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The Pirate King

Is the current Neeley tour worth seeing?

I've never seen the show, but I've seen the 2000 film (ugh) and I've heard the original concept album. Neeley's farewell tour is coming to my area next year (I missed it earlier this year) and I was just wondering if the JCS fans out there think it's a worthy interpretation of the show and a good first production. Would you recommend it for a first-time showgoer? Is Neeley any good these days?
Brother Marvin Hinten, S.

Yes, and yes. And now I turn it over to the other rave reviewers!
reedzee

I didn't get a chance to see it, but I've heard mixed reviews from those who have.

I'd probably end up seeing it anyways, because I absolutely love the show.
Lazarus (Adam G)

It was fantastic. I hope Corey Glover reprises Judas, though. They make quite a team (Glover is no Carl Anderson, though).
Jekkienumber24601

For the love of god see this if you can! Production wise It's probably the best one I've seen (To a Christian who's pissed at other Christians thinking it's sacreligious)
greatestofalltime

I saw it a couple months ago and it was unreal. Even tho it was the matinée after two night performances and Neely couldn't be in it, his understudy was still amazing. and corey glover is awesome too.
Celeste_SM

I'll give it the first non-glowing review. Neely is a very old Jesus, and he didn't always have the power behind the vocals. It was a fine production, but not the best.

But I don't think you'll be spoiled for all time if this is your first JCS.
shakalakababy

i would see it. Over all i was very impressed. We had neely's understudy (chris kline I think?) and he was phenomenal.

However I thought corey glover was awful. I could barely stand listening to him. Definitely the worst Judas I've ever heard by far. But maybe he was under the weather or something when i saw him, i certainly hope so.

The chick who played mary was really good though. I don't remember her name off the top of my head.
Brother Marvin Hinten, S.

shakalakababy wrote:
i would see it. Over all i was very impressed. We had neely's understudy (chris kline I think?) and he was phenomenal.


That would be Chris Gleim, and yes he was very good. Luckily, I saw Ted on the tour, and he was excellent.
rock_musicals

Awesome, I'm seeing it in June 2008. Razz
Beagle On Stage

Ted was spectacular. The only performance that has ever made me cry. And oh my God, "The Temple"!!! It was so glorious and passionate that I wanted to stand up right there and scream with him. And to think the man is in his 60's. Just one of many, MANY highlights of his performance. He's definitely still got it.

It's an excellent production, made even more so by Ted's awesomeness. However, I really did not appreciate Corey Glover. He took so much liberty with the music that it was jarring to listen to - so much alteration that it was no longer "how it goes." And I didn't find his acting very interesting. Lots of intense emotion, but no real depth. I also found the Herod scene a little self-indulgent. Otherwise, it was magic. See it if at all possible.
ConverseSneaker

I was shaking in my seat, eyes and mouth wide open through it all. It was definately worth it, I was truly touched by the show. The simplicity of the show combined with the truly phenomonal story and actors was magic.
Pounce

It's supposed to be in Atlanta next year in March. Does Neely do the matinée show?
Brother Marvin Hinten, S.

Unless he's sick to the point of death, Neeley does just about any performance. Case in point: On the last leg of this tour, there were well over 200 performances. Of those, he missed 8. Chances are good he will be there.
Lazarus (Adam G)

I'm hoping that this time around they do a bit more with the show; the blocking sucked. But Neeley and Glover made it great.
Pannic

I'm actually seeing it next month...
jcstar

I'm hoping that there will be another audition call for the tour. I will go out for the auditions.

Hopefully Laz, Gibby, Grubbs and Pilate will be there too so that we can all meet. Who knows? We might all get in! Wouldn't that be cool?

Andy.
Pannic

Just got back from it.

IT SUCKED
Beagle On Stage

Maybe you just didn't get it. Even if it did suck, Ted would have been able to save it.
Pannic

Please. Neeley was one of the reasons it sucked. Among other things:

A Judas who apparently doesn't have the range, and cracks on a number of notes. Not only that, but he completely butchers "Heaven on their Minds" by abandoning the melody and going on pointless vocal acrobatics.

A Caiaphas with two different voices. Neither of the voices were really bad, by for the love of God, just stick with one. Keep with the Bob Bingham imitation if you will, but don't ruin it by going into lyric tenor during the high notes.

