Skip to main content

Jesus Christ Superstar

 

I've missed the theatre more than anything these past months. It's my heaven on earth. So being able to go and see Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre was a dream come true. With masks on, temperatures checked and social distanced seating was taken, the show began.
 
Overall, the production was fantastic and placed its emphasis on the individuality of the characters and their choices. With social distancing in place, certain difficulties arise in theatre, yet they were barely noticeable in this production. Two standouts for me were Judas and Pontius Pilate. Each filled their moments with emotion and drew the audience along in their indecisiveness. 
 
During the Trial Before Pilate (Including the 39 lashes) each lash was accompanied by a fistful of glitter. Which was unexpected. The use of colour in the production was fascinating as Jesus was defined through a golden microphone holder, gold glitter and a white costume. Whereas Judas had a silver microphone holder, grey and black costume, which highlighted his struggle between Jesus and Caiaphas. His betrayal of Jesus is shown when he covers his hands and arms in silver paint, making it clear for all to see his deed. This act reminded me off Lady Macbeth's bloody hands as Judas goes on to regret his actions. While the musical leaves it up to debate as to his fate, this production ends with Judas and Jesus sat side by side, equal. 
 
Pontius Pilate was a highlight in both costume and performance, portraying the difficult position that the Roman is in. The laurel reef marked around his head, and pure black costume set him up as a separate entity. As the actors had to social distance this enhanced his identity as a separate entity and reinforcing the divisions that lead to the trial. Judas' separation from the other characters was enhanced by social distancing. With the miscommunication exacerbated by an inability to physically reach one another. 
 
The musical that shows us both Jesus' and Judas' side of the story, the actor's socially distanced without sacrificing any off the drama. I'll have the soundtrack on repeat for a while.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Puzzle Piece vs Infinity Symbol

  Both the infinity symbol and the puzzle piece have been used as a symbol for the Autistic community, and yet represent very different attitudes towards Autism.  The puzzle piece was first used in the UK in 1963 by the Autism Society, (although they no longer use this image), chosen and designed by non-autistic people. The original puzzle piece included a weeping child to show how autistic people apparently suffered from their conditions and to reflect how autism was seen as puzzling. It represents the idea that autistic people have missing pieces, are puzzles to be solved, and that autism is a childish disability. Each of which is a harmful stereotype.  Nowadays the puzzle piece is associated with Autism Speaks, which is seen as a hate group by the majority of autistic people. Autism Speaks has yet to show that it has autistic peoples interests in mind, rather than promoting cures and harmful stereotypes about autism, among many other harmful things.  Whereas, the ...
2 comments
Read more

Shang-Chi Marks A New And Exciting Phase For The MCU

In 2008 the Marvel Cinematic Universe launched itself onto screens around the world with Iron Man . Now in 2021 Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings launches its first Asian lead.                                                                                                                                          ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Suicide Squad Review

While I prefer DC, they have not had the greatest track record for their films. But sometimes they produce absolutely fantastic films, such as Birds of Prey, or the latest The Suicide Squad. This review does contain spoilers. Overall, the film was a great improvement on the last Suicide Squad, managing to toe the line between ridiculous and stupid. Gunn’s move of choosing lesser-known characters was a clever move that allowed the film to be something of a blank slate for audiences. There are plenty of stand out moments from the film, from Harley showing off her acrobatics, a flood of rats, and everything that King Shark did.   The latter of which is a character that should not work but the man-eating shark managed to bring a sense of lightness to the film, breaking up some of the films more dramatic moments. I was in stitches watching him, and his growth across the film gave him an emotional depth I did not imagine a shark could have. His friendship with Ratcatcher 2 was a particul...
Post a Comment
Read more