let the world turn without you tonight

So sang Mary Magdalene to Jesus tonight. Such a lovely sentiment! Put away the day's cares, she said, and sleep well tonight - the world will continue its travels in the universe.
And so it has, more than two thousand years later.
Where was I this evening?

Well, las tres amigas were plus one,
as Kaye had joined our merry band
for this opening night celebration
with Collective Face Ensemble!
Delayed from last week,
"Jesus Christ Superstar"
punked out splendidly with us,
determined to shine!

Did I say "punked out"?
Indeed, kind madams and sirs!
Kennedy Center at Savannah State
has been undergoing renovations
and the deconstruction was incorporated
into the show, in true David Poole style,
with colorful graffiti -
and actors' brag posters -
setting the pre-stage party mood!

Here we have Jesus at center stage,
responding to his disciplines' query
of "What's the Buzz?" with
"Strange Thing Mystifying" -
such powerful energy brought forth
by Michael Knowles!

Then enter a dour band:
the money men of the temple,
concerned about this
'King of the Jews',
making an impact on
their followers.
"This Jesus Must Die"
is their final decision.

Bah! Humbug to you,
is the response of
Jesus' followers, gathered
outside in throngs,
singing "Hosanna"
and carrying signs.
Hey sanna, too!
(smile)

After throwing trinkets
to the audience,
the merriment continued
up on the stage,
as the many followers
continued to sing
and praise their leader!
(Thanks for the glow necklace glasses -
or should I say goggles?)

Pilate knows which way
the wind is blowing,
knows that the days of
money-grubbing in the temple
are numbered and drawing to a close.
The vendors do not -
not until Jesus bursts upon
the scene, scattering their goods.

Jesus is becoming weary of the
constant onslaught of people
seeking his healing touch,
energy vampires stealing his strength.
Beset upon by a crowd of lepers,
he seeks only respite from
their cries and their hands.

Mary Magdalene comes to his emotional rescue.
Cecelia Tran Arango is amazingly honest
as a woman realizing how much Jesus means to her,
terrified of how much of her heart
she has already given to him.
As she sings, she decloaks, piece by piece,
from the persona she had once been.
I certainly understand the effect
of such a personal revelation of love.

Now, let's fast forward through the bit of nastiness wherein Judas allows the men of the temple to purchase his soul.
Judas believes he is doing the right thing - as Dan Finn is sure to convey to us -
but he is just a man, a man who follows too closely to the ways and whims of society, a society that dictates who is to be friended and who is to be shunned.
(shudder)
Instead, I've gone straight to the start of the second act, with a great pizza party thrown by Jesus for the disciplines.
Not quite as Leonardo da Vinci portrayed it... but a nice homage to that painting!
(Thanks for the slow-motion setup that allowed me to catch this, y'all!)

As they near the end of this last supper,
Jesus confronts Peter,
proclaiming him to be his denier,
and Jesus confronts Judas,
proclaiming him to be his betrayer,
not in an accusatory manner,
but as a foreshadowing truth
of a destiny which cannot be avoided.
Judas storms off, remaining behind
the scene of the man and his followers.

Not long after, Judas bestows
his kiss of betrayal upon the Christ's lips.
Hauled off in shackles,
and denied as known by Peter,
Jesus is taken before Pilate...
who sends him to Herod for pardon.

Pardon?
Oh, no, no, no, says Herod!
Join in our merriment!
Forsake your principles
and partake of debauchery!
Jesus declines...

... and is again hauled before Pilate,
a man imbued with soul by Mark Rand.
Pilate asks the people what they want done -
"kill him! Crucify him!" is the response.
Reluctant to kill this man, whose only crime
seems to be his claim as the son of God,
the governor chooses a milder punishment...

... if thirty-nine lashes
of a slashing whip can be regarded
as a 'milder' punishment.
Not satisfied, the people continue
to clamor for the death of Jesus.
Judas, realizing his error
and his love for the man,
has already taken his own life.

A crown of thorns is
thrust upon the head of the man
once called King of the Jews.
We all know how this one ends.
No reprieve from the dire sentence:
death by crucifixion,
after being paraded through the streets
before the jeering crowd that once
clung to him for succor.
(If you want to see that, GO TO THE SHOW!)

My thanks to Collective Face Ensemble for such an inspirational retelling of this tale!
My thanks to David Poole for allowing - no, ENCOURAGING - folks to take photographs!
My thanks to Barbara and Sandy and Kaye for joining me -
and to Kathy Hodges for passing on to me the cool goggles!

i thank You, God, for most this amazing day...