Lyric Opera - Jesus Christ Superstar Reviews

Natalia Dagenhart, Writer from Chicago, Illinois

MY REVIEW OF "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR" IS ON CHICAGO PATCH!

The feeling that you have after attending Lyric Opera's premiere of "Jesus Christ Superstar" is difficult to explain. So much to analyze, so much to remember, and so much to love about this outstanding production! "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit," said Jesus on the cross. Lyric Opera of Chicago found a unique way to celebrate Jesus Christ, his life, his death, and his resurrection. And with God's help, it is a success! I highly recommend this opera!

Andrew from Chicago, Illinois

WONDERFUL

Engaging and current, despite being based on an old rock opera and an even older story. Wonderful performers, fresh, creative, at times challenging, and diverse as we expect today. Music including great guitar/bass and depth of sound that is shockingly superior to the album/movie, which is often not matched by prior productions. A good blend of the depth of the Lyric Opera stage and experience, with rawness of the setting, and depth of the many performers, including the main characters. So glad I went. Superior to the other versions we have seen and liked. So great to have this at our great Lyric Opera. So happy my 11 year old joined us. Need to get my 21 and 24 year old there. Superfantastic.

Marcia R from Chicago, Illinois

THANK YOU

There's nothing to say but "thank you". Thank you to the actors for leaving absolutely everything on the stage, to the orchestra for adding such depth and meaning to every song with their musicality and intelligence, to the designers for either not getting in the way of for bringing gigantic ideas that enhanced the story- telling a thousandfold (priest spotlights, soldier masks, lower choreography), and to the director for EVERYTHING. And to Jo Lampert for creating a Mary Magdalene who matters just as much as the boys.

Deb from Chicago, Illinois

FANTASTIC PRODUCTION GREAT CAST AND SET

This was a glorious orchestration and emotionally moving experience, the cast is over the top fantastic. I have been going to opera since 1992 and this was really a knock it out of the park experience. The vocals are wonderful and the youthful energy and portrayal of the characters was wonderful. I might go a second time if I can squeeze it in my schedule.

Joe s from Chicago, Illinois

LOVED IT!

COuldn't help going in to prepare for comparisons of the 1973 film (our favorite version), or even the recent NDC live special, but from the opening chords we were mesmerized. Absolutely loved it.

Bonnie Lemperis from Chicago, Illinois

KUDOS TO HEATH SAUNDERS!

I saw the show last night. Initially, I was worried. The choreography in the beginning was odd but as the show went on, I loved it. It all came together. I agree with some people's sentiments that the music, at times drowned out the performers voices. Also, the bright light in the second act was, wow, VERY bright. But all in all, I really enjoyed the show. Heath Saunders rendition of Gethsemane was brilliant. He was So good. And on the Cross, I truly FELT Jesus. I was in tears. I usually love Judas, as his character has so many of the big songs but for me in this version it was Jesus all the way. And Heath, you did not disappoint. Thank you, handsome devil:)

Mary Ann from Chicago, Illinois

HORRIBLE AUDIO

I was so looking forward to this production and was disappointed from the first chord. The diction of the main characters, particularly Jesus, was terrible and that coupled with the extremely loud instrumentals and screeching singing combined for an inability to hardly understand a word that was sung. I know the lyrics, but my husband did not and it really detracted from his enjoyment. We saw the show on Mother's Day and all in our group commented that the audio issues should have been fixed by then. Our seats were very good--Row AA which gave us lots of leg room. Sadly, I would not recommend the show.

Stephen from Naperville, IL

GREAT CAST BAD SOUND

JCS is my favorite musical. The set is exceptional, the cast was solid, the backing music extraordinary and the use of a hand held microphone was an interesting touch. I would review higher but I literally did not understand 2/3rds of words being sung. I was reminded of the days of seeing ZZ Top or Cheap Trick in the auditorium in Sioux Falls, SD and loving the show, realizing what tune they were playing because I was familiar with their song list but being disappointed that the words were jumbled. Hence JCS is less like a musical and more like a rock concert.

Laura from Chicago, Illinois

5 STARS FOR CAST, 2 FOR DIRECTION

There really isn't an excuse for sound levels completely off. Could not hear any thing except the band at times. Felt like some choices such as the man handling of Jesus during the Superstar song didn't make any sense or didn't make sense of what the song was actually saying. The cast was tremendous the choreography was tremendous..

Paige Turner from Chicago, Illinois

JCS OPENING NIGHT - LYRIC OPERA HOUSE

Quick and to the point: *1st act better than the 2nd *Music ensemble was fantastic *Music at times was too loud-voices completely lost *Transtion between numbers not timed well-either too fast or too slow *Did not feel any sense of bonding with any characters *Herod had the personality of a creepy clown. If that was intentional, we didn't care for it. Took away from the story, in our opinion. *Props to the prop master and set designer *Too much screeching/screaming *Jesus messed up his line "my God why have you *forgiven* me" (?) If that is not what was said, it certainly sounded like it. *High Priests were cast well *Crucifixion scene was too rushed and we did not care for it overall - people in our seating area did not clap after the scene and were talking amongst themselves about it *Entertaining, but no "wow factor" *Overpriced Possibly would recommend to out of town guests, but it wouldn't be the first choice. We were in the Mezzanine section-great seats, sound.

