'Jesus Christ Superstar' by The Steeple Players - My Review

The Steeple Players is a drama ministry of the First Congregational Church in Southington. They strive to create quality, socially relevant  theatre that provides fellowship and engages the wider community. They welcome all interested people to participate both on stage or off.

The Steeple Players team chose Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar and RM McCarty, who has been involved in every Steeple Player production, to direct it with musical direction by Alan Dougherty. Kris Bates and John Zimmerman served as producers. The production team chose 18 talented young men and women to play the most important characters in this story of the last week of Jesus' ministry and they all rose to the challenge of the incredible music that makes this musicals one of my all-time favorites.

The sanctuary of this smallish old church was taken over for this production and the free-will offering matinee was quite full. The center aisle was filled with an elevated runway that was well-used, as were the upper balconies on either side of the stage. A triangular staircase in front of the organ pipes was very effective, especially in the crucifixion scene and even the church's pillars were employed. The excellent musicians were enclosed in plastic screening, reminding me of M*A*S*H. The space was beautifully lit by a team of only four; "Judas' Death" was tastefully done and lit in red. 

The director and costumer Cathy Hick took a decidedly military track, with lots of camo jackets featuring yellow triangles pointing up or down on the back and uniforms for those in charge. The second act opened with the sounds of war; in fact, the sound overall was very well done in this small space. Members of the ensemble also sported identical white unmilitary masks and were effective.

The two men who did the announcements asked the audience to hold our applause until the end of the acts so as not to interrupt the flow of the rock opera, although they knew it would be difficult to do so. It was all we could do not to cheer for these teens; luckily the musicians did not allow even small moments of silence between the songs.

The group of only five musicians covered this challenging score that contains many abruptly shifting dynamics and time signatures beautifully. The MD covered the keyboards, Tim Johnson and Julie Sopchak (Steeple Players' Company) played guitar, Isabella DiFusco was on bass and Eric R. Hutchinson was amazing on drums. From the first note of the overture, through Mary's ballad of "I Don't Know How to Love Him," to the joyous "Superstar" finale, this group was very impressive.

I know this score from front to back as a result of wearing out my cassette tape of the original rock opera concept recording (with the brown album cover featuring the gold logo.) So I don't know the added verse in King Herod's Song and "Could We Start Again, Please," that were added later, but for everything else I notice even subtle changes. In fact, a very nice gentleman came up to me after the curtain call to ask if I was a director or producer because he could see that I knew every word. I wish. I assure my readers that I was not singing along, just mouthing the words. I also appreciated the insertion of "A Conversation" written by the director that included some references without irony to Crosby, Stills and Nash music.

The singers in this production did not need any help from me at all. With only a few minor adjustments, they all nailed it without straining. There was a little choreography by Merriah Currao that they also mastered.

Sal Conti, Jr., a senior at Southington High School with a fine voice, played the role of Jesus. Rich McCarty, who shares my love of JCS, was wonderful in the role of Judas. This young man has an amazing stage presence and a singing voice to match. Mary Magdalene  was played by Carolyn Hricik, a senior at Southington High School. This lovely young lady already has a whopping 14 credits to her name and a lovely singing voice. The only other credited male role of Peter was played by Colin Kochol.

The traditionally male roles of the ruling class were here played by some talented young ladies. Paula Calandra commandingly played Pilate in a military style black coat. Alto Alana Conti, a junior at SHS and the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, was scary as Caiphas, while soprano Sarah Cipollini matched her in scariness in the role of high priestess Annas. And Autumn Sheffy taunted convincingly in the role of Queen Herod.

The Church Ensemble included Holly Chirico, Kendra Kochol, Michaela Leslie, Jack Richards and Eddie Vitcavage, while the State Ensemble was made up of Chris Baker, Nick Calabrese, Margo DeVore, Erin Leslie and Miranda Zaniewski. They had many costume changes and lots to do. Kudos to everyone involved in this fine production.