Likely it was part of Norman Jewison's pledge to the press and the Jewish community to not let Jesus Christ Superstar become another anti-Semitic passion play, as many perceived the Broadway show had been. Then We Are Decided gives the Annas and Caiaphas characters a little more depth and nuance, attempting to make them more three dimensional and show their motivations so that they would not come across as two dimensional stereotypes. Likely this number was meant to offset the perceived anti-Semitism of the "This Jesus Must Die" number which comes right after it in which the Pharisees ominously sing about assassinating Christ. "Then We Are Decided", Annas and Caiaphas' song at the beginning of the show, was not on the album or in the original Broadway show and most revivals (including NBC's live 2018 production) have dropped this number. He said this version finally captured the respectful and robust spirit that he wanted when he originally penned the show in the first place. Lloyd Webber hated the film version as well, but he did love the Jesus Christ Live reboot in 2018, which won an Emmy Award. Lloyd Webber despised the Broadway show, called it "vulgar", a misrepresentation of his work, and said opening night of the Broadway show was the "worst day of his life." But that too turned into a legendary smash, and eventually led to this Norman Jewison film, which was also a smash. Then it was turned into a Broadway show, starring Broadway superstar Ben Vereen as Judas, a drag queen playing Herod. Then it was turned into a concept album, which was a smash. They started by doing a production in the UK which was a gigantic bomb, and was quickly closed down.
When he finally approached his writing partner, Andrew Lloyd Webber about it, Webber said it was the "stupidest idea he had ever heard in his life." But Rice persisted, and he and Lloyd Webber finally finished the piece in 1970.
Tim Rice had been turning over the idea in his own head for awhile in the late 60s about the story of Christ from Judas' perspective.
0 kommentar(er)
