Producing live theatre can be challenging, especially when tackling a show that’s been around for over fifty years. Audience expectations can be very high, and if you’re attempting a classic, you really need to bring something new and fresh to it, as comparisons are inevitable.
Which brings us to Sunnyvale Community Players production of Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice’s “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Upon entering the theatre, we see cyclone fencing and grey walls with posters exhorting us to vote for Caiphus and sprayed with graffiti – “JC is Love!” – an other such slogans. At that point, expectations of people swathed in robes and togas start slipping from one’s mind, and we’re certain that we’re in for something with a more modern dress and feel. Indeed, iPads and iPhones abound in the scenes with Caiaphas and the Pharisees.
Michael Vetrovec is good as Judas, possessing a strong voice with great range. Kristy Aquino is lovely as Mary Magdalene. As Jesus, Russell Mangan has a good, strong voice.
However it is Sidney Matthew Román who almost steals the show in the relatively small role of Simon. Román has great energy and presence and really grabs our attention!
Director Thomas Times needed to overcome a few obstacles in order to make this “Superstar” work well, one of them being designer Sophie Sontag’s set of large, bleacher like steps that mostly seemed to get in the way. There were other pieces of set that rolled in, and I feared they would topple over and cause injury to actors and audience members alike. While I appreciated the attempt at modernization, the pantomimed use of props such as smartphones and iPads seemed forced and unnatural.
Rebecca Rodgers’ costumes ranged from adequate to ill-fitting and out of place.
Vocal Director Christopher Hewett got some great singing out of the principals and ensemble, while Thomas Calamia and his orchestra did justice to the score.
“Jesus Christ Superstar” is a mixed bag: some strong performances, some that left me wanting more, and still other elements that left me wondering–why?
This is acceptable and appealing community theater, but the $44 ticket price—a cost comparable to (or greater than) fully professional theater prices—seems excessive.
TheatreStorm 