Yet again Republicans who know nothing are making me defend an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical…
The Hollywood Bowl did a performance of the Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Jesus Christ Superstar and the town racists are not being normal about it. Why? Cynthia Erivo played Jesus in the production.
Dinesh D’Souza posted on X after another failed internet personality, Oli London, posted about the production writing “According to the left, Cynthia Erivo was the best choice to play Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar.” D’Souza thought he was being clever and wrote “Now I’d like to see a white woman play Martin Luther King, Jr.”
One user wrote on X that the role is incredibly high and they’re right! “All the racists having big feelings about this have previously not known or cared one whit about musical theatre. The role of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar is a REALLY high part, and it’s not unusual to cast a woman, because most men – even high tenors – can’t sing it.”
The role is very hard to sing and often is adjusted for the men cast in it. SO having a woman play Jesus, especially one with as beautiful of a range as Erivo, actually makes a lot of sense. Especially since this production of Jesus Christ Superstar is one of the Hollywood Bowl performances, meaning it is a star studded cast. And Erivo is one of the biggest stars in musical theatre right now.
What’s hilarious is that men like D’Souza and those on the right suddenly think they understand musicals any time a production of something pops up and becomes “news.” Jesus Christ Superstar has always pushed the envelope and is a reimagining of the story we already know. It’s more than fine to have Erivo play this part.
Musical theatre is not for the MAGA party
On the one hand, I do understand that sometimes theatre goes over the heads of those who refuse to engage with it in a meaningful way. Case in point: The MAGA people who clearly think that Jesus Christ Superstar is a biopic or something. Frankly, I don’t care who is cast to play the part as long as I don’t have to sit there and fear they won’t hit the notes.
Erivo is a phenomenal actor and a talent that is unmatched. And if these people who are angry about her casting actually watched some of the videos, they’d see that it really worked but then again, they don’t care about actual talent.
So, if you want an honest theatre person’s opinion on this situation: Erivo is perfect casting and the MAGA people angry about it can quite frankly stay mad about it.
(featured image: Bruce Glikas/WireImage)
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