Review Roundup: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at the London Palladium

What are theatre critics saying about Jesus Christ Superstar?

The Telegraph

“Sam Ryder is divine in a fabulous Jesus Christ Superstar”

★★★★★

Reviewer: Dominic Cavendish

"For a moment, you worry that Ryder is too meek and mild a hero, even anodyne. But daring us to be disappointed tallies with the show’s accusatory argument about the pressures of showbiz expectation. And that achieves a blistering pay-off in the climactic title number, its infectious gospel energy offset by the visceral spectacle of a bloodied Christ being assaulted. It’s as if we are implicated in the mob brutality and betrayal. The humble sight of Christ roped to a makeshift cross beneath a giant suspended crucifix shames us with its simplicity; less is transcendently more. Besides, just as the score, exhilaratingly, keeps changing gear and mood, so Ryder ambushes us with surges of emotional force – turning with irritation on his groupies (dressed like hippy commune vagabonds), and with reproving yet compassionate ire on Tyrone Huntley’s hectoring, haunted, pitch-perfect Judas. The attention to inventive detail is unflagging, and everyone’s on song: Desmonda Cathabel is sensational as Mary Magdalene; David Thaxton makes his mark as Pontius Pilate, another figure who feels trapped by fate."

Read the review here.

WhatsOnStage

“Lloyd Webber and Rice’s most durable and brilliant musicals – and that this is a production that lets it shine”

★★★★★

Reviewer: Sarah Crompton

"Sheader’s approach is to re-emphasise the boldness, to let the music carry the drama, and to let character emerge. The approach pays dividends in Ryder’s Jesus, a performance defined by his popstar presence and by the soar of his voice in that falsetto register. People respond to him because he seems genuine and nice; he brings both those qualities to his portrayal in his West End debut, but also finds true drama as the show reaches its un-triumphal conclusion of sacrifice and suffering. Huntley, in comparison, is all sharp edges and anxiety, his restless energy propelling him around the stage, his desperation after he takes the payment to betray Christ – represented by dipping his hands in silver paint – palpable. The mixture of their voices – Ryder’s lighter-toned, gentle reason with Huntley’s soulful anger – is beautifully managed."

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London Box Office

“The show will undoubtedly sell-out for its entire run”

★★★★

Reviewer: Stuart King

"The extensive use of hand-held mics feels a tad incongruous, yet every effort has been made to stylistically incorporate their use with aplomb in designer Tom Scutt’s set and costume designs. In particular the frequent entrances of the Pharisee whose biblical staffs have microphones at one end and individual cipher insignia at the other, which act as bases when flipped for the musical numbers. In these moments both Matty J and Bob Harms deliver the goods as Annas and Caiaphas respectively. Also hitting the right notes in all the right places were Desmonda Cathabel as Mary Magdalene and Billy Nevers as Simon. The former creates a sound blend akin to Linda Ronstadt and the gorgeous Judith Durham of The Seekers. Meanwhile, Nevers exudes power and vibrancy as he urges Jesus to channel his popularity into a military uprising against their Roman oppressors, in Simon Zealotes/Poor Jerusalem which almost stopped the show and was the high point for me."

Read the review here.

Tyrone Huntley in Jesus Christ Superstar. Photo by Johan Persson

The Independent

“Sam Ryder looks like the Messiah and sings like an angel”

★★★★

Reviewer: Alice Saville

"Cutting through the visual noise, Ryder’s take on this musical’s big second-act number, “Gethsemane”, is a showstopper. He starts in his comfort zone, strumming an acoustic guitar – then tears his way out of it, unleashing a haunting, quavery falsetto as he reckons with his inevitable death, and the hypocrisy of the world’s original absent father. Tyrone Huntley has a raw, haunted energy as the obsessed Judas, who’s determined to hold this emotionally unavailable spiritual leader to account. Desmonda Cathabel is stellar as Mary Magdalene – glamorous as a Sixties chanteuse, her voice as sweet and flowing as the scented oils she rubs Jesus with. As the show’s dark relief, David Thaxton makes an excellent, tormented Pontius Pilate, the polar opposite of Jesse Tyler Ferguson, making an enjoyably camp despots-who-lunch cameo as Herod."

Read the review here.

The Guardian

“Sam Ryder raises the roof in rock opera turned up to 11”

★★★

Reviewer: Arifa Akbar

"But the first thing that hits you here is the sound, which contains Greek levels of melodrama. It’s a shame it stays at a single, fever-pitched high, flattening the emotional drama. Still, there is the glory of the signature song, Superstar, and the vocal blast of both Ryder and Huntley is a sound to behold. Rock and electric guitar crisscrosses choral church music and there are flecks of jazz and gospel. The voices really do raise the roof, especially Ryder’s. He gets a standing ovation for Gethsemane, Jesus’s confrontation with God. But the characterisation is far less satisfying and, just like the singer Self Esteem in David Hare’s Teeth ‘n’ Smiles, Ryder’s accomplishment is primarily vocal here. His Jesus does not seem like the dangerous revolutionary that temple High Priest Caiaphas (Bob Harms) regards him to be but rather a nice guy, verging on the bland."

Read the review here.

TimeOut

“Broodingly sexy take on the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic”

★★★

Reviewer: Andrzej Lukowski

"Ryder by contrast looks like a mildly perturbed middle manager distracted by some tricky mental arithmetic. A lot of Timothy Sheader’s production involves Jesus listening to Tyrone Huntley’s wiry, street rat Judas and looking conflicted while not saying anything. Bennett aura farmed the hell out of this. Ryder does not have the chops. The logic in casting somebody who has never acted before is surely fairly transactional. Ryder offers a name and a fanbase, but he is at best okay in a lead role that demands greatness. Being the son of God is a big ask! I’m sure he’ll improve over the lengthy London run and national tour, but unless you’re a fan of his I just don’t see how you’ll think his presence allows the show to fire on all cylinders."

Read the review here.

If you want to learn more about Jesus Christ Superstar, check out our feature covering everything you need to know about this epic rock opera. And if you're planning on attending the Theatre Royal Drury Lane run, make sure to sign up for our ticket lottery for a chance to win two free tickets!

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