Few composers are the equal of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. He was never one to take the road more traveled. Even as a teenager, when he was just starting to test out his literary pen, he chose a topic less main stream and more creative: he wrote a musical about a boy in the Bible who receives an unusual gift from his father. That became the world famous rock musical “ "Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
In the years to come, Lloyd Webber continued his unorthodox choice of subject matter by composing musicals about a gang of backyard felines (CATS), a poor woman who rises to become a powerful figurehead in her country of Argentina (Evita), teams of train engines who race on roller skates (Starlight Express) and a disfigured young man hiding in the bowels of a Paris opera house (The Phantom of the Opera).
Now you have the opportunity to experience another record breaking musical about another boy in the Bible: “Jesus Christ Superstar,” playing until Sunday, July 22 at the Arts at Angeloria’s, 223 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, in Southington.
Composed by Lloyd Webber with Tim Rice, this over five decade old musical concerns the last week in the life of Jesus Christ and it is an emotional and moving experience. This is true punk rock, a biblical retelling of a savior who wants to cleanse the world of corruption and sin becoming known as The King of the Jews. This last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ, who is portrayed by a memorable Tom Oliveira, is told through the eyes of his betrayer, one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, played with a mountain of anger and confusion evident by Kiersten Bjork, in a surprisingly powerful role by a woman.
There is much that is unique and different about this rendition of the show as seen through the eyes of Lori Holm, the visionary director and producer at Angeloria's. She sets Jesus’s life in 2225, a post-apocalyptic time not so unlike the disturbing social climate we experience today, with rockets and poverty and destruction and so many obstacles to survival. She experiments with genders and attempts to develop the apostles into a family unit, disciplines who faithfully continued Jesus’s work for him after he is gone.
Tender moments are underscored by Jen Colella’s Mary Magdelene as she confesses to Jesus “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” while the passion and suffering are momentarily alleviated by the antics of a song and dance Vaudeville routine by Queen Herod, a mischief making Diana Bruenn, belting out “King Herod’s Song” as Trump. The high powered political naysayers who have banned together to end Jesus’ reign as the King of the Jews are led by Chris Bushey’s Caiaphas, The High Priest of Israel, Kevin Pelkey’s Pontius Pilate, The Governor of Judea, and Frank Baron’s High Priest.
Among those supporting Jesus are his disciple Peter, Robert Wiener, Nancy Sasso Janis’s Maid by the Fire, Eric Chubet, Lucy Bushey, and Megan McKenney’s Simon Zealotes. Other cast enthusiastic members on both sides of the question include Jennifer Gianelli, Rachel Glander, Lauren Hyne, Angela Jackson, Mark Lewis, Luisa Olah, Dylan Ryan, Gary Rinauld and Kate Simpson.
This spectacular rock musical that separates the myth from the man has a three piece band led by Ed Rosenblatt that supports the fully sung story.
For tickets ($32.30), call the box office at 860-426-9690 or online at THEARTSATANGELORIAS.COM or ANGELORIAS.LUDUS.COM. Performances are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Enter the emotional whirlwind as Jesus Christ realizes that those closest to him are determined to witness his destruction. After three years of trying to teach his beliefs as the son of God, he is sad and tired and prepared to die for his cause. Little does he realize the emotional impact his teachings will have on the world. For you, it will be a new vision of an ancient story to revisit and experience again with a different set of eyes and heart.
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