Are there any good modern Judas portrayals I should check out? The few I've seen (can't remember which ones) are lacking in both the vocals and the interpretation. :/
Drew Sarich's portrayal in the 2005 Amstetten production comes to mind. Over the years, I have constantly found it captivating. Like a wild animal, you don't know what he's going to do next. In his Judas, which Drew effortlessly pulls off, I see someone immediately relatable, very intelligent, analytical, cunning, and willing to do what it takes to save his fellow man from themself. Each of his line readings is that - a new line reading; the next thing necessary to capture Jesus' attention because the previous line wasn't a hard enough blow. But what I find most interesting about this particular performance (based on the line-readings, stage direction, and performances) is that right from the start, his countenance to Jesus is almost as if it's Jesus' own inner-monologue that he is already praying steadily on in his silence, until of course, Gethsamane, where Jesus has really come to partially adopt the paradigm that Judas eschews, and finally externalizes that he too doesn't know if it's worth it anymore.
What I love about his performance in 'Everything's Alright', is that he recognizes from the events of 'Strange Thing Mystifying' that appealing to Jesus on a personal level is simply not enough, so he brings the rest of the disciple group into the conflict and attempts to needle a thread of doubt within the group of disciples and appeal to their conscious awareness, after Jesus has already aired that he doubts their fidelity. I find this more effective than Judas simply honing in and consulting Jesus again (IMO, this becomes a weakness of storytelling in a lot of productions of JCS that attempt to contain all of the drama between Jesus/Judas/Mary, thus missing a critical point in the dramaturgy) because it continues to organically build motivation for Judas to finally confront Caiaphas and the Pharisees, now that we see even appealing to the disciples has been unsuccessful (at least until we see them come undone at 'The Last Supper'). Also huge props to Kudra Owens who plays Mary in the Amstetten production. She absolutely nails what she's going for.
However, there is one caveat about Drew Sarich playing Judas that I am always bummed out about, and it's in pedestaling Drew's mastery of his craft (acting and vocals) in the role and being totally spoiled, it is much more difficult to cast a Jesus opposite him that I can appreciate, giving that I expect an as commanding performance that is worthy of his Judas' mirror. That is until you hear Drew as Jesus...
Drew is featured on a couple of official album releases as Jesus, the first of which is the 2005 Vienna concert cast recorded from Etablissement Ronacher, though with its rock elements, takes a more orchestral musical theatre approach to the material. The second recording is the 2011 Vienna concert cast, otherwise known as the 'Jesus Christ Superstar - Gesamtaufnahme Live' album which leans heavier into rock band musical arrangements that absolutely peak in the most magnificent way in Gethsamane. If you look up that particular album for that one song alone (I'm not a big fan of the album so much as I am the Etablissement Ronacher recording), then it is worth it. You can probably find them on Spotify (at least in the Australian stream you can).
What really stands out to me about Drew's characterization of Jesus is just how charismatic and assertive he is. With this lens, it becomes more relatable as to why this man held people's attention and amassed over 50,000 followers pretty much overnight. Even the most divine information needs to be presented on appealing terms to resonate, and goes hand in hand with Judas' assertation that Jesus' branding has begun to overshadow his message.
In Gethsemane, Drew again really shines in his craft, giving a motivation to every new line reading, taking the audience along with him in the journey as the drama escalates, and he confronts his reality in every new moment. What it does is it really illuminates you to the urgency, and psychosis that Jesus is experiencing as he faces his mortality and life choices (that storytelling is also backed up by the musical arrangements), potentially opening you up to the question of whether he made the choice to surrender in sound mind or not.