The second Pharisee is supposed to be a low bass. This one wasn't a low bass.

Pilate was just going through the motions. He wasn't convincing or sympathetic at all.

They decided to put a really, really awkward moment in at the beginning of "King Herod's Song." At "And Now I Understand You're God," the Soul Girls all start babbling, and then once that's over, there's a really long pause... awkward.

Judas and Jesus kept screwing with the rhythm of the lyrics, which was especially annoying when Judas just completely abandoned the melody.

And Ted Neeley still has the stage presence of a rock. His Jesus is completely stoic and unemotional. I don't care how long you can hold those falsetto shrieks (he was holding them way longer than he was supposed to during Gestheneme, by the way), if your Jesus is completely stoic, then you are missing the entire **** point of the show.
Celeste_SM

Pannic wrote:
And Ted Neeley still has the stage presence of a rock. His Jesus is completely stoic and unemotional. I don't care how long you can hold those falsetto shrieks (he was holding them way longer than he was supposed to during Gestheneme, by the way), if your Jesus is completely stoic, then you are missing the entire **** point of the show.


I'm with you. I don't understand the Neeley worship on this current tour. I have a friend in this tour (the non low bass you mention... heh), so I want to love it, but I can't, though I've seen it twice. Although when I first saw it, Gestheneme was the best part of Neeley's performance, and was more nuanced than what you describe above.
Lazarus (Adam G)

The show itself was not impressive. I mantain that Corey Glover is great, and that Neeley, despite his complete misunderstanding of the show, is still good, allbeit aged. He held the High-G the same length during the AD Tour, too.

The show is not the same show it was in the 70's; this is a very Christiany-version. You either get a Zealous-"JEEEEEBUS" version, or a stupid "Updated" version.

Quote:
The second Pharisee is supposed to be a low bass. This one wasn't a low bass.



This matters just about as much as what color Judas is. I think you're just biased as a bass-ranged singer. Wink And as for Caiaphas, the roll is supposed to go up that high; Bob Bingham has about a four-note range.
Pannic

Yeah, what with the whole "floating off the cross up into the air" thingy...
Lazarus (Adam G)

Pannic wrote:
Yeah, what with the whole "floating off the cross up into the air" thingy...


There was this one production, I can't think of which one it is, that had Jesus float upwards and become a piece of a stain-glass window. Now THAT was powerful. Jesus is immortal, but not in the divine sense; it leaves that up to interpretation, as it should be left.
Pannic

Lazarus (Adam G) wrote:

Quote:
The second Pharisee is supposed to be a low bass. This one wasn't a low bass.



This matters just about as much as what color Judas is. I think you're just biased as a bass-ranged singer. Wink And as for Caiaphas, the roll is supposed to go up that high; Bob Bingham has about a four-note range.
It matters, because if you're cast as someone, you should be able to sing it how it's written, unless you have something to add to the roll to make up for that. With a role as small as those Pharisees, there isn't much room to it. They sing the lines. The second one is supposed to be a bass, as low as Caiaphas.

And you misunderstand my gripe about Caiaphas. I am well aware that he goes up to the high F several times during that song. Problem is, his voice changed when he was doing that. The timbre changed such that it didn't even sound like the same guy was singing it, and it was just awkward. You just can't go from Bob Bingham impersonation to lyric tenor like that.
krisavalon

Despite all the thumbs down, I'm really looking forward to seeing it on the 13th. Ted Neeley definitely has a more subdued approach to the role, but I've always loved that about his performance. It feels very real, very human. Last time I saw him was in '96, and I was blown away by his performance. I'm hoping the old man still has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Beagle On Stage

krisavalon wrote:
I'm hoping the old man still has a few tricks up his sleeve.


You will not be disappointed. He's still got it.
The Pirate King

Well, I'm seeing the tour a couple of times in February. The 20th, and 23rd, I believe. I'm pumped.
Lazarus (Adam G)

I need to get tickets to see it again... I wonder if anything has changed since I saw it in April.
Brother Marvin Hinten, S.

