A superstar cast brought this lively fast-paced show to life on the stage in Bournemouth.
As an Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, this show is one I unfortunately haven’t seen before, but I am happy that Bournemouth and Boscombe Light Opera Company (BBLOC) were the ones to bring it to my eyes and ears.
Jesus Christ Superstar is a Rock Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, based on the story of the last week of Jesus’s life, from the perspective of Judas.
The staging is magnificent, with moving parts and stunning lighting, although there was a slight technical difficulty with this at one point towards the end which caused a very short pause in the show, but this was dealt with calmly and professionally, a credit to their team.
Professional is also a word I would use to describe the cast as a whole. They all gave enthusiastic, and at times emotional performances, with great energy. And they all seem well-rehearsed and committed to their roles.
Lead, Matthew Traher, as Jesus, gave such an amazing vocal performance, particularly in the song Gethsemane, it gave me chills. The emotion that he portrayed, even just in his face alone, is a testament to his acting skills.
Kirstie Rogers also gave a beautiful performance as Mary Magdalene, with a great rendition of the iconic song I Don’t Know How To Love Him.
Special mention of course goes to Charles Michael Duke for his portrayal of Judas, a challenging and really tough role to play, especially after having a double lung transplant only last year. His voice is phenomenal, and just his performance overall was enthralling.
Members of the audience applauded and cheered loudly, sat in stunned silence at the harrowing final scenes, and gave a standing ovation as the cast took to the stage for a curtain call.
It’s definitely a show to see at least once in your life time. And BBLOC put on such a great performance that I would highly recommend seeing this particular production.
Jesus Christ Superstar is on at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre until Saturday 27 July, tickets are available from the website here or call the box office on 0300 500 0595
Reviewer: Maddi Selfe