“Do you know any of these songs?” the man next to me asked, showing me a Spotify playlist of songs from Jesus Christ Superstar on his phone. “Yes, I know all of them,” I replied. “I could sing the whole musical start to finish!”
My love affair with Jesus Christ Superstar began in childhood. I was captivated by the hit song, “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” Though I can’t recall if I first heard it in the movie or Helen Reddy’s version, I vividly remember seeing the film at the Star CourtTheatre in Lismore. The experience was mesmerizing, even though the movie was controversial at the time with its unique portrayal of the bible story.
The music, the story, the raw human emotions—it all resonated with me deeply. As a young Catholic, the familiar story took on a new dimension. I was particularly drawn to the complex relationship between Jesus and Mary, and the sense of betrayal that permeated the narrative. The acting and singing in the film were superb, and it sparked a lifelong fascination with the musical.
This fascination stayed with me throughout my school years. In primary school, our teacher, a big fan of the musical, would often play the record for us during music class. The powerful melodies and lyrics became ingrained in my memory.
Years later, when I saw that a production of Jesus Christ Superstar was playing at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, I was intrigued. A colleague had recently seen it and raved about the performance. On a whim, I decided to go.
One of the perks of being single, I suppose, is the freedom to make spontaneous decisions. As a 59-year-old, I’ve learned to embrace these moments. In the past, I might have hesitated, feeling obligated to find someone to go with me. But now, I simply act on my desires. So, there I was, at 5:30 yesterday afternoon, buying a ticket online to see Jesus Christ Superstar that very evening.
At the theater, I found myself seated next to a man who had also waited a lifetime to see this musical. He was originally from Israel but now lived in Melbourne. He admitted to feeling apprehensive about how the show might portray Jewish people. Throughout the performance, he asked me questions about the plot and the characters. I explained that the conflict was primarily between Jesus and the Roman authorities, not with the Jewish people themselves. The story, I emphasized, was about love, betrayal, and political intrigue, not anti-Semitism.
He found the story somewhat hard to follow, unfamiliar with the finer details. At one point, he asked me, “What was in the box?” referring to the scene with Judas. I explained that it contained 40 pieces of silver, the price of Judas’s betrayal. It was fascinating to see the musical through his eyes, to witness his reactions to this iconic story.
He also asked the woman on the other side of him if she was a Christian, assuming that was why she was there. She explained that she was simply a fan of Mahalia Barnes, who played Mary Magdalene. Mahalia, she told him, is the daughter of Jimmy Barnes, a famous Australian rock singer.
And Mahalia was fantastic! Her renditions of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” and “Everything’s Alright” were breathtaking. The actor playing Judas (Javon King) was also an incredible singer, his voice soaring through the theater. The actor playing Jesus (Michael Paynter) , a newcomer I hadn’t heard of before, delivered a powerful performance. Interestingly, a friend of mine who saw the show during previews found his performance weak, but I thought he was quite strong. Oh, and he had great abs too, when he appeared shirtless before the crucifixion. I know I shouldn’t have noticed that, but I did.
The casting choices in this production were interesting, with Judas played by a black man and Mary played by someone with mixed European and Asian heritage, This reminded me of the controversy surrounding the original film, where similar casting choices were criticized for perpetuating racial stereotypes.
It’s fascinating how these conversations continue to be relevant today. Earlier yesterday I was in the city and, while waiting for the light rail, I listened to one of those street preachers outsidee the Anglican Cathedral criticize the church for its “obsession” with inclusiveness and woke “nonsense”. As I sat there, I thought about the story of Jesus and thought to myself…. “I think he was pretty inclusive actually”.
I absolutely loved this production of Jesus Christ Superstar. It was a powerful and moving experience, and I highly recommend seeing it if you have the chance. The music, the performances, and the thought-provoking story all combined to create a truly unforgettable night at the theater.
While I am not one for music or musicals, I recently heard Mahalia Barnes? singing and she is brilliant. I’m glad you enjoyed the show.
She’s quite amazing.