Jesus Christ Superstar

This was a powerful offering by the Players. From the opening, the stark set with its exits like those of the Coliseum gave the impression we were about to watch a spectacle – and so it was.  Calum Paul in his first ever role gave a sterling performance of Jesus. Looking the part, young and vulnerable against the bigger and more forceful men - and women - around him, we saw his anguish as he was pulled and manipulated, symbolised well in the scene where he was held by ropes and in the clever scourging scene that left him horrifically bloodied. One of these who came across as ‘bigger’ was the big voiced Keith Kilgore as Judas whose bewilderment and anguish at his acceptance of money for his betrayal of Jesus was an important mirror to Jesus’s anguish and understanding of his betrayal and death.  Likewise the imposing Pharisees, made more so by their huge hats and well fronted by the deep voice of John Doonan as Caiaphas, made clear their menace and this in turn was well contrasted by Alistair Thomson as Pilate who revealed the vacillating, favour-currying politician. The softer side came through Erin Murtagh’s Mary who also contributed to that theme of bewilderment in her well articulated and moving singing. David Mitchinson as wacky King Herod with his patter song was a welcome note before the final drama. The well harmonised Soul Sisters, The Apostles, their wives, the prostitutes and the crowd all conveyed the fickleness of human nature. Overall, the show was characterised by strong singing and by a cast taking their parts to heart and bringing this drama to a fitting climax.

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