Jesus Christ Superstar

Revisiting a show it staged some years ago in Ayr Gaiety, the Company repeated its success with another fine performance in modern dress of this popular rock opera.   A strong lead is a pre-requisite in presenting this show and Andrew Robinson as Jesus of Nazareth had the dramatic range of voice and presence for that crucial role.    Clara Brady gave a sensitive portrayal of Mary Magdalene with the lovely ballad “Don’t Know How to Love Him.”   It was James Ferguson’s lot to play Judas Iscariot which he did with great effect.   Colin Ferguson was well cast as Pontius Pilate, wrestling with the momentous decision he had to make in the sequence “Trial by Pilate.”   Gordon McKinlay as Caiaphas and Michael McCabe as Simon raised the tension with the numbers “This Jesus Must Die” and “Hosanna”.    But it was Neil Warrander who stole the show as a seemingly transvestite King Herod in the wonderful “King Herod’s Song,” played with such zeal and abandonment as to really set the audience alight.

The show was again played on the traditional single set with the cross in the centre and the fact that modern dress and classical facets met together in these modern times did not faze the audience or detract from the drama of the action.     This was a memorable production and a great credit to the Company and the production team, but I wonder whether it followed too closely on the festive season for audiences in these more straitened times.

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