Jesus Christ Superstar is one of my all time favourite musicals, and last year’s Really Useful Company touring version which hit the Hippodrome last year, is probably the best version of it I have ever seen. So I admired BLOC (Bristol Light Opera Club) greatly for attempting an amateur production in a professional theatre, so soon after the professional performance. 

A problem they will encounter is, like myself, a lot of the audience going to see this will be doing so on the back of being massively impressed last year. Therefore it’d be wrong for me not to compare it to that version, so I’m just going to get it out of the way now. 

Unfortunately it doesn’t come up to scratch, but it doesn’t have Lloyd Webber’s millions of pounds behind it, it is an amateur version, so please…when reading this paragraph realise that I am generalising and comparing it to a version which has a tried and tested method, full of professionals! There were so many areas in it which just left the audience feeling wet as such, like it was close to hitting the mark, but just not there. The hugely emotional and inspiring ending from the Really Useful Company version just didn’t exist here, nor did the enjoyment of the Superstar number, or the excitement in The Temple. They obviously tried to not copy the aforementioned version, and doing so hindered them. Right ok I suppose that’s my “Rant” over, I don’t want to sound mean, so as long as you go expecting an amateur production, you’re going to enjoy yourself.

 BLOC had obviously chosen to avoid the modern references from the classic production, and thus made Jesus Christ Superstar un-relevant to a modern day audience. They set it as you would imagine biblical times to be, with the costumes, set and lighting all reflecting that, yet managing to create very little atmosphere. This stance lost a lot of the clever lines in the music, which relate to a modern day audience, especially in Superstar and Herod’s Song.

 The cast tried too hard, which gave an overall amateurish feel, and the dancing was evidently out of time in places, but this did not stop the majority of the audience, having a thorough enjoyable evening out. Their singing was top notch, operatic and perfect…. but…and yes there is a but! This is a rock opera, therefore you need a rock style to match, and at times some of the singing just seemed out of place.

 Simon Vardakis managed to portray an utterly convincing Judus with just the right hint of malice and vengeance. The voices throughout were astounding, particularly Maureen Wycherley, Simon Gregory and Steve Williams, all who had a haunting quality which created the infamous hairs on back of necks factor. I was however unsure of Mike Blakemore’s Jesus, he hit every note, but just wasn’t convincing in the role. The cast seemed all to be performing, and not playing the characters, which created a strong lack of emotion.

The hints of originality however are worth watching out for and the death of Judas was handled in a perfect manner. The swap of Herod from hugely camp, to an S&M Sadist was also a welcome change, and gave for a good moment of light-hearted laughter!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but this really was a great evening out, the audience all loved it, and it is always good to go support a local company. I feel I have been very negative, and I’m sorry if you as a reader get that vibe, but Jesus Christ Superstar is worth going to see. Remember that its not a professional production, and you won’t have a problem!

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