STAGE REVIEW - Cypress College’s ‘Superstar’ Lacks Energy, Aura of Original Musical

“Jesus Christ Superstar” has always relied on its recasting of the New Testament into pop imagery to generate interest.

This often irreverent manipulation of the Bible seemed appropriate during the tail end of the counter-culture era, when everything was being retooled to fit the changing visions of the times. Fundamentalists and those easily offended saw Andrew Lloyd Webber’s flip-hip rock score and Tim Rice’s mundane, humanizing lyrics sacrilegious, but that didn’t dissuade theatergoers: It was never a great musical but it was right for its day.

Now, however, “Superstar” can seem trivial, or at least quaint, in its telling of Christ and the days leading to his death. The greatest story ever told, in this musical form, is not always that compelling, even when the Webber-Rice score is at its best.

And when there are technical problems, the audience is bound to find its own trials in sitting through any production.

At Cypress College, director Kaleta Brown approaches the right cool attitude that drapes over “Superstar,” but she never finds the necessary energy or consistency in her cast to bring it all together. This show moves hesitantly, unsurely.

Much of the problem rests with the players, who generally don’t have the strong voices necessary for plumbing the musical’s potential. Further, placing the live band on stage may provide some immediacy, but the group is not always able to handle the compositions--the interpretations tend to plod.

The choice of Howard Eugene Whitright to play Jesus is also problematic. He looks too old for the role and, in fact, plays it too maturely, with too much restraint. This Jesus doesn’t come alive as a man or come across as a powerful religious symbol.

On the plus side, Linda Garen Smith does have some nice moments as Mary Magdalene, especially on “Everything’s Alright” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” and Ken Seyler tries to bring verve to the role of Judas, although his singing often veers into shouting.

Gil Morales’ set, a landscape of flowing, lava-like outcroppings, is interesting without being obtrusive. Brown shows imagination in having her actors emerge surprisingly from the crannies and then again retreat to become part of the rocky formation.

‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR’

A Cypress College production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical. Directed by Kaleta Brown. With Howard Eugene Whitright, Ken Seyler, Linda Garen Smith, Richard Iacovoni, David Billhimer, Joseph M. Collins, Rudy Martinez, Mike Casey, Grant McKee, Robert Franks, Roreigh W. McCowan, Matthew Budds, Jeffrey W. McClary, Jeremy Pfeifer, Jason Berroteran, John R. Purdin Jr., David Lenik, Tim French, Zachary Young, Ryan Holihan and Danny Fehner. Set by Gil Morales. Choreography by Stacie Finn. Lighting and sound by Fred DePontee. Musical direction by Michael Henshall. Choral master Mitch Hanlon. Plays today and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the campus’s main theater, 9200 Valley View St., Cypress. Tickets: $5. (714) 821-6320.