“There’s a slightly odd gimmick of rotating the actor playing Herod over the course of the run. He has one song, and it doesn’t require an amazing voice.
When I saw it, US sitcom star and stage stalwart Jesse Tyler Ferguson did a fine job, and looked wonderful in the spectacular ceremonial robes designed by Scutt,” stated a reviewer via Whatsonstage.
com.
“The likes of Boy George and Richard Armitage will be doing it over the coming weeks and I guess it’s interesting to cast such a varied bunch, but ultimately it’s a bit of a red herring to concern yourself over what’s effectively a cameo.”
The technical integration of modern concert equipment serves as a core aesthetic choice for the staging.
“Characters sing into hand-held microphones and, for the crucifixion, Ryder’s Jesus is lashed with electrical leads to a pair of crossed mic stands.
His first appearance is also at the mic, with his guitar, and Ryder cuts a suitably rock-star figure throughout, entirely apt and at home in this environment,” stated a reviewer via Whatsonstage.
com.
Despite the fitting rock-star appearance, certain critics questioned the technical depth of the lead performance.
“But as an actor, Ryder doesn’t quite convince; there’s a posturing, presentational flavour to his performance.
And vocally, while he unsurprisingly has no difficulty soaring to the falsetto heights of the role, he’s less comfortable in the lower register, where there’s not only a lack of firepower, but sometimes of audibility, the words blurry and breathy,” stated a reviewer via Whatsonstage.