Robert from Chicago, Illinois

SO MUCH POTENTIAL...

Despite extremely high hopes, this show fell short of wowing me. Heath Saunders while talented did not have the ability to achieve the power vocal highs required for the role of Jesus, leading to painful screeching moments which underscored his poor fit for the part. Ryan Shaw's (Judas) and Jo Lampert's (Mary Magdeline) parts carried the show vocally as two of the best performers on stage last night. Cavin Cornwall (Caiaphas) seemed to have issues singing consistently as a baritone. There appeared to be mic issues as well as some missing or misplaced guitar riffs. All of this on top of a staging that felt like a mashup of a hippie commune, something from RENT, and a hip hop rave party. If this wasn't hard enough to take in, add weird priest dances, a disturbing performance of King Herod in a diaper, and something that felt like a "ressurrection" scene that was never a part of the original show. I enjoyed the music - yet this reimagining of Weber & Rice's show needs a lot of work.

Denise from Chicago, Illinois

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Cast amazing, vocals fantastic BUT if you are sitting on the right side of the theatre bring your sunglasses as you will be blinded by the light! I could not watch nearly half of the show due to the intense stage lights directed at the audience I give the performers 5 stars but the lighting ruined the experience for me

Jo from Chicago, Illinois

WANTED TO LIKE IT BUT....

Loud speakers were used. Music drowned out vocals particularly when groups were singing. There were people around me plugging their ears because of the volume . Row T center. Orchestra .

Debdeetoody from Chicago, Illinois

RUINED THIS MUSICAL…BUT SINGING AND DANCING GET STARS.

I would like to say i have been seeing this show for years since the 80's and have seen broadway, off-Broadway and park district productions of it. Big fan, i know every word. This seemed a bit like it was almost anti christ. The way the dancers all held their hand over one eye and the other up towards the sky. The cross scene at the temple, the dark eyes on the men, and the brutal way of leaving jesus on stage during the final song…that has never happened. To me, this production had anti christ sentiments. My two friends agreed. I thought the singers and dancers were talented so that is why i gave some stars.

Virginia Schmidt from Chicago, Illinois

MICROPHONES VERY DISTRACTING. SINGING MEDIOCRE

I was disappointed in this production. The singers hold microphones the entire time. There are high beam lights on one part of the stage that make it difficult to see the stage because they shine on your eyes. There is only a single set and the singers wear “costumes “ that look like sweats. Definitely not worth the $260 I paid for 2 seats.

from Chicago, Illinois

GOOD SHOW WITH LOTS OF CHOICES!

There were a lot of choices made in this show... Not sure that I appreciated all of them. Biggest one was that if you are sitting house left on the upper balcony you wont get to see the last scene because the lighting designer decided to shine the big fancy light out into the audience. I have no problem with lights when there is a reason. Frequently the lights would randomly shine over the audience as if the LD was just reminding us that they exist. Sound would have been fine if they had not used handhelds. Choices... Made the entire show extremely dirstracting and because of the irregularity in levels with these it was very difficult to hear vocals at times.

from Chicago, Illinois

YUCK!

I can not believe anyone gave this show anything over one star. The singing, with the exception of Mary Magdalene, who rescued our AMP stung ears with her truly beautiful gift of song, was downright horrible. What is with all the bass vocals? The music director should be fired for arranging the band to 100% drown out the singing. Although, I get it, most of the singing stunk anyway. No one could understand one word from the story. The light show? Yeah, completely unnecessary to Retinal Scan the audience a hundred times with flood lights. Although, it was effective at making us look away from actors constantly hauling unused mic stands all over the stage. Hello? headsets? Just a complete let down for everyone, especially those who had not seen the original. Overall, turn the band down and get some decent vocal talent on that stage for the main characters. Horrible acoustics. Hands down, worst musical I ever witnessed. SMH.

Helga Walter from Chicago, Illinois

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

On theMay third performance of JCS speakers were used and volume was turned up too high,affecting the sound of the voices and we could not understand most of the singing. Very strong spotlights used and turned towards the audience over and over again, before and during the crucifixion made it impssible for us to watch that part of he story (dress cirle center front row). Lyrics should have been understandable. This was our first time to see JCS & also the first time we were very dis- appointed in a performance at the Lyric Opera.

Cindy from Palatine, Illinois

HOPEFULLY, CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE

Whoa... Five stars? Well, it can be four... We went to the third performance. Some issues mentioned in these reviews are correct. Volume of band was over the top. ..could not understand actors, even parts of the chorus at times because of this... just a terrible waste of good talent. Continued use of spotlights, ridiculous, and yes, they were in our eyes while sitting in Dress Circle during the second half. Sound and lighting...Shouldn't these be some of the easiest things to correct during rehearsals? Diction, not clear.. little connection to other characters except for Jo Lampert and Michael Cunio. Well done! Choreography became repetitious and therefore, dull. Definitely not for millennials as The Trib reviews, unless they know the lyrics forward and back. Too many distractions to become fully engaged. Disappointing, with high expectations for a performance at the Lyric. But we will be back.

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