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| JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -- the amazing film version deserves to be seen more!!!!!!! | |
| Posted by: BillyG 02:28 pm EDT 04/02/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Really fantastic JCS live procuction already... - showbuzz 03:50 am EDT 04/02/18 | |
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| Watching last night's Live show made me think about the film of JCS and how well cast, sung and directed it was. Carl Anderson was the most amazing Judas--both onstage and on film. At his memorial service a few years ago in LA at Agape, Ben Vereen spoke about how they were both up for the stage role, but Ben got it. Ben admitted that Carl could sing it better and wasn't surprised when Carl was cast in the film Carl was born to sing and play Judas. Has anyone ever surpassed him? I thought Brandon did a fine job, but was in truth screaming the last few scenes. Why didn't they show his hanging? That is such a powerful scene and I found it less so last night. I thought the direction was all over the place and could have been simpler. Why all the scarves? The setting could have been smaller and the camera moves were all over the place. Norm Lewis was miscast as Caiphas. He had no bottom notes at ALL and went up the octave many times. With all the fine bass singers WHY CAST HIM??? I felt Sarah could sing the songs, but didn't really bring much character or passion to her scenes. Why did she not even touch Jesus during "Try Not to Get Worried"? I didn't feel any connection with her and Jesus at all. Mostly, John Legend was miscast. He couldn't really sing the part as written or act it. I remember Ted Neeley at Carl's memorial service. He must have been in his middle 60's, but sang "Gethsemane" and was amazing!!!!! He really embodied Jesus in a simple organic way and told the story through song. What's amazing is that Ted did the film, but also toured as Jesus and still has a voice!! He really knows how to sing the score fully and not let it damage his voice. And he's still singing the songs. Was Adam Lambert even considered to play Judas or Jesus. He would have been amazing in either part!!! When i performed in the show with the Young Americans, our director who was in the film and had directed the show in Vegas, flipped the Crucification with the title number. After the Crucification, Jesus was taken down from the cross. The lights went down. They came up immediately with Jesus in a new white gown. His back to the audience. He turns around slowly and lifts up his arms in classic Christ Redemptor pose (think statue of Christ in Rio) while the Jesus Christ Superstar fanfare begins. Its the Resurrection!! Judas comes flying onstage in his white fringe outfit with his "Angel" soul sisters and they tear up the song. This is the way to end the show!!! WOW!!! I will never forget it!!! |
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| re: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -- the amazing film version deserves to be seen more!!!!!!! | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 05:20 pm EDT 04/03/18 | |
| In reply to: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -- the amazing film version deserves to be seen more!!!!!!! - BillyG 02:28 pm EDT 04/02/18 | |
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| Norm Lewis was miscast as Caiphas. He had no bottom notes at ALL and went up the octave many times. I agree about the lack of low range. When did he go up the octave? I don't recall once, let alone "many times." |
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| agree about the film | |
| Last Edit: Chazwaza 03:47 am EDT 04/03/18 | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 03:40 am EDT 04/03/18 | |
| In reply to: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -- the amazing film version deserves to be seen more!!!!!!! - BillyG 02:28 pm EDT 04/02/18 | |
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| It's really underrated... and I think it's one of the few productions of it i've seen, and i've seen many (including the one on NBC last night) that actually made sense in terms of the mix of the story/setting/characters with the music and the costumes. Some of the costumes were a bit silly, but they were a mix of mostly mild present day and biblically influenced... not a bizarre fantasy interpretation of "rock", or doing a fully on the nose stylized version of present day as if it were happening now. I am so tired of all these directors who think that because it's a "rock" opera they have to dress everyone in vaguely futuristic "rock" outfits. It immediately makes the show look ridiculous and I think undermines the statement/observation made about Jesus and this story by setting it to rock music in the first place when you don't let that juxtaposition work on its own and instead set it fully in some out of touch designer's version of rock fans or rock n roll musicians in present day or in the future. And in the film you actually understand what's going on... at all times, if one can imagine! The story is very well told, much better than probably all productions I've seen, very much including NBC's. On top of that the cast is incredible, they can actually act it AND sing it the way it needs to be to sell it properly and impressively. |
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| re: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -- the amazing film version deserves to be seen more!!!!!!! | |
| Posted by: 37Rubydog 09:32 pm EDT 04/02/18 | |
| In reply to: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -- the amazing film version deserves to be seen more!!!!!!! - BillyG 02:28 pm EDT 04/02/18 | |
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| I agree with you about Carl Anderson's performance....but I'm not a fan of the film. It's too much of a period piece for me -- a bit like Hair or Godspell - the whole thing smells of patchouli :) | |
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| re: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -- the amazing film version deserves to be seen more!!!!!!! | |
| Last Edit: JohnPopa 04:16 pm EDT 04/02/18 | |
| Posted by: JohnPopa 04:10 pm EDT 04/02/18 | |
| In reply to: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -- the amazing film version deserves to be seen more!!!!!!! - BillyG 02:28 pm EDT 04/02/18 | |
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| It's long been rumored that Ted's been sweetened with pre-recorded vocals for years now (most notably the high screams.) If you listen to multiple performances his screams do sound exactly the same from show to show. And ending the show with the Resurrection is in direct conflict with the writers' intent to leave that question unanswered. |
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| re: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -- the amazing film version deserves to be seen more!!!!!!! | |
| Posted by: 37Rubydog 09:37 pm EDT 04/02/18 | |
| In reply to: re: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR -- the amazing film version deserves to be seen more!!!!!!! - JohnPopa 04:10 pm EDT 04/02/18 | |
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| That makes sense. I lived next to someone who directed a lot of the never-ending revivals with Neeley....and he joked that at some point he was going to have to do the entire production behind a scrim because of Neeley's age. Of the videos I've seen, I think Neeley has made good choices given what one expects would be some vocal limitations. Barbara Cook had to make concessions and even Patti Lupone has (although she seems to make adjustments on very rare occasions - but I don't know that she could sing Eva 8 times a week....but I wouldn't place a bet on it). | |
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