Review by Tim Garratt
Before Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Evita, there was Jesus Christ Superstar.
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Superstar began life as a concept album in 1970, landing on Broadway the following year as a rock musical. It remains one of Lloyd Webber’s most enduring works.
Superstar’s last major Australian outing was in 2011, when an international arena production (directed by Laurence Connor and starring Tim Minchin) played capital cities. This month, a new national tour has kicked off at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre – the same venue that hosted the show’s Australian premiere in 1972.
Superstar dramatises the days leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus (Michael Paynter), told from the perspective of his disciple, Judas (Javon King). As the show opens, Judas fears Jesus’s devoted followers, and the political movement he inspired, will draw the ire of the Roman Empire, perceiving them as troublemakers and a threat to imperial reign. Judas also worries that Jesus’s association with a prostitute, Mary Magdalene (Mahalia Barnes), could ultimately be used against him.
Superstar hones in on Judas’s inner turmoil, as he wrestles with whether to betray Jesus to the Roman authorities. As Judas becomes consumed by that conflict, Jesus struggles to come to terms with the terrible fate he must ultimately meet. The high-stakes Biblical narrative moves to its dramatic climax, underscored by Lloyd Webber’s rousing rock-infused score, and lyrics by Rice that tell the story with wonderful clarity.
This current staging of Superstar premiered at London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2016, directed by Timothy Sheader and choreographed by Drew McOnie. As is often the case with Superstar, the production design here (by Tom Scutt) is simple, chiefly comprising a central cruciform walkway and some scaffolding to house the band. All the heavy lifting in Sheader’s Superstar (helmed in Australia by Shaun Rennie) is done by the cast and musicians.
The good news is that this is, to date, one of the finest groups of performers I’ve seen assembled for a production of Superstar. From his first notes in the epic show opener ‘Heaven on their minds’, King is a stunning Judas. His silky tenor glides through his numbers and he achieves a convincing portrayal of the apostle who unravels as he plays his part in the demise of Jesus.
As Jesus, Paynter is a revelation. Vocally reminiscent of John Farnham (who famously took on the same role in 1992), Paynter possesses a remarkable tenor, hitting the high notes of ‘Gethsemane’ so easily and so confidently that he receives the rare mid-act standing ovation. It’s not hyperbolic to say that his performance of that song is worth the price of entry on its own. But like King, Paynter’s success owes not just to his impressive technical delivery, but to his ability to inject authenticity into his characterisation. His Jesus is magnetic and warm, but also wide-eyed and utterly human.
Barnes similarly proves a natural fit for her role. Her soulful and powerful voice is just the right instrument for Magdalene’s solo ballads. Completing the lead cast are Reuben Kaye as Herod, Peter Murphy as Pilate, Elliot Baker as Caiaphas, and John O’Hara as Annas, and each player is in great form. There’s also an impressive ensemble that contributes immensely to the quality of this experience, and a nine-piece band (led by Laura Tipoki) that faithfully and formidably performs Lloyd Webber’s excellent score.
Many musicals don’t stand the test of time. But half a century since its premiere, Superstar still earns its place on the mainstage, elevated by an enormously talented team. If you’re a fan of Superstar, don’t miss this latest iteration, and if you’re yet to become acquainted, I suggest it’s time to find out what’s the buzz.
Jesus Christ Superstar is playing at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre until 26 January 2025. For more information (including ticketing information), click here.
