Jesus Christ Superstar

Yes, another musical but this one I didn't grow up with. I don't know if it was the subject matter or the fact that JCS is far more 'rock opera' than 'musical theatre' but this was the only Rice/Lloyd Webber musical (up to and including Phantom/Chess) that my parents neither took us to nor owned the soundtrack.

For the uninitiated, JCS is the story of the Passion but told from the point of view of Judas and raises some great talking points regarding free will, betrayal and eternal damnation without coming across as particularly sacrilegious. It is also far more grounded in rock and pop than the later bombastic ALW productions. Even as a kid, I was aware of the title song though not really sure what it was about - and of course in true playground style, the lyrics were modified to: 'Jesus Christ Superstar, Came down from heaven in a Yamaha. Did a skid, killed a kid..... Knocked his head on a dustbin lid.'

The score has been recorded many times but my favourite is still the original concept album version featuring Murray Head as Judas and Ian Gillan (yes, him from Deep Purple) as Jesus. Here's the former singing 'Superstar':

I first came to JCS via the film version directed by Norman Jewison in 1973. Jewison had also directed the film version of Fiddler On The Roof and it was that film's Mendel (Barry Dennen) who suggested that JCS be the director's next film (Dennen having already played Pilate on both the concept album and Broadway). The movie was filmed in Israel (mostly at Avdat) using as little set dressing as possible. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it. It is absolutely gorgeous to look at with some great performances featuring many of the original concept album and Broadway cast. You can watch the whole thing online via the usual streaming services. Carl Anderson was cast as Judas in the film, having understudied Ben Vereen on Broadway and would go on to play the part on and off for the next 30 years (often opposite the movie's Jesus, Ted Neeley). Here is Carl with possibly my favourite song in musical theatre 'Heaven On Their Minds', which in 5 minutes tells you everything you need to know about the character and storyline:

Yvonne Elliman was Mary on the concept album and Broadway and also reprised the role for the movie. 'I Don't Know How to Love Him' was the other huge hit from JCS:

'King Herod's Song' is probably the one comedy moment in the entire score and was performed in the movie by Josh Mostel, the son of Zero Mostel. Zero. who had been Teyve in the original Broadway production of Fiddler, had been bitterly disappointed to lose the role in the movie version to Chaim Topol (the London West End Teyve). When he heard that Jewison wanted to cast Josh as Herod, he reportedly exclaimed "Tell him to get Topol's son!"

Rik Mayall gave a far more sinister portrayal of Herod, channeling the MC in Cabaret, in the 2000 filmed production of JCS. This movie was interesting due to the updating of the setting to contemporary times and portraying the Jesus figure as more politico/social reformer than Messiah. A different take but also recommended - you can stream the whole film at the usual streaming sites.

Bonus Clips: Here are just a few of the very many performances of JCS material out there on the Web. First up, a live performance of 'Gethsemane' by the 1996 London production's Steve Balsamo:

and finally a lovely unplugged performance of 'Everything's Alright' from a Volendam, Holland cast.

Note: the entire Volendam recording from 2005 is available here: