| Hot corner 04/11/2001
'Superstar' revival
Jesus Christ Superstar might surprise you.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera seems an unlikely addition to the annual parade of Bible movies at this time of year as it appears at 8 p.m. today on KERA-TV (Channel 13). But Gale Edwards and Nick Morris' video version of Mr. Edwards' recent London and New York stage revival enters into the story far more imaginatively than, say, Cecil B. DeMille's Ten Commandments does into the Exodus.
Some folks have always found the musical offensive, since it presents the death of Jesus from Judas' point of view–and with a hard-driving, tuneful score. Many Lloyd Webber fans, too, were scandalized by the modern look of this revival, in which Star Wars meets Rent.
The TV version actually works better than the New York production, with superior acting and singing.
Jerome Pradon captures Judas' ambivalences about his master–the affection, the envy, the scandal at some of his actions, his disappointment. The high-lying vocal lines sound more delicate for the microphones here than in a huge theater.
Mr. Rice's Jesus hardly passes muster theologically, but at least actor Glenn Carter manages to be at once ethereal and believably human in the role–and to project enormous charisma. As Mary Magdelene, Renee Castle gets two of the best songs. Even the overplayed "I Don't Know How to Love Him'' comes up fresh and spontaneous.
For once, too, the camera helps rather than hinders musical values. If the premise doesn't turn you off, you could find yourself moved.
Lawson Taitte
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