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Missy
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I found his play on words, not necessarily the content, fun and entertaining. You didn't. What's to defend? Just so, I didn't find him hurtful or rude... just stating his opinion. And just to be clear Allyson,["Whoever you are" indeed. Snort!]this is Gail. If you want to carry this anywhere, you can. I'm content to leave it on this page. Allyson wrote: <quoted text>
Dear Missy or whoever you are,
If you find rudeness entertaining, I'm glad you were entertained. I don't need to defend my remarks to you but that is what you want, isn't it? I'm glad his review entertained you but it was hurtful and unkind.
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Missy
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Makes me wonder what review you read, or if we read the same review, or if your even in the same universe... One persons funny is another persons crass. Rachel wrote: He didn't make me think about what I was seeing but rather made me wonder about what he was seeing and hearing or even if he was on this planet at all!
Witty and entertaining, I think not!
I found no humor in any of what he said, he was rude, crude and unpolished! So you see, I did get it!
<quoted text>
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Jessica
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Mr. Rizzo,
I am amazed that you found NO redeeming parts in the entire show. This tells me that you did indeed close your mind at the very beginning and did not truly "see" and "hear" the performance. You were too busy composing witty remarks.
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Bobbe Klimovich
AOL
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Mr. Rizzo - Just finished your so-called review of Jesus Christ Superstar and a more hateful, snide, misguided review has not been published in a very long time. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen anything like that in print before.
May I venture to ask how old you are since age seems to be a guiding factor for you? They did four shows in Pittsburgh in three days. Would you be able to keep up a pace like the one required for a touring company like this one? Doubt it.
And while I am at it, since you get so picky about things, maybe you should check because the caption under your first picture is not the temple scene it is Jesus with the lepers.
Ted's voice is just fine and he hit all the notes he needed to hit, right on the mark. When he first appeared on stage, even before he opened his mouth, he got an ovation. The people in the audience at the Benedum were there to see him perform. If I had wanted to see him as he was in the movie in 1973, I would have played the DVD. As it is, the people in the theater want to be in the presence of Ted Neeley while he portrays Jesus. The show is a spiritual thing that touches people's hearts but that is something I don't think you could understand. And that is my opinion.
The people who were sitting around me had tears in their eyes by the time everything was over, Ted Neeley can still reach out and speak to your soul. Two weeks on, I am still breathless and deeply moved. Quite frankly, I hope they come back through Pittsburgh again. I will be in the theater.
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Maria Grazia Malpi
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Oh well, Mr Rizzo, I must have gone to see another show as no one of the words you used in your article seems to describe what I saw, both last year in Baltimore and in March of this year in Atlanta. And, I tell you, I saw JCS with Ted Neeley pretty well, as I was there every show of the week. Just for your knowledge, I came in the U.S. all the way from Italy especially for THIS SHOW: JCS has quite good professional productions here in Italy too, but with Ted Neeley we have an extra value. The flight and staying in the US for this particular occasion was all WORTHWHILE. And please, come on, would you like to skip common-senses like the "age issue" and Matusalemme?- you sound so much like those young people of 40 years ago - With respect.
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Darren
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My family and I LOVED the show. Ted Neeley can SING! I disagree with every word of your review. Come with an open mind (and open ears) next time. I guess those who can, do, and those who can't make a living being overly critical of those who can.
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susan teller
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i have never seen the movie or any theatrical production of jesus christ superstar but was familiar with some of the music..i am usually an enthusiastic easy to please theater-goer having subscribed to the bushnell broadway series for many years now and going to broadway several times...i thought this production was awful for the most part...the background music was fine but the vocals were screechy and off tune and just plain unenjoyable...i think i will rent the movie to see it how it should be presented...this was the first time i attended the bushnell and said to my frends"this was not good!"
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Michelle
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As a classically-trained singer with years of performing experience in musical theater, I must say that I agree with the review of this performance. First of all, it is a shame what has happened to musical theater: When you enter the Bushnell, you see two towers of speakers on either side of the stage. This is to make up for the fact that this touring production has NO orchestra. All strings, woodwinds and brass are heard from a recording. There is a keyboard player, drummer, and recorded sounds and that is it! To me, this is a shame. Musical theater is not just about a "rock concert" even though this was conceived as a "rock opera". Andrew Lloyd Webber himself composed this show for full orchestra.
Secondly, when recorded music and loud drums are BLASTED from the stage, singers have no chance but to scream over them. And with Corey Glover starting all songs an OCTAVE higher than they were composed, he has no chance but to scream. The future of musical theater is in a sad state if this is what people recognize as good theater.
The Music Man was tremendous - and not painful to listen to. Fans of American Idol should beware. The body mic and noodling around of the voice are ruining the future of this great art - no good can come of it.
I admire Ted Neeley as a man and an actor, but people need to remember that he is not Jesus Christ - and therefore, he is not immune to criticism. It is not Frank Rizzo's fault that his job is to state the good, the bad and the ugly. And, as a performer who has spent a lot of time dealing with criticism, I speak for all performers when I say it is the nature of our art to accept criticism. After all, people PAY to see these performances. And a lot of money, at that. We respect the right of the critic because it challenges us to perform better, and accept when we are not living up to expectations and when the time has come to step aside.
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Gloria
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For the most part, I agree with Frank Rizzo's article. Although it's obvious that Ted Neeley's voice has aged, that didn't bother me at all. I was basically not happy with the direction; it felt almost silly to watch JC miming sermons or conversations with "God knows who" while others sang and I'm afraid his death scene on the cross was about twice as long as it needed to be.
Then Corey Glover's screeching and the deep bass of one of the high priests that disappeared when he changed octaves was unnerving.
