JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR  at the Neil Simon Theatre

(Seen March 28, 2012)


This show is definitely in a rock star environment, full of electronic visuals and super-amplified sounds, as Jesus' followers and antagonists fight for his soul and his body.  

But Paul Nolan's placid Jesus is far out-super-starred by Josh Young's impassioned and irrepressible portrayal of Judas.

And Chilina Kennedy's Mary Magdalene engages Young's Judas viscerally , in a battle  for the love of Jesus, with strong performances by both.  While Bruce Dow's King Herod and Tom Hewitt's Pontius Pilate also shine brightly in the firmament.

The show is full of gloss and glitz, but this is mostly exterior.  It is missing some inner life to hold things together, despite director Des McAnuff's slick packaging.