The hippodrome presents a show-stopping performance of the famous rock opera- Jesus Christ Superstar, composed and written by the brilliant Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
The opening night of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hippodrome on 2nd November was a spectacle of phenomenal vocals, passionate acting and dramatic lighting. Directors Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright took this well-known musical and gave it a contemporary twist without taking it too far from its classic setting. The storyline of Jesus Christ Superstar is one widely known and recognised making the musical particularly easy to follow. However, being made up completely of song and no spoken words; it could be easy to get slightly lost. The synopsis in the programme was very helpful and a great point of reference for those unfamiliar with the plot or even just to refresh your memory.
Musically, the show was truly incredible. Each number was completely contrasting and the performance was constantly changing tone and mood. Every member of the cast had incredible vocals; we especially enjoyed the voice of Neil Moors playing Caiaphas – perhaps the deepest voice we have ever heard! Glenn Carter who played Jesus hit some incredibly high notes and The X Factor contestant Rachel Adedeji performed with the voice of an angel. It’s safe to say goose bumps were gained more than once throughout the show!
King Herod could be described in two words: Fabulous and sassy. Tom Gilling really shone in this role with a vibrant depiction of this character. With glittery blue eyeshadow and red nipple tassels, he strutted his stuff across the stage in a very different style to the rest of the show. It was an uplifting contrast and made the audience laugh which was a nice light-hearted break in the middle of the tense storyline.
Although the staging hardly changed, it served its purpose in creating a dramatic atmosphere for the entirety of the show. Having a fairly basic set meant that the lighting became much more prominent and was something that really stood out for us. Bright reds, blues and oranges gave a brilliant atmosphere in the audience and reflected the tension that was happening on stage throughout. The drastic change in the final scene was particularly striking- bright white rays from behind the cross silhouetted Jesus on the cross and left the audience with a lasting image.
We both thoroughly enjoyed this energy-charged performance from beginning to end and would recommend it to all music and theatre lovers! Grab tickets online at http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/whats-on/
Jesus Christ Superstar continues at the Hippodrome until Saturday 7th November, be sure not to miss it!
Have a listen to the clip below!
