13 - 28 August 2010
Regent on Broadway
Jesus Christ Superstar is a musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus. The musical is based on St John's Gospel account of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for Jesus' and his disciples arrival in Jerusalem and ending with the Crucifixion.
Cast List
Jesus - Peter Flynn
Mary - Anna Krakosky
Pilate - Bruce Sinclair
Herod - Damian Thorne
Caiaphas - Sava Djukic
Annas - Andrew Mock
Priests - Shane Brown, Samuel Gordon, Richard Mays
Judas - Andrew Jamieson
Peter - Chris Thompson
Simon - Richard Shaw
Apostles - Chris Burton, Cam Dow, Hayden Giles, Danny Goodman,
Simon Herbert, Nicholas Marshall, Grant Miller, Jason Poon,
Lindsay Yeo
Female Ensemble - Kirsty Cowan, Bethani Eustace, Alice Johansen,
Charlotte Jane Kim, Sarah Leishman, Christine Lockett,
Gail Lucinsky, Candace McGrath, Merryn Osborne,
Shenali Peiris, Sue Philips-Paton, Renee Pink, Anna Pitt,
Erica Ward, Mandy Watene
Male Ensemble - Nic Broomfield, Gordon Deller, Leith Marshall, Jeff Paewai,
Terry Stewart, Conil Tod, Alex Van-Brunt
Dancers - Ashleigh Blummont, Hayley Flinn, Paula Fredericks,
Alexandra Lattey, Sophie Needham, Cara O'Neill, Narina Riddle,
Jessica Trotter, Rebekah Willink
Plot - Act I
The apostle Judas Iscariot, in musical monologue, expresses concern over Jesus' rising popularity as a "king" and the negative repercussions that it will have ("Heaven on Their Minds"). While Judas still loves Jesus, he believes that Jesus is just a man, not God, and worries that Jesus' following will be seen as a threat to the Roman Empire, which would then punish both Jesus and associates. Judas' warning falls on deaf ears, as Jesus' followers have their minds set on going to Jerusalem with Jesus. As they ask Jesus when they will be arriving in Jerusalem, Jesus tells them to stop worrying about the future since whatever will happen is determined by God ("What's the Buzz"). Recognising that Jesus is irritated by the badgering from his followers, Mary Magdalene helps Jesus relax by anointing him with oil. Judas is concerned that Jesus is associating with Mary, a prostitute; it seems to Judas that Jesus is contradicting his own teaching, and he worries this will be used against Jesus and his followers ("Strange Thing Mystifying"). Jesus tells Judas that unless he is without sin himself, he should not judge the character of others. Jesus then reproaches his apostles for being "shallow, thick and slow" and exclaims that not a single man among them cares about him. Mary Magdalene tries to assure Jesus that "Everything's Alright". Judas angrily insists that the money used to obtain the oil should have been used to help the poor. Jesus sadly explains that he and his followers do not have the resources to help every poor person.
Jesus casts the money changers out of the Temple. Meanwhile, Caiaphas (the high priest), Annas, and other Jewish priests meet to discuss Jesus and his movement. Jesus' growing following consists of Jews unwilling to accept the Romans as their kings, and the priests believe that he is becoming a threat to the Roman Empire. If the Romans retaliate, many Jews will suffer – even those who are not following Jesus. Caiaphas states that the only real solution is to kill Jesus ("This Jesus Must Die"). As Jesus and his followers arrive in Jerusalem, they are confronted by Caiaphas, who demands that Jesus disband them. However, Jesus replies that putting an end to it is impossible ("Hosanna"). Jesus is approached by his apostle Simon the Zealot, who suggests that Jesus lead his mob in a war against Rome and gain absolute power ("Simon Zealotes"). Jesus rejects this suggestion, stating that none of his followers understand what true power is nor do they understand his true message ("Poor Jerusalem"). Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, has dreamed of meeting with Jesus and has seen that he, Pilate, will receive all of the blame for Jesus' death ("Pilate's Dream"). Jesus arrives at the Temple in Jerusalem and finds that it is being used for selling everything from weapons to prostitutes and drugs. He is furious and demands that the merchants and money changers leave the temple ("The Temple"). Angry and tired, Jesus wanders off and is confronted by a mob of lepers, cripples, and beggars, all wanting to be healed. However, the mob is too large and Jesus is overwhelmed; unable to solve everyone's problems, Jesus tells the crowd to heal themselves. After the mob leaves, Mary Magdalene finds Jesus upset. Mary tells him to rest ("Everything's Alright" - reprise). While Jesus is asleep, Mary acknowledges that she is in love with Jesus, but he is unlike any man that she has loved before ("I Don't Know How to Love Him").
Judas seeks out the priests and promises to help them against Jesus, while emphasising that he is acting with unselfish motives ("Damned for All Time"). Caiaphas demands that Judas should reveal the whereabouts of Jesus so that the authorities can apprehend and imprison him. In exchange for the information, Judas is offered money ("Blood Money"). Judas initially turns down the offer, but he eventually obliges when Caiaphas tells him of charities to which he can give the money. Judas decides that it would be better to turn Jesus in before his popularity leads to the deaths of Jesus and his followers, Judas included. Judas reveals that, on Thursday night, Jesus will be at the garden of Gethsemane.
Plot - Act II
On Thursday, at the Last Supper, Jesus passes bread and pours wine for his apostles. He tells them that they should think of the wine as his blood and the bread as his body and, in the future, should eat this meal together in remembrance of him. He predicts that Peter will deny him, not once, but three times. When Jesus states that one of the 12 will betray him, Judas confesses that he is the one. Judas, still angry at Jesus, goes to bring the Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus ("The Last Supper"). In the Garden of Gethsemane, the remaining eleven apostles sleep, and Jesus implores God to not let him suffer the horrible death God has planned for him. He feels disillusioned with his quest as the Messiah and wishes to give up. Receiving no answer, Jesus realises that he cannot defy God's will. Jesus pleads for God to take his life quickly ("Gethsemane - I Only Want to Say").
The disciples resist Jesus' arrest, but Jesus tells them to put up their swords. Judas arrives with Roman soldiers and identifies Jesus by kissing him on the cheek. Jesus is arrested, and his apostles attempt to fight the soldiers. Jesus tells them to put their swords away and let the soldiers take him to Caiaphas. On the way, a mob (symbolising modern-day news reporters) asks Jesus what he plans to do, but Jesus declines to comment. When Jesus is brought to trial before the Sanhedrin, Caiaphas asks if he is the son of God. Jesus responds, "That's what you say, you say that I am." This answer, which is affirmative according to Jewish custom, provides enough justification for the high priests to send Jesus to Pontius Pilate ("The Arrest"). Meanwhile, Jesus' apostle Peter is confronted by an old man, a soldier and a maid, and Peter denies to each that he knows Jesus. Mary asks Peter why he denied Jesus, and Peter responds that he had to do it in order to save himself. Mary wonders how Jesus knew that Peter would deny him three times ("Peter's Denial"). Pilate asks Jesus if he is the son of God. Jesus gives the same answer that he gave Caiaphas, "That's what you said." Since Jesus is from Galilee, Pilate says he is not under his jurisdiction and sends him to King Herod ("Pilate and Christ"). As Jesus is dragged away, the chorus asks where Jesus' power has gone ("Hosanna" - reprise). King Herod, excited to finally meet Jesus, asks him to prove his divinity by performing miracles, offering to free him if he complies, but Jesus ignores him. Herod decides that Jesus is just another phony messiah and sends him back to Pilate ("Herod's Song"). The apostles and Mary Magdalene remember when they first began following Jesus and wish, "Could We Start Again Please" Feeling extreme guilt for Jesus' harsh treatment by the authorities, Judas expresses regret to the priests, fearing he will forever be remembered as a traitor. Caiaphas says that what he has done will save everyone. Left alone, Judas blames God, who chose him, within the divine plan, to be the one to betray Jesus. Judas commits suicide ("Judas' Death").
At Jesus' trial, Pilate asks the crowd if they would crucify Jesus, their king, and they declare, "We have no king but Caesar!" Pilate remembers the dream he had about the crowd and the unjust execution of Jesus ("Pilate's Dream" - instrumental). Pilate tells the crowd that, while Jesus should be imprisoned; he does not deserve to die. Pilate demands that the crowd give him a reason to condemn Jesus, and the crowd breaks into a pep rally-style cheer about how Jesus has defied Rome. Pilate calls the crowd hypocrites, as he knows they hate Roman rule. He attempts to satisfy their bloodlust by flogging Jesus. Pilate pleads with Jesus to defend himself, but Jesus weakly says everything has been determined (by God), and Pilate cannot change it. The crowd screams for Jesus' crucifixion, and Pilate recalls his duty to Caesar to keep the peace. Pilate reluctantly agrees to crucify Jesus ("Trial Before Pilate - including the Thirty-Nine Lashes"). As Jesus prepares to be crucified, he sees the spirit of Judas. Judas questions why Jesus chose to arrive in the manner that he did and if what happened to him was really part of a divine plan ("Superstar"). Jesus is crucified and slowly dies on the cross ("The Crucifixion"; "John Nineteen: Forty-One").
