by JANIS KIRSHNER

There's not a glut of musical theatre activity in this town. Even if you're ready to spend the big bucks at Place des Arts, you won't often have the chance. Aficionados of the musical take note, though: the 42nd Street theatre company is out to change the state of things with their upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

When 42nd Street artistic director Kendall-Jane Rundle arrived in Montreal via Australia, she noticed a dearth in the craft she had been perfecting since age six. Rundle promptly started Purple Dragon Productions, a music-theatre school for both kids and adults. A production of the family musical Annie followed, using PDP students. From her viewpoint, people were clamouring for an affordable adult production, hence the birth of her present company, this time using experienced singers, musicians and actors. Rundle claims to be the only company in Montreal putting on full-blown musicals. (I take it she means in English, since the musicals put on by the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre are Mecca-winning all-out affairs.)

Should you have spent the past 40 years wandering the desert and need a refresher, Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Christ. Jocelyn Beaulieu, a singer and guitarist with local progressive rock band Hamadryad, performs the role of Jesus. His Judas is Barry O'Connell, a featured soloist with the Lyric Theatre Singers.

Rundle, who also plays Mary Magdalene, is directing this version with a new spin. "The play usually concentrates on Judas's angst," she explains. