Jesus Christ Superstar: It Still Packs A Punch.

The epic, classic Rock Opera Jesus Christ Superstar returned to the Wolverhampton Grand last night, and proved that despite being more than 50 years since it’s opening show, it still has the power to compel an audience. The song through show has its roots firmly in the early 1970s when it was first written, with rock songs reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, but with modern day dress and a truly astounding cast, it still casts a spell and fascinates its 21st century audience. A standing ovation at the end of the show is more than enough proof of that.

The show is loosely based on the gospels account of the Passion of the Christ, and tells of the fall of Jesus at the hands of Judas, who betrays him, Caiaphas, the High Priest of Israel, who is worried his actions will lead to the persecution of Jews, and the Romans Pontius Pilate and King Herod. His complicated relationship with Mary Magdalene, and his disciples and followers, are all touched upon, and his horrific betrayal and death are brutally reproduced. It is an highly emotional piece of theatre, and as it is also a rock opera it is a fascinating relic of a time when theatre shows turned to spectacles in the hands of geniuses Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice.

The whole ensemble cast is incredible, with musical talent only matched by their dance skills, in one wonderfully taut choreographed number after another. Ian McIntosh is just superb as Jesus, able to move from emotion to emotion, and sure every bit of the torture that Jesus was experiencing in his life and beliefs, Gethsemane, in particularly, was exquisitely beautiful in the pain of its delivery. Shem Omari James’s Judas is a perfect foil to Jesus, and delivers his songs in an almost agonised wail that is incredibly moving and powerful. ‘I don’t know how to love him’ is one of my personal favourite songs, and Mary, as played by Hannah Richardson delivers it so beautifully, as a tender, elegant love declaration to a man who is easy to love, but difficult to understand.

Jad Habichi as Caiphas and Matt Bateman as Annas are both excellent, delivering their songs almost like a biblical Led Zeppelin and creating a striking visual element on their crucifix stage, whilst Ryan O’ Donnell is stop on as a surprisingly sympathetic Pilate. There is also a show stopping performance by Timo Tatzber as Herod, with a ragtime, jazz age rendition in the form of Herod’s song, which shows the genius of Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice in totally subverting the happiest of musical genres for the most bleak of occasions.

Jesus Christ Superstar was a triumph 50 years ago, and is still a wonderfully powerful piece of theatre with the capacity to have an audience rise to its feet.

Jesus Christ Superstar is at the Wolverhampton Grand until 18th June, click here to for ticket information.

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