So here I sit, enjoying my 5 day weekend. I’m listening to Jesus Christ Superstar. I do this every Good Friday. I guess that is a little twisted, but some how it seems appropriate.

If you are not familiar with Superstar, it is the story of Jesus Christs’ last days, taking the plot mostly from the Gospels. The twist is that Judas is the central character. Judas is not evil in Webber’s Masterpiece, he’s just confused. Very confused. What makes it complete is the music. Even though the music was composed in the early 70’s it doesn’t sound dated. It a very rock and roll sound, incorporated into this opera. It is a true opera every word is sung.

I went to see the Revival Version of Superstar in DC last year. It was awesome. The stage settings and costumes we designed to imply that the Roman centurions were fascist stormtroopers and the Jesus and his Apostles were “insurgents” of some sort. It was very shocking and moving to watch the Romans dressed in flak jackets and full riot gear, come arrest and beat Jesus. This set and interpretation was designed in 2000, but it made me think of the violence in Iraq and Israel. It was overwhelming, I everyone in the place was reduced to tears. Not in that chick flick tear jerker way, but just being so overwhelmed by what you are seeing that it evokes a very strong emotional response. I am not religious at all, but seeing Jesus put on the cross and then having the cross lifted above the stage was beyond intense.

I have listened to this Rock Opera every Good Friday for the last 15 years. The appeal of it for me is not only the music, but the way the libretto turns the relation between Jesus and Judas on its head:

Jesus
Peter will deny me in just a few hours
Three times will deny me - and that’s not all I see
One of you here dining, one of my twelve chosen
Will leave to betray me -
Judas
Cut out the dramatics! You know very well who -
Jesus
Why don’t you go do it?
Judas
You want me to do it!
Jesus
Hurry they are waiting
Judas
If you knew why I do it . . .
Jesus
I don’t care why you do it!
Judas
To think I admired you
For now I despise you
Jesus
You liar - you Judas
Judas
You wanted me to do it!
What if I just stayed here
And ruined your ambition?
Christ you deserve it!
Jesus
Hurry you fool, hurry and go,
Save me your speeches
I don’t want to know - Go! Go!

Not exactly Sunday School.