Monday, February 27, 2012

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE WHAT THEY SAY YOU ARE?  Not satisfied with having solved a problem like Maria, found a young Oliver who'd do anything, and rescued their Joseph from a cistern of West End hopefuls, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber is casting the lead for an arena tour production of Jesus Christ Superstar via a BBC reality competition.  Sir Tim Rice is not pleased:
Sir Tim said that the musical's religious and political themes could become a source of ridicule in a television talent show, with the judges telling hopeful contestants: "You could be Jesus."

He said: "It opens up a lot of opportunities for spoofs and I think it would be ill-advised to have people voting for who should be Jesus.

"It's just possible that it might be the most sophisticated, tasteful show hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but I doubt it. It sounds tacky and I really don't think Andrew should do it."