Well, the tour staff's attitudes to their audience haven't changed worth a damn. The NFBSK'ers!
teapot

Agree the production was a disappointment

I have to agree with Pannic, and on the same complaints. Saw it here in San Diego Sunday (the last performance) and thought it was lackluster, tired, and often annoying. Mary Magdalene was very good, but Glover was terrible and Neeley was just there. His pantomimic talks with god made him look like a lunatic. The rising off the cross looked like Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Where was the powerful, heart stopping musical I remember from the 60's? The lyrics were just thrown away. How sad.
Chessfan

enjoyed the show for the peice of fluff it is.

The lighting is great. The band sound terrific.

However if you are looking for a good production of Jesus Christ Superstar this isn't it. Neeley while impressive for his age seems like he's on prozac for the entire show save for Gethsemane. The Last Supper is just surreal. Glover's Judas gives it everything he's got and Neeleys Christ rarely even moves. He just stares at him with his hands joined in front of him. It doesn't make any sense and the whole scene becomes ridiculous. Those who worship Neeley will defend his portrayal to the death but its all wrong for this show. Also his incessent talking to God (or maybe just the voices in Jesus' head) was the dumbest thing I've ever seen.

I did like Corey Glover. His voice wouldn't be my cup of tea but the night I saw the show he hit every note so no complaints.

The direction is really lacklustre. I mean I've seen school productions that were more daring. The whole show looks like a bad copy of the original movie and a sunday school stain glass window. The director should be shot. Jesus is God, performs miracles (raises a guy from the dead at one point) and yet still Judas doesn't believe he's the messiah?!!!

This show is Ted Neeley fans, Squeeky clean Christians and those who don't care about the portrayal of characters nor interpretation of the work.

Oh and about the flying of the cross thing. I have been reliably informed that I may have ruined the magic for some of my fellow theatre goers by exclaiming (though I thought I was whispering under my breath) in my Irish brogue "Oh for F@ck sake". Oops. My apologies to anyone sitting near me but seriously anyone who thought that was good needs a good flogging.
Jekkienumber24601

I loved it. He's actually a better singer now, then he was 30 years ago.


I'm seeing it again this sunday!!!
MunkustrapQC

I'm seeing it on February 17th in Montreal!
My girlfriend and I pray every day to make sure it will not be Neeley's backup that will play! Razz
I terribly want to see Ted playing Jesus!!
Brother Marvin Hinten, S.

Well, MunkQC, you just may be in luck. Ted always strives not to miss a performance. On the previous leg of this tour, he only missed 8 shows out of well over 200. Chances are VERY good you will see him.
Pannic

If you wanna see Ted play the part, just rent the movie. At least in the movie, the people in the other roles don't suck.
Brother Marvin Hinten, S.

But in the movie, he's at his lamest. He was another generic Peter Frampton type, a pretty boy with a lazy eye who could scream tenor. Now there's depth to his performance - there's a grit and a texture there that wasn't there before. Some JCS fans say his voice is thinning, but I dare say that in his old age, he sounds better now than he's ever been.
Pannic

The performance I saw was pretty much the exact same thing as the movie, just older.

And it's still lame.
krisavalon

I caught the matinee at the Orange County Performing Arts Center today, and I loved every second of it (well, almost every second; I actually wasn't impressed with the current Herod's Song arrangement). I was expecting Ted to be good, but he so far exceeded my expectations. When he belted those notes in Gethsemane, there were tears in my eyes. The whole thing was just so beautiful and intense. I know some people here have been unimpressed with Corey Glover, but I enjoyed his performance as well. I thought it was a passionate and fresh interpretation of the character.
Lazarus (Adam G)

Brother Marvin Hinten, S. wrote:
But in the movie, he's at his lamest. He was another generic Peter Frampton type, a pretty boy with a lazy eye who could scream tenor. Now there's depth to his performance - there's a grit and a texture there that wasn't there before. Some JCS fans say his voice is thinning, but I dare say that in his old age, he sounds better now than he's ever been.


Actually, I think his performance now doesn't have as much depth as it did in the AD Tour.
Brother Marvin Hinten, S.

