The Performing Arts Center~ A Theater Experience

Every Year my mother in law and I splurge and go to the theater for a stage performance of whatever "big name",show Anchorage has in town. One year it was: "Miss Saigon", an opera about a solder and a woman falling in love,tragic story as most operas are. Last years much anticipated performance, was African Footprints, a amazing dance show dedicated to the culture and expression of native Africa.

This years big deal event at the Performing Arts Center was, "Jesus Christ Superstar". Admittedly, I was somewhat put off by the title initially. However, I have a dear friend of mine that was a part of the cast of this show many years ago. SHE IS CHRISTIAN. So giving my friend and the show the benefit of the doubt,I deduced that there was probably some clever meaning to the name~ Being that it is a theater production,the name of the play would make sense later?

Jesus Christ Superstar seems to be a play written from a Jewish prospective. Jesus Christ is portrayed as being a really great man with an important message and some great insights,NOT the Messiah. It depicts him, and the struggles he encounters as a weary and fallible man. The show follows closely with Judaic belief; that Jesus was little more than a prophet who taught truth and kindness. It somewhat accurately depicted Judas but really,it would be difficult to mess up that character.However,the characterization that the apostles in the play bugged me. The apostles are shown as essentially "groupies" that are following Jesus Christ around as scribes and are hoping to receive notoriety for themselves for their efforts. The play ended with the grisly crucifixion-No resurrection...just the ominous death that was "his fate" There wasn't any explanation for why he had to die.Just that the Jews were really angry he believed he was the son of God.For that he had to pay, the price was his death.

The show IS A musical. The music was actually pretty good. It has a Gospel Revival sound to it.
Just imagine with me the epic sounds of the biblical times...okay now try it with electric guitar in the background~ yes folks, I said electric guitar.The electric guitar really wasnt that big of a deal. You kind of get used to it. Its not until moments later when you hear Jesus Christ belting out an "80's rock star scream" during several of his solos that you feel like..."um, am I being "punked"?"
It eludes strongly to a relationship/love interest with Mary of Magdalene. This play not being the first time I have heard this theory, it didn't shock me. What was annoying, was the depiction of the relationship as a normal human distraction to the caretaker life that Jesus lived. Almost saying; "even Jesus had his vices". The line that was repeated over and and over was "I have been doing this for (3)three years, but it feels like 99". This was more than a trite premise in the play,it was more like the whole thing the play was built opon.
You never get see Christ as a divine being. Other than being patient and kind and having loyal followers~ he is portrayed as being little more than " a Superstar" of the time, complete with paparazzi.

After the show I felt like I had just watched the Saturday Night live version of Legacy. Complete with satirical embellishing to make the story "edgier". It provoked a lot of discussion among; myself, Jared, my Mother in law and recent convert, Jordan (Jared's younger brother). Jordan being a new convert remarked" My Jesus,...he didn't complain as much as their Jesus did." The various reviews from our family range from: "stick with "the book" its always better than the show." Wondering if the guy who wrote South Park wrote the storyline to this show? To, "arent you glad that we weren't one of the many other people seeing this show, who really don't know how the story is SUPPOSED TO END?" These people are leaving the show with our Saviors death as the finale..

My group that attended the show left feeling...fortunate that we knew MORE. Due to the Restored Gospel we are so blessed to KNOW how the story really ends. That our divine Lord and Savior Jesus Christ didn't "just die". He LIVED, so that we may live again. They missed the most pivotal part of the story, by omitting such a beautiful "next scene".I saw a woman escort her little girl out of the theater just before the trial torture and Crucifixion. I was glad that she did. There wasnt any "good part" coming up like in the movie "Legacy". No overcoming the pain and suffering like in the story we know as members. Trying to gleen SOMETHING good about seeing this show...I can honestly say I felt gratitude because of the things I KNOW that ARE true.