Theatre Group trip to Jesus Christ Superstar at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

With the first four chords I was reminded that this is a rock opera; and with the first solo song, that the protagonist is Judas.

A simple set allowing use of height as well as depth of the stage; the orchestra semi-hidden behind scaffolding and off we went for a rollercoaster of a ride round a week in the ancient world from Palm Sunday to the Crucifixion. Full of musical delights - the barrelling depths of the voice of Caiaphas, the OTT exuberance of Herod and the anguished search for understanding of Pontius Pilate. Jesus, Sam Ryder, reached the high notes well and Judas sang expertly in a wide range of pitch and emotion.

Lovely tunes, especially in the soulful I Don’t Know How to Love Him, sung beautifully by Mary Magdalen. The way the chorus changes from hysterical adoration to equally hysterical howling for blood is frighteningly clever.

I didn’t appreciate the searchlights in my eyes in the finale, or the ignorant audience forcing me to stand up to see the bows at the end but I did feel it was an afternoon well spent and it has set me off on a wave of nostalgia for songs with melodies and meaningful lyrics carrying a rip-roaring storyline. Well done to all the cast and crew and thank you to Mary for organising our visit.

P.S. I didn’t buy a no doubt horrendously expensive programme, so I have no idea who most of the actors were. I got the impression that Herod either was, or thought he was, someone we should know and several members of the audience obviously felt an affinity for Sam Ryder, whoever he may be. I came to see a show, not a ‘celebrity’ and I thoroughly enjoyed it without any additional hype.

Contributed by Margaret Gordon