Theater Review: Local production of ‘Jesus Christ, Superstar’ provides fantastic showcase for local talent
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By TEAGAN STURMER
Special to Journal
Come find out what the buzz is all about this weekend down at MATI's production of Jesus Christ Superstar!
Captivating audiences for over 50 years, this timeless musical seems right at home inside the beautiful and historic Marquette Masonic building.
The story, which started as a simple concept album before becoming a full-blown Broadway musical in 1971, narrates the last seven days of Jesus's life through the eyes of perhaps his most infamous disciple, Judas Iscariot, played powerfully by Sara Parks.
Opening the show, Parks reminds us why she is no stranger to the Marquette stage, belting out some killer vocals while humanizing the character through raw emotion and relatable tension. During the scene in which her character betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, Parks delivers an incredibly compelling performance and you can't help but feel empathy toward the inner turmoil Judas is experiencing in that moment.
Opposite Judas, stands none other than Jesus Christ himself, captured masterfully by George Marshall. Exuding charisma and a soft sort of strength, Marshall ultimately conjures up something quite magnificent in his performance of "Gethsemane" as he begs for a way out of his coming fate. I think it is safe to say that there won't be many dry eyes in the audience once the lights come down.
Comforting Jesus throughout his many trials and tribulations is Mary Magdalene, played by Jill Vermeulen. There is a hint of romance that Mary Magdalene might feel for Jesus and Vermeulen plays it beautifully with bright, clear vocals and stunning portrayals of care, devotion, and ultimately, grief.
Just as things seem to be "alright" the storyline takes a turn for the worse as Jesus and his followers catch the attention of two high priests who seal his coming fate, played with the booming and rich vocals of Josh Reinaas and Beth Thiele.
At the heart of this musical is its ensemble, portraying characters from Peter and Simon (played by Malorie Munson and Molly Luty, respectively) to the comedic King Herod (Craig Grabarczyk).
And though we might laugh as Grabarczyk dazzles and kick-lines his way across the stage in "King Herod's Song," our emotions are quickly changed as Thomas Laitinen hits the stage as Pontius Pilate and delivers a gritty performance of "Trial Before Pilate/39 Lashes". You can practically feel the pain rippling off Marshall as he takes Christ's sentence with grace and silence.
These actors make every right, thoughtful choice as they move beneath the direction of Leslie Parkkonen, the musical direction of Marcia Hicks, and the creative choreography of Eliisa Herman. A practical and effective set design by Dave Dahlstrom is brought to life through the lighting design of Vic Holliday, the sound design of Nick Steffey, the costume work of Amber Christunas, and the hair/makeup artistry of Angel Rivera and Aili Blackmon.
All in all, this musical does not shy away from the pain and suffering of humanity and these actors do a brilliant job at capturing the emotion and vulnerability of these familiar characters. A must-see.
Showdates are March 30-31 and April 1, 6, 7 and 8 all beginning at 7 p.m. in the U.P. Masonic Center. Tickets can be purchased at matimqt.org at $15 for general admission and $25 for VIP. Any questions can be directed to contact@matimqt.org.
Teagan Sturmer is a local actor, director, and author.