Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical returns to London in this new production directed by Timothy Sheader and starring Declan Bennett as Jesus. But is it a worthy revival?
The Guardian: **** Lyn Gardner wrote: “An expected and considerable pleasure that really rocks.”
The Telegraph: **** Dominic Cavendish found that: “Superstar’s youthful potency and its Christ-like radicalism – courting sacrilege, achieving an essence of spiritual intensity – is reborn in the nick of time. Hallelujah!”
British Theatre.com: *** “this version of Jesus Christ Superstar isn’t quite so perfect; it’s glitzy and enjoyable but ultimately low on heart.”
WhatsOnStage: *** Matt Trueman said that Sheader’s production: “strips the whole thing back to give us a glittering gig in Regent’s Park.”
Evening Standard: **** Fiona Mountford commented that: “Timothy Sheader offers some of the most stylish direction I’ve seen all year, sculpting each segment into something distinct, vivid and compelling.”
The Times: *** Sam Marlowe thought: “The first British open-air version of the rock opera is an exuberant, haphazard affair that can come close to heavenly.”
Exeunt Magazine: “this was as vibrant and potent a production of an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical as was possible.”
Time Out: **** “the real find is relative newcomer Huntley as Judas: his soulful howl is the most electrifying instrument in this feverishly full throttle resurrection of a classic show.”
There Ought to be Clowns: “Sheader’s loose staging, almost concert or dance recital-like at times, acknowledges this in trying to create a new kind of spectacle for it and with McOnie and Scutt onboard, along with strong performances from Bennett and Lucas, plus arresting turns from David Thaxton’s Pilate and Peter Caulfield’s Herod, it largely succeeds.”
The Daily Mail: ***** Quentin Letts wrote: “this is certainly the best show so far this year.”
Jesus Christ Superstar will run at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until the 27th August. To book tickets visit: Discount Theatre.com, Love Theatre.com, Theatre People.com and UK Tickets.co.uk.