Jesus Christ Superstar

By Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

Performed: April 2011

Review by Dave Stacey

SUPERSTAR DONE JUSTICE BY LTC YOUTH

Jesus Christ Superstar, presented this week at Burton’s Brewhouse arts centre, ostensibly tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus. But it does more than that. It probes the mind of Judas Iscariot and explores why he betrayed the man he had once been proud to follow.

A cast of nearly 50 members of LTC Youth, Burton’s Little Theatre Company’s younger members, tackled with enthusiasm the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice in this 40-year-old version of a tale which will be 2,000 years old in 2033.

I would have preferred the music to be of a much lower volume but that’s an age thing. Webber and Rice were aiming at
young audiences so no doubt intended the music to be played loud.

Impressive scenes included Jesus being mobbed by adoring crowds on his Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem, Jesus casting traders
and entertainers out of the Temple, the Last Supper, and the arrest, trial and crucifixion.

Mitch Corner, who has been named as the Little Theatre Company’s Member of the Year, used his voice of truly remarkable range to spectacular effect in the title role.

Jack Dent vigorously portrayed the complex character of Judas while the sympathy and love of Mary Magdelene were shown to perfection by Scarlett Dixon.

A complicated figure of history, Pontius Pilate was brought to life by Grant Fern. By turns he reflected Pilate’s pomposity, facetiousness, cruelty, and bafflement at priestly and public pressure to condemn a man guilty of no crime. Finally came his cynical handwashing, bowing to that pressure.

John Bowness directed, musical direction was by Katie Hailstone and choreography by Katie Haywood.