★★★
Sam Ryder is not the Messiah. But he did come second for the UK in Eurovision, which places him close in some people’s eyes. And you can see the logic of casting him as the lead in a splashy summer revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. Though he wasn’t born until almost 20 years after Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical theatre romp debuted, Ryder’s eclectic, guitar heavy pop should theoretically position him well to front this loveably mercurial rock opera.
And with all due caveats re: the fact he’s clearly not Middle Eastern, he also looks a bit like Jesus, or at least popular Western depictions of Jesus, which is at least mildly qualifying, surely.
Can’t act though, can he?
Well, maybe that’s unfair. He can act a bit. It’s not horrible for a stage debut. But it’s not really lead-actor-at-the-Palladium stuff either. This production actually started 10 years ago at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park, where star Declan Bennett didn’t look a thing like classic Jesus, but had brooding charisma to spare, a troubled man struggling to accept his fate and the difficult questions being asked of him by his relentless frenemy Judas.
Ryder by contrast looks like a mildly perturbed middle manager distracted by some tricky mental arithmetic. A lot of Timothy Sheader’s production involves Jesus listening to Tyrone Huntley’s wiry, street rat Judas and looking conflicted while not saying anything. Bennett aura farmed the hell out of this. Ryder does not have the chops.
The logic in casting somebody who has never acted before is surely fairly transactional. Ryder offers a name and a fanbase, but he is at best okay in a lead role that demands greatness. Being the son of God is a big ask! I’m sure he’ll improve over the lengthy London run and national tour, but unless you’re a fan of his I just don’t see how you’ll think his presence allows the show to fire on all cylinders.
And to be clear: elsewhere it’s a pretty damn good production. Sheader’s cast look like sexy apocalypse survivors as they lock into Drew McOnie’s deliciously weird and angular choreography. Tom Scutt’s scaffold set is stark but ominously symbolic and the on-stage seating is very near, making members of the audience look like part of a teeming Judean throng.
Being the son of God is a big ask
This ultra stylised Jerusalem is a nocturnal world of heroes – Jesus, Desdemona Cathabel’s radiant Mary Magdalene – and monsters: see Bob Harm’s bowel-quakingly voiced grotesque of a Caiaphas. The only veteran of the 2016 production, Huntley is a fine Judas, an angry survivor, full of righteous integrity, genuinely unsettled by his old friend declaring himself to be the son of God.
There’s a slightly odd gimmick of rotating the actor playing Herod over the course of the run. He has one song, and it doesn’t require an amazing voice. When I saw it, US sitcom star and stage stalwart Jesse Tyler Fergusson did a fine job, and looked wonderful in the spectacular ceremonial robes designed by Scutt. The likes of Boy George and Richard Armitage will be doing it over the coming weeks and I guess it’s interesting to cast such a varied bunch, but ultimately it’s a bit of a red herring to concern yourself over what’s effectively a cameo.
It’s worth also saying that it remains a tremendous musical. The Webber-Rice partnership was not long lived at all – they really only did three shows proper together – but the dizzying musical turns and lyrics that veer between outright bonkers and piercingly insightful are unlike anything else in the canon. And Sheader’s production is smart in respecting the shiny bright melodies while cranking up the gas when required - the pummelling grunge guitars that open up the overture are quite the thrill.
All in all it’s a good production that slots into the Jamie Lloyd era of Sexy Lloyd Webber very nicely indeed. The problem, I’m afraid, is the lead. A year ago Lloyd directed Evita at the Palladium and it was made by an astonishing turn from Rachel Zegler. Sam Ryder has been given the same stage and just isn’t in her league. He’s a pop star – but we needed a superstar.
Jesus Christ Superstar is at the London Palladium, now until Sep 5. Buy tickets here.
It then moves to Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Oct 16-Jan 9 2027. Buy tickets here.
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