The audience at Jesus Christ Superstar could not help but enjoy themselves on Tuesday night. The apostles dress in camo. The Jewish priests opt for black trench coats and shiny chest armor. Jesus wears khakis and a dress shirt.
The show is loud, colorful and absurd. If you are going to have people running around and singing to each other instead of talking, why not go all out? The show does suffer at points. The loud music sometimes drowns out the singers. The show also lags towards the end when the crucifixion brings down the upbeat and fast tempo of Act One.
These qualms aside, Jesus Christ Superstar is a bright, catchy show that musical fans should see. The director and cast obviously have no reservations with the show's absurdity, and they take it to new levels in the Merriam Theater production. Musicals may be absurd, but everyone needs a guilty pleasure. Go indulge yourself this weekend.
