Laser Is the Real ‘Superstar’ of Golden West Production

It would be hard to imagine a noisier, glitzier depiction of the Passion play than the Crystal Cathedral’s special effects-laden “The Glory of Easter,” but Golden West College’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” comes close.

From these productions, it is clear this is the season of the laser. “The Glory of Easter” sends the razor lights careening all over the cathedral’s cavernous interior in a re-creation of everything from paths heavenward to a thunderstorm.

Although on a smaller, less expensive scale, Starlasers, a North Hollywood company, fills Golden West College’s modest Mainstage Theater with a similar splash of flash.

It is apparent from the start that the laser works are the big star at Golden West College. As soon as the lights go down, Starlasers’ Sam McGee actually draws a pair of angels in the fog above the stage, then offers a glowing projection of the rock opera’s title.

Impressive.

From there, the audience gets lasers up, down and all around throughout the show.

These visuals make some sense when tied to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s irreverent musical. While the effects in the Crystal Cathedral threaten to vulgarize the program’s solemn intent, they tend to support “Superstar’s” mocking tone.

Directors David Anthony and Michael Cody have unabashedly latched onto “Superstar’s” questioning nature. They aren’t against making Christ (Lee Vail) a doubt-ridden, even neurotic man who may or may not be the son of God.

He thinks he is, but maybe he is just a messianic outsider. You never really know for sure how Anthony and Cody feel until the Crucifixion scene, when a Salvador Dali-inspired moment of surrealism reveals a reverential side.

The performances, from the central roles to the ensemble’s handling of Cody’s aggressive but awkward choreography, reflect all the laser razzmatazz, usually opting for loud over quiet, obvious over subtle.

It can all get downright ear-splitting and eye-blurring.

Most of the singing, especially Vail and Roy Bertram as Judas, takes on the shrieking of Heavy Metal--to hear this much throat-twisting, you usually have to sit in on a Motley Crue concert. Vail and Bertram do have some subdued, more effective moments, but, unfortunately, their wailing stands out.

Really, only Carol Rodecker as Mary Magdalene consistently reaches the right pitch. Her silky voice cuts through all the raucousness, and her rendition of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” is both moving and technically sound.

‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR’

A Golden West College production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera. Directed by David Anthony and Michael Cody. With Lee Vail, Carol Rodecker, Roy Bertram, Tom Waite, Michael Grenie, Robin Matthews, Adrian Muldrew, C.R. Snider, Douglas Wood, Mark Carter, Jeffrey Glover, Bradford Bowen, Ric Steiner, Matt Humphreys, John A. Trepl II, David Anderson, Danny Patterson, Mathew J. Watkins, Max Mendez, Herman Dinaburg and Brendon Newman. Musical direction by David Anthony. Choreography by Michael Cody. Sets by Steven Wolff Craig. Lighting by William A. Liotta. Costumes by Susan Thomas Babb. Lasers by Starlasers and Sam McGee. Plays Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the campus’s Mainstage Theater, 15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach. Tickets: $5 to $7. (714) 895-8378.