more popular as a king, and worries that Jesus and his followers will be punished if seen as a threat to the Roman Empire. The relationship between Jesus and his followers is illustrated in a series of songs that focus on their devotion to him, and his close relationship with Mary Magdalene (Claire Hunter) comes through in “Everything's Alright.”

The company of Jesus Christ Superstar is made up of young, energetic actors that bring an exuberance to the stage, making this production a joy to watch. It is clear early on that Jesus and his followers are upsetting high priests Caiaphas (Matthew Fuller), Annas (Mark Gallagher), and Pilate (Jeremy Hutton), who are all clad in black business suits and meet to discuss their concerns several times. They share Judas' concerns from the start of the production, that Jesus may be seen as a threat to the Roman Empire. “This Jesus Must Die” is followed by “Hosanna,” both emotionally-charged, rich musical performances that warn of what is to come later in the production. Jesus' followers are the same type of crowd that would stage a protest today, or stand up for their beliefs in a public way, which resonates with the audience in its relevancy.

One of the major highlights is a phenomenal performance by Wiliams as Judas, who is literally surrounded by his own demons. Another major highlight is “Herod's Song,” performed by Saphire Demitro as a flamboyant and hilarious King Herod, who poses for selfies with an imprisoned Jesus.

Hart House Theatre's production of Jesus Christ Superstar is a wild trip back to the final days of Jesus Christ, rounded out by excellent performances and a rock and roll soundtrack. The explosive performances were successful in distracting from opening night lighting and sound hiccups, and the actors bring the biblical story alive in an exciting way.

Jesus Christ Superstar is on stage until January 31 at the University of Toronto's Hart House Theatre. Visit harthousetheatre.ca for more information and to buy tickets.