I've been a season ticket holder at the Bushnell for a few years now and this was one of the few disappointments I've seen.
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Kathy
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Wow..this I why I never pay attention to critics..I have seen Mr. Neeley in 2 performances..and I was totally blown away by them. I will see him again next Saturday in Boston.. Ted Neeley was pure magic when I saw him as Jesus 5 years ago and from the majority of the reviews i've read he still has the magic. as well as being an amazing human being. I'm sure the rest of the cast is amazing as well. I think you need to look at the big picture when you review a play my friend. Mr. Neeley puts his heart and soul into that role every night..regardless of whether he is 64 or or 34..he deserves more respect than what you gave him.
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Kathy
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I forgot to add in my previous post that Mr. Neeley must still be doing something right to effect so many people on a daily basis the way he does. In my opinion theatre reviews are supposed to be open minded and unbiased..yours was neither.
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ADoyle
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i have been a big fan of Jesus Christ Super Star since the beginning in 1971. This is the third time i have seen this particular performance. although i truly love the orginal score, i find this interpertation of the rock opera very good with the inplementation of different songs and lyrics. however, i would have to agree, the age of Ted Neeley and Corey Glover is in great contrast not only to Jesus and Judas when "The Passion" took place, but to the rest of the cast as well. The stage, the set, the customes etc were acceptable. Even the compassion for Jesus by Pontius Pilate was moving and quiet beautiful.(i like that interpertation) But..."Wake Up People" you need a new Jesus and a new Judas..than the production would be very good as it once was.
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kdnbsmom4
AOL
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If you've got tickets, just don't get your hopes up. Try to enjoy your memories of past performances and ignore the bizzare vocals. If you don't have tickets, save your money.
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A Rose is a Rose
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Stank.
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Patty A
AOL
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Dear Mr Rizzo. You have a right to your opinion but I must say since I do as well that your review of this show was completely uncalled for and doesn't speak for anyone but you at least not anyone who is a true fan of JCS and its cast/crew. I saw the show in Providence and just as the cast did in 1994 they blew me away again this tour so much so I am going to see the show again in Boston on May 17. Mr Rizzo. You seem to entirely miss the point of why Ted is still in this show. We are all put here on this earth for a reason. We all have a mission and Ted's goes beyond just performing the role on stage. He is the closet thing to the real Jesus off stage as well and the number of people he has helped over the many years he has done this show is enormous. He may be as he says just a rock and roll drummer from Texas who is lucky enough to still be able to hit the high notes but he and the others on this tour are all blessed and so are we to see them perform not just because of what they do but because of who they are. They are dedicated actors who are equally dedicated to this show and us and we in turn are dedicated to them because that is showbiz but if you have any doubt why Ted is still there go to a meet and greet and that should solve your problem.
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Roz
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The theater is a personal experience. You are either going to like what you're watching, or not like it based upon your personal preferences. I've seen the show numerous times, and while there might be moments that I'm not crazy about, for the most part I've enjoyed the production. I might add that at each venue, you have different sound systems and equipment that might affect the quality of the music and vocals. I noticed that one of the other comments referred to the orchestra's lack of certain instuments. As this is a touring company, they can hardly bring along an entire orchestra for each performance. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Mr. Tim Rice were both involved in updating the arrangements for the music and lyrics for this current production. I would expect a full orchestra if JCS was being produced at a single venue for a long term, but that is not the case here. The bottom line is you have to make up your own mind when attending any play, musical or opera as to what you like or dislike about the performance. And no production pleases every single person sitting in the audience 100%.
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wjryan
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Headlines over articles in the sports section of the Hartford Courant often depend upon puns to quicken reader interest.
Critic Rizzo risked one in his Superstar review. Readers apparently overlooked it. The sentence that carried the pun was looped in a syntax that impaired comprehension. The pun? Next paragraph. See if you can detect the pun.
“But it would take a special kind of savior,“ says Rizzo,“ to redeem this tired, uninspired show covered by the shroud of touring.“ Shroud of touring. Shroud of Turin. Get it?
Imprinted on the famous Shroud --- or burial cloth --of Turin, as the result of blood and body fluids, is the face of a man dated to a time coeval with Jesus Christ. Likely this man was crucified, says scientific evidence. Was it Jesus Christ? No way to tell. Devout Christians assert it was. So do merchants in Turin, Italy.
Rizzo’s pun asserts the uninspired show is covered by the shroud of touring or taking the show on the road. But the show fails not because it is touring. It fails because of an inept superannuated lead player and his supporting players; that’s what critic Rizzo says. The play would not be improved housed in a Broadway theater. And if the play were enshrouded, to redeem it would be inadequate. Not redemption, the play requires revitalization, a la Lazarus.
Puns are risky. A consultation with the headline writer over in the Sports’ Department could confirm that for Rizzo.
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Allyson
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As a classically-trained cellist with years of performing experience in musical theater, 25 to be exact, I must say I disagree with the review of this performance. I have seen other productions; I have played in two productions of this piece. I have seen better. I have seen worse. But no one comes close to Ted Neeley, period. Here is a chance to see the guy that did the movie; who can still sing his heart out and hit the high notes. And if you have a chance to meet him, he is the nicest, kindest performer you will ever meet.
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Snow Goose
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A Rose is a Rose wrote: Stank. Totally.
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Coop
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Very amusing critique - and, for the most part - spot on. Last night was the first time I saw JCS, so I had no bias. The dancers with Judas in the JCS number were out of sync -- looked amateurish. Was very surprised they didn't reprise the title song at the end. Where's the glory of the resurrection?
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