Rock-opera musical tells story of Jesus’ last week on earth

On Wednesday, the IU Auditorium hosted an audience ready to see Jesus rock.

“Jesus Christ Superstar” opened Wednesday to an appreciative crowd eager to escape the frigid weather outside.

The show, one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous productions, is a retelling of the final days of Jesus’ life – beginning with the preparation for his arrival in Jerusalem and ending with his Crucifixion.

Unlike classic Broadway musicals, the rock-opera features a heavy emphasis on rock instruments and includes no spoken dialogue.

The show debuted in the 1971 and has since garnered a great deal of awards and nominations, as well as a series of revivals and a 1973 film adaptation.

The film starred Ted Neeley as Jesus, a role he reprised for Wednesday’s performance.

Audience members came in anticipation of Neeley’s performance, including junior Krista Spore, who came with her boyfriend’s family.

“I think he’s doing a really good job,” Spore said. “He’s really caught the audience’s attention and has a strong personality.”

Neeley’s performance and appearance onstage contrasted with those of his costars, in no small part due to his age. Neeley, at 67, was noticeably older then his onstage counterparts – a difference that didn’t escape Bloomington North High School junior Sami Haddad.

“I don’t know how to put this politely, but Jesus is very old for a 33-year-old man,” Haddad said.

Haddad said he otherwise thoroughly enjoyed the show, especially John Twiford’s portrayal of the character Judas.

Twiford, a former contestant on the 8th season of “American Idol,” performing in his first musical theater role, said he hoped the audience would appreciate the telling of Jesus’ story as a rock performance, not simply as a musical.

“I think it’s just a killer rock and roll expose,” he said. “It isn’t necessarily religious, but it just kind of tells the story from a storyteller’s point-of-view, sort of this human point-of-view. I just think it’s so interesting to see the story of Jesus Christ and Judas told from that point of view.”

However, the show was not without its critics.

Bloomington resident David Skirvien left the auditorium expressing disappointment with the performance, particularly Neeley’s.

“The best singer was Judas,” he said. “Jesus was a terrible singer. I know it was Ted Neeley, the guy from the original production, but it’s the original production, like in the 70s. ”

Skirvien also said the show’s mixture of religion and pop culture might offend those who think the two should be kept separate – including himself. That point has been one of the show’s central controversies throughout its history.

“I don’t think you should mix religion and theater together,” Skirvien said. “I found that to be like pop exploitation of religion right there. And that is offensive to me, whether or not I believe in it or not, I don’t think that’s how religion should be interpreted – as rock and roll music.”