I consider myself a huge musical theatre fan, but could I really say that without seeing a classic like Jesus Christ Superstar?
The 1970s rock opera, conceived by theatre juggernauts Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, is currently at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, so I thought this would be the perfect chance to right my wrong and finally see it.
I didn’t know what to expect, so when the curtain lifted to reveal stark scenery, a hooded guitar-wielding figure and a giant crucifix towering over the stage, followed by cast members bursting through the side doors and screeching down the aisle, I was certainly caught off guard.
As I was going in blind, the sung-through aspect of the show was a surprise that left me trying to grasp the story and feeling bewildered for much of the first act.
However, when the second act rolled around, I found myself completely and utterly enthralled.
It’s a modern revival boasting contemporary dance and intricate choreography to help tell the story, with a powerful rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack bringing it all together.
For those who are also new to the show, it follows Jesus’ final days leading up to his crucifixion, but rather than the kind, warm, generous saviour that many of us were introduced to as children, Jesus is instead presented as a tortured soul who struggles to cope with the psychological burden of his role as a healer and leader.
Ian McIntosh played the biblical figure and, when paired with Shem Omari James as Judas, the duo belted out songs like Gethsemane and the Last Supper with some of the most phenomenal vocals I’ve ever heard on stage.
It was intense and riveting throughout, but King Herod's Song, performed by a gold-adorned Timo Tatzber as the flamboyant ruler, and the funky ensemble of priests provided some much-needed light relief.
The show is packed with detail and it would be impossible to give everyone their flowers, but credit must be given, in abundance, to the show’s breathtaking climax.
Jesus is brutally flogged by the leather-clad Pontius Pilate, leaving him covered in wounds and blood, before being topped with a thorny crown and strapped to the cross.
This harrowing scene was performed against the backdrop of the gospel-style number Superstar, and the juxtaposition of the disturbing visual and uplifting music was fascinating and uncomfortable in equal measure.
When Jesus’ crucifix was raised into the air and illuminated, leaving his shadowy figure hanging over the stage, there was a stretch of silence during which you could hear a pin drop - the rare sound of a completely transfixed audience.
It must be exhausting for the actors to perform such excruciating scenes and distressing characters night after night, but they gave themselves fully to the audience, and will continue to do so until the end of the show’s run, and that deserves the highest praise.
Everyone was off their seats within seconds of the final note, giving rapturous applause to the entire cast and the band.
It’s a musical that I wish I’d seen earlier and am so pleased I’ve had the chance to see now in its current form.
My advice to those who have not seen it: don’t leave it as long as I did!
Jesus Christ Superstar is at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday, June 22. You can book tickets online here.
You can also book tickets by calling 01227 787787.
