Cynthia Erivo and Adam Lambert took center stage in Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday, August 2. The production had a star-studded cast that included Phillipa Soo of Hamilton and Raúl Esparza from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Erivo, a queer Black woman, playing Jesus Christ raises important questions about power and influence: Are only white men powerful and influential? Can only they be considered as such?
The production itself answers its own question as Jesus leads her disciples throughout the play: no. True leadership transcends conventional thought that places white men as leaders. A Black queer woman can have followers and be a leader.
My point about a Black woman being an effective and strong leader is all the more amplified by Erivo’s leadership on stage, which I elaborate on in a future point.
Seeing a Broadway musical in Los Angeles is always a treat, especially when the lead is played by Cynthia Erivo. Throughout the night, she smoothly moved through her range, belted, and sustained long notes. Previously I’d only heard her sing in video recordings. Listening to her sing live confirmed for me that Erivo understands and is in control of her voice. Not only is she a belting powerhouse, but she also sings softer dynamics with ease.
At the same time, if this show was a musical, why were Erivo and Lambert singing with handheld microphones? I expected lavalier mics like the ones actors Soo and Esparza used.
The night had many hiccups when it came to sound production, the most notable being when Erivo was not given a mic upon her reentrance to the stage to start “The Last Supper.” The audience could see Erivo singing but could not hear her. Fellow actors also appeared a bit thrown off, and Lambert handed her his microphone. Lambert’s microphone also didn’t work, at which point Erivo puts her palm up as if to tell the audience “hold.” She and other actors looked around for a bit until someone ran onto the stage and handed her a microphone. She looked back at the conductor and patted her head to signal the orchestra to start from the top of the number, and the conductor obeyed. This error could have been prevented by the use of lav mics. Still, errors are not entirely about what went wrong, but about how one bounces back, and Erivo’s leadership allowed her and her castmates to bounce back into the number.
While not the lead, Raúl Esparza, who played Pontius Pilate, could not be ignored. The seasoned actor brought his comedic and dramatic chops to the stage. He made himself large even on the grand Hollywood Bowl stage, especially during “Trial Before Pilate.” The Tony-nominated actor very much gave himself to his role as he was not afraid to yell and take up space. His huge facial expressions added to his grandiose presence, especially when he places the laurel reef on Jesus Christ.
Phillipa Soo also had a strong performance in her portrayal of Mary Magdalene. Soo sang with rasp in moments of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” which contrasts from her more lyrical sound in her role as Eliza Schuyler in Hamilton.
I also would’ve liked to see Erivo and Lambert dance more as leads in the show, especially considering the show was choreographed by the Tony Award-winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo.
When I watch a musical or theater show, I want it to feel like one. I don’t want to see four screens streaming playback of what takes place on stage. Granted, I was at the Hollywood Bowl, but I still didn’t enjoy the distraction created by these screens — this is a personal preference.
The production design leaned more toward the flashy side, which distracted from the actors and the story they were trying to tell. Filming the actors as they were on stage and then projecting the image on the center screen with visual effects was overkill. Am I watching a musical or am I watching a livestream?
Similarly, the various platforms on stage were distracting and felt amateur— did I watch a performance or a rehearsal? The platforms were clearly utilitarian as they were constantly moved around the stage by actors. I wanted to see a set that would’ve made it clear that the story took place in the desert. When I go to the theater, I want to feel immersed in the play’s world. As it was, I didn’t know where the story was taking place during the entire concert.
The Hollywood Bowl’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar had many ups and downs, making the production feel like a rushed one without enough rehearsals. Still, Erivo stole the night with her astonishing vocals and the control with which she commands her voice.
