Biblical, hippy or modern - the thorny issue of costumes

Hello fellow theatre luvvies,
I was thinking what to write the blog on this week - we are now into our rehearsal schedule but as we have only been doing music so far, we have yet to find out what vision our director has in store for us, including the issue of what we are going to wear and what look the show is going to have.

So this made me start thinking about costume.  We are all aware of the time Jesus Christ Superstar is set (33AD I think?), and some companies choose to stage it in biblical dress.  I have seen an amateur production of this where this was done, and it did not do it for me.  Maybe because I feel that this limits you to a sea of sandals and beige stripes with the odd palm leaf being waved around.We have agreed our production will be in modern dress - but what does this mean?  We have all been very influenced I think by the recent arena tour, where the cast wore modern dress - the look was of protestors and was heavily influenced I think by the riots in London a few years ago, and the protestors around St Paul's Cathedral.  Doing some internet research I came across all sorts of references so thought I would share them with you.

Firstly I found this brilliant bit of video from the costumer designer for JCS on Broadway in 2012 - I really like what he did as he has merged traditional dress with but there are touches of modern fashion - so it still looks funky and cool...

Paul Tazewell: Costume Designer For Jesus Christ Superstar Broadway 2012

What do you think?  I particularly like how he dressed Herod and Mary Magdalene - Mary really stands out in that yellow dress.

Love the suit Pilate is wearing too

This last picture shows Herod's song - love the use of the white piano but also how the girls and boys are dressed - sort of camp Roman??? Bit like 'A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum? '  Look at  that guy in the red tunic!!


Here is another take on costume from another society - the Hippy look...this is another way of doing it, referencing the time it was written and first put on stage - i.e. 1970s...Not too sure about this - could be in danger of looking a bit too much of its time?

 

Touch me, touch me Jesus!

I'm sure I've seen these guys in the British legion playing ukeleles on a Wednesday night

Now in this next picture, I am not sure what the hell is going on - back to the 80's anyone?  Pink DMs - a bit Bananarama? Although I am quite liking the Angels and the white vests with diamante crosses. But what is with those grey dresses the souls sisters are wearing?  Tell me, does this float your boat?

Do you really want to hurt me?

This was the only pic I could find of traditional Biblical dress and I must say I do like the Roman uniforms, but then I have always been a uniforms girl...but no, glad we are not doing it like this.

Doesn't Jesus look sweet though?

It thought this worked well, sort of - mix of old and new?  And that corset I bought could come in handy again...I am getting my money's worth out of that. I like Judas in black and Jesus in white.  Not sure about the guys in hats though, are they meant to be the priests or gangsters?

This is from the arena tour - hard not to copy it isn't it, as it is so good! - love the banners, love the modern look.  It would be really easy for us to do as we probably have the clothes at home - but what does our director have in mind?  I am sure he won't want to just copy it.

 

 

Gotta get my hoody out

Lastly thought I would leave you with this image of the priests - wouldn't this be great????Like something out of Star Wars???  Leather tea cosies for hats?

Got rehearsal tonight and wondering - will I ever get the notes right? The altos have got some real buggers to sing this year.

As promised in my last blog here is alto corner for JCS 2014!!  There are some more ladies but they are either on holiday or in the toilet....

What's the Buzz? Tell Me What's Happenin'

BSMTC are bringing Jesus Christ Superstar to the Bishop’s Stortford stage!  

Well the ‘buzz’ was audible on Wednesday night and it was all definitely ‘happening’…we had our first show talk for our NEW production Jesus Christ Superstar which will be at Rhodes, Bishop’s Stortford 10^th -17^th November.

The first get together of the year when we discuss our big production is always fun – you get to see old friends who you have not seen for a few months and there is the excitement of new beginnings.  I always get a little thrill when I hear the music for the first time and hold the Lib in my hot sweaty hands!

Jesus Christ Superstar is a bit of a departure for our company in some ways.  We have a great reputation and can certainly do Rogers and Hammerstein justice – i.e. we’re very good at the more ‘traditional’ musicals ( hence the win for Carousel!).  In my second year with the company we put on the less traditional show Little Shop of Horrors which definitely did not sell as well as the previous year – it was up against my Fair Lady which sold out.  Bit of a hard act to follow! Little Shop is an amazing show and great fun to do, but was maybe not to the taste of some of our more established audience. However, I am a firm believer that although it is a priority to get bums on seats you still need to try new things – for the benefit of the members who are as keen as mustard to learn and want to experience the excitement of everything musical theatre can throw at them!  I have just finished my two years as a committee member and have learnt a huge amount in that time about what it costs to put on a show, and how to balance members interests against  commercial interests.  Without ticket sales you don’t have a show or a company basically – but you do need your members to be enthusiastic about what they are doing. 

The choice of show is a real ‘hot potato’ for the committee who have to make the decision every year.  Jesus Christ Superstar was chosen as the show for 2014 way back in 2012 and we did a great deal of research into it. One of the factors that influenced us was the fact that it has been recently resurrected as a Arena tour starring Tim Minchin, Mel C, Chris Moyles and of course Ben Forster who played Jesus and was chosen for the part via an ITV reality show.  This gave the show a huge amount of publicity and people know quite a bit about it.  So that helps a lot! 

I am probably going to be blogging a lot about this show as there is quite a lot to say and we don’t put it on until November so I thought I would kick things off with a few facts you may not know about Jesus Christ Superstar…

Did you know?

•  It was originally produced as an album before it ever became a show.  It only became a stage show when the album sold phenomenally well in America
• On the original album Ian Gillan who was the lead singer of Deep Purple played Jesus – hence the authentic ‘rock’ feel.
• Murray Head had a pretty unsuccessful career until Andrew Lloyd Webber asked him to play Judas on the original album – did you know his younger brother is Anthony Head of Buffy the Vampire fame?
• Agnetha from Abba played Mary Magdalene in the Swedish stage show – right before they won the Eurovision song contest! 

Agnetha in plaits - a fetching look in her pre ABBA days

Agnetha obviously went for beardy Jesus look alikes which is probably why she ended up with Bjorn

• "King Herod's Song" is actually a number from "King Richard", a failed Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Tim Rice had to write new lyrics for this number so that it could be added to "Jesus Christ Superstar"; originally, the number was called "Those Saladin Days".  They wrote it in 20 minutes!
•  For the 1973 film three actors were considered for Jesus – Mickey Dolenz, David Cassidy and a 17 year old John Travolta (who then went on to be cast in Saturday Night Fever and Grease!)

I could have been Jesus

I could have been Jesus too - I had the hair

I also could have been Jesus - but at least I got Danny in Grease

I'm Ian Gillan and I WAS JESUS!!! I had the hair, the voice and the loincloth!

• Andrew Lloyd Webber hated the first stage show of JCS on Broadway – calling it a ‘travesty’.  He also hated the 1973 film.
• Johnny Rotten is currently playing Herod in the North American Tour- altogether now " I am an antichrist!"

Scary..just scary.....

A little thought to leave you all with – here’s a quote from Aussie Stage News who reviewed the recent Australian Arena Tour…

” It takes just the slightest misstep to get this famous, much seen and much recorded rock opera wrong. And Superstar is not a show that calls for slight steps. It needs boldness and creative daring.”

Mentioning no names but I've seen an amateur production which did get it soooo wrong....We have to nail this BSMTC peeps – so no pressure there guys!!

So to calm your minds, here is a lovely picture of Tim Minchin as Judas in the recent Arena tour  - just because...

Tim contemplates whether he should have had that dodgy kebab last night