Last Friday, March 6th, I attended opening night of Orpheus Musical Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar. As with all Orpheus shows, Jesus Christ Superstar is running at Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe. I have been anxiously anticipating seeing this show since it was announced as being part of the lineup last year. Jesus Christ Superstar is a musical that I have seen many times, including the live touring musical featuring the original film cast leads: Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson. Needless to say, this show is beloved to me, and I was thrilled that Orpheus was willing to undertake such a challenging musical!
The venue (Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe) was as enjoyable as always; I find the staff at Centrepointe to be lovely every time I am there. They handle the chaos before the show and at intermission with ease and kindness, ensuring that everyone finds their tickets, their seats, and the bathrooms and bar when necessary!
For those of you familiar with my reviews, you know that I typically focus on the positive aspects of a show. When it comes to community theatre, I simply don’t see a need to criticize the performances or the directorial choices made by passionate volunteers who are just doing what they love! That being said, there were definitely some issues with this show: a few instances of mics not being on/cutting out, a few times where the music and the vocals were not in sync, and a few vocal quality issues. In the lobby at intermission, I overhead commentary on the vocals in particular from a number of people, and did see one patron actually leave the theatre at that point. However, there were still a number of beautiful moments during this production, and I’d like to focus on those!
Lighting: I have to begin by commending the lighting designer, Bill McLaughlin. From start to finish, the lighting throughout the show perfectly set the tone for each scene. The lighting made a huge impact, transforming one set into a variety of different locations. I feel as though lighting design is one of the most underrated tasks in theatre, because lighting can make or break a show. In this case, it absolutely made the show.
Standout Performances:
Thomas Jestin absolutely stole the show as Pontius Pilate. Every note was spot-on, and the emotional commitment that he made to the role was impossible to miss. The scenes featuring Pilate and Jesus were very intense; members of the audience seemed to be on the edge of their seats as they watched them unfold. His beautiful voice, coupled with his embodiment of the sinister character of Pilate, truly made Jestin’s performance the highlight of the show for me!
Andréa Black’s portrayals of Annas and member of the ensemble were also phenomenal. This will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with my reviews or with Orpheus in general, as she has been a pillar in the Ottawa theatre community for over 25 years. The role of Annas requires exceptional vocals and a strong, intimidating presence, which Black really nailed. As a member of the ensemble, she stood out in each scene that she was in, bringing a ton of energy and emotion. Black is such a stellar performer; I was thrilled to see her in Jesus Christ Superstar!
The group of priests was comprised of Lawrence Evenchick (Caiaphas), Andréa Black (Annas), Shawn Kilpatrick, Ryan Mendoza, and Guylaine Roy. Each of these performers did an amazing job in their portrayal of the Priests; each had a distinct yet equally phenomenal singing voice and were able to convey the dark tone required of these roles. A further standout among the standouts here was Roy, whose performance was flawless. I really enjoyed all of the scenes with the Priests, and was very pleased to see that there were females cast in two of these roles.
Alex Davidson was brilliant as Simon Zealotes; my only complaint is that we didn’t get to see/hear more of him in this show! The role of Simon isn’t huge, but Davidson stood out nonetheless with beautiful vocals and a strong stage presence. You may remember him from my glowing review of his portrayal of SpongeBob with TotoToo. He brings so much life to the stage in every show that I have seen him in, and I hope to continue to see him in many shows to come!
Vivian Burns is my final standout performer from this show. In her ensemble role, Burns stood out for not only her high energy, but her dance skills. Every movement was so sharp, precise, and perfectly in time with the music. Her talent makes her a joy to watch.
Performances of Jesus Christ Superstar continue this week through the end of the weekend at Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe. Tickets are available HERE.
