Jesus Christ Superstar

Lyrics by Tim Rice. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Directed by Gillian Barber. A Theatre Under the Stars production. At Malkin Bowl on Friday, July 11. Continues until August 15

This Jesus is dressed up in today’s clothes, but its sensibility hasn’t transcended the 1970s, and it’s not slick enough to fly.

An early collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar narrates the last days of Jesus’ life through the lens of pop culture. Jesus is a celebrity with a large, adoring following; his best friend, Judas, thinks he’s gone too far by proclaiming his divinity.

The 1971 play boasts a number of memorable songs, but some of its music hasn’t aged well. Strong performers can make this material work, though. Under Gillian Barber’s direction, the supporting actors here outshine the leads.

Mat Baker’s Jesus is pleasant but passive; he comes most sharply into focus in moments of anger or despair, but he’s not charismatic enough to account for all the adulation. Adam Charles plays Judas like a sulky teenager, and screams his way tunelessly through most of his songs.

Those in secondary roles fare better. Tamara Vishniakoff’s Mary is sweet-voiced and soothing, and she gets some of the show’s loveliest tunes, especially “Everything’s Alright” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”. Andrew Byerlay’s Herod is a showstopper: his delivery is confidently campy and his timing is superb. Stefan Winfield (Caiaphus) and Brandyn Eddy (Annas) are both solid.

Troy McLaughlin’s choreography works in places, like in the temple scene where Jesus is practically smothered by sick people begging him to heal them. But some of the large group numbers feature such overstated movement that they feel cheesy. On the whole, Jesus Christ Superstar falls short of spectacular.