If anything, in the professional's opinion (not me, but you know of whom I speak), he has never been better, bar none.
LameUsername

I saw it (last spring, I think) and it was not very good. Neeley was far too old for Jesus, and simply no longer had the voice for the part. Corey Glover had an okay voice, but did none of the movement that in my opinion really enhances the character. As a production it was okay, not bad, but nothing special.
Jekkienumber24601

krisavalon wrote:
I caught the matinee at the Orange County Performing Arts Center today, and I loved every second of it (well, almost every second; I actually wasn't impressed with the current Herod's Song arrangement). I was expecting Ted to be good, but he so far exceeded my expectations. When he belted those notes in Gethsemane, there were tears in my eyes. The whole thing was just so beautiful and intense. I know some people here have been unimpressed with Corey Glover, but I enjoyed his performance as well. I thought it was a passionate and fresh interpretation of the character.


We caught the evening there. Ted's is as amazing as usual. Corey riff's way too much for the role and his acting was very shy. It wasn't a character choice. Corey Glover is not used to acting onstage. Which is why superstar is obviously his best song cause he gets to prance around with a microphone.
krisavalon

I actually thought Corey Glover did a really good job with the acting. My only complaint was that he didn't seem quite frantic enough in "Damned For All Time," but he more than made up for it in "Judas' Death." I'm convinced, though, that some performances are just better than those, and some people's negative opinions may have been shaped by seeing weaker shows. I have several bootleg recordings from the tour, and I've noticed that some of them are extremely lacking (performance-wise), and others are incredibly powerful from start to finish.
Jekkienumber24601

I saw the tour twice, Once in Thousand Oaks and once at the OCPAC. Corey was better the first time. his riffing in HOTM is at the point now where the melody isn't the same at all. It's a completely different song.
Beagle On Stage

Corey Glover is, in my opinion, the downfall of the production. Didn't someone already mention generic performers who could scream?
jcstar

Brother Marvin Hinten, S. wrote:
But in the movie, he's at his lamest. He was another generic Peter Frampton type, a pretty boy with a lazy eye who could scream tenor.


Um... what?

Andy.
Pannic

Jekkienumber24601 wrote:
I saw the tour twice, Once in Thousand Oaks and once at the OCPAC. Corey was better the first time. his riffing in HOTM is at the point now where the melody isn't the same at all. It's a completely different song.
Vastly inferior, too. Like I said: completely butchered the part. His portrayal was completely forgettable, and he has no stage presence.
postmodern-mango-salsa

I kind of want to see it, simply because it's JCS, but the following week at the same place is a Philip Glass Ballet, and I only have so much money, so I guess I'll have to see it another time ><
MunkustrapQC

I'm gonna see it on Sunday!!
I hope that Ted Neeley will not be sick or something like that...
Brother Marvin Hinten, S.

Out of over 200 performances on the last leg, Ted only missed 8. Good Lord willin' and the criks don't rise (as he says), he will be there. Trust me.
jcstar

Saw the show last night. I'm going to post a full review at www.jesuschristsuperstar.net in the future, but here's a quick review from my conversation with Gibby.

Corey Glover was exceptional.
Ted Neeley was amazing. He (yes, the man himself) cancelled the meet and greet at the last minute
Sculli (Pilate) was awesome. Great pacing during TRIAL.
"Everything's Alright" was messy. Very, very messy (vocally and musically)
The Temple was great. The Leper part was creepy.
In "Gethsemane" Jesus wasn't struck by lightening. He just moved upstage. After a minute od silence, crossed over to Peter. Knelt and started singig again. At the tag ending, he crossed to centrstage and belted the last few notes.
Herod was hilarious! I am getting used to the Samba arrangement... now that I could hear what the drummer was doing.

Andy.
MunkustrapQC

I'm leaving Quebec for Montreal right now to see the tonight's show!!
I'm so excited!!
MunkustrapQC

The show was totally crazy!
Ted Neeley still have a powerful voice!!
I loved the Herod scene :
King Herod : "Bonjour"
Crowd : (Laughing)
King Herod : "It's the only french word I know!

Mary is most talented person in that cast!
I really don't like the Crucifixion scene, but when Jesus start flying to the sky and cross is getting down, I totally freak! It was one of the many highlights of the show!

EDIT : The Neeley performance in The Temple is just crazy!! Gethsemane was great too...
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