So, Jeremy sees an ad for Jesus Christ Superstar at the Orpheum in Omalot and runs around the house singing at the top of his lungs and asked if we could go see it. I like the music, hated the movie, have seen it live once at a community theatre and figured why not.

The version that I always listened to was the "brown" cover...the original album that was cut before it played on stage. "My" Jesus was Ian Gillan (of Deep Purple) and Judas was Murray Head; no one else ever really did the job as well as either one, IMO.

So the show was yesterday, and starred (ta-da) Ted Neeley, the original Jesus from the movie. Of course, this is the big pull for most people...Neeley is the one they recognize as playing the part (and what else has he ever done??)

I really enjoyed the music, and the cast was exceptional...well, with ONE exception. Neeley couldn't hit most notes, so he spoke them; he hesitated (I'm sure for effect) so often I thought he'd forgotten the words, and he seemed to be singing along with a beat that only he could hear.

(Plus the whole 66 year old playing 33 year old Jesus and making googley eyes at Mary Magdalene was really, really creepy.)

At intermission, the people behind us were going on about how great Neeley was...he still "had it"...blah blah blah. I wondered if they were tone deaf or just hadn't turned on their hearing aids.

So the show gets over, we do the obligatory standing O, I did enjoy parts immensely (Herod was a scream), but I'm biting my tongue about Neeley...not going to interject my criticism to Jeremy, who seemed to be having a great time.

As we were walking out the lobby, he turned to me, and said "That was great! They were all really good....except Jesus."

Kid has some standards.

LOL
Nice thing for the 2 of you to do together!

I love JC Superstar! The original broadway cast recording is "my" version too. I saw it on Broadway early this century (or late last century?), and liked it, but didn't love the way they modernized it.

But mine isn't the original Broadway cast (that's the purple one ) Mine is the highly sought after concept album. Hard to find.

And I went to play the CD this morning and it's scratched or something on the Overture/Heaven On Their Minds. Boo....those are two of the best songs!!!

Mine's brown with gold writing, IIRC... I have the CD but my parents have the (double?) album.

You have the concept album then.

I've never seen it, and only heard bits and pieces of the music. Yes. I'm a luddite.

a friend just asked if I wanted tickets for tonight. I really didn't like the show when I saw it!

LOL...is it the same production as I saw?

I have no idea.
I need to see if Brian wants to go - I don't want to. And I love a night at the theater!

Same one...I just read some of the comments on this page and I don't feel so bad any more.

I thought Brian hated ALW and TR?

Brian despises ALW. When I asked if he wanted to go he was very adamant about not wanting to see it. I could have gone with my friend, but I really don't like the show. I was tempted to go just for a night out, but I wouldn't enjoy the play and I would rather my friend see it with someone who would enjoy it.