As many of you know, I am an avid fan of musical theatre. Since the age of 12 my mum has had to spend a small fortune on taking me to local productions, London’s West End and even to Broadway.
Of all the musical composers out there, it is the work of Andrew Lloyd Webber which has had the greatest influence on my life, whether it be Joseph, Sunset Boulevard, Cats to name but a few and not to forget Phantom of the Opera which has been produced and staged all around the world, while Jesus Christ Superstar wins the accolade of being the most controversial. Including songs such as ‘I don’t know how to love him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and of course the title song Jesus Christ Superstar.
The musical focuses on the story of Jesus in the run up to his crucifixion. The cleansing of the temple, Palm Sunday, the last supper, the betrayal, the trail and ultimately the crucifixion.
Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of seeing an amateur production at the Grand Opera House and it was a totally different experience from when I saw the show in the same venue ten years ago. For a start gone where the protesters outside with their placards and accordions, trying to drown out the music on the stage, but more than this it was the alterations and changes that had been made to the musical that left the lasting impact.
Rather than conclude with Christ dying on the cross, the curtain then goes down, the cast leave the stage and the curtain rises and the focus is on an empty floodlight cross and an empty stage. The focus shifts from the crucified Christ to the risen Christ. While initial productions may have focused on the humanity of Christ, now the focus was on the divinity of Christ.
The message I was left with was, what is the danger of communicating half truths? On the one hand when the musical stops with the crucifixion, it is displaying a truth, yes Christ died, but to rob the story of Easter and the risen conquering Son is to rob it of its full power and authority. We believe in a risen Savior. One who died for our sins, but one also who through his resurrection and ascension promises a future in the presence of God to his believers. Take a moment to today to stop and think what half truths are being communicated in society today and that communication is robbing the story of its full power and effect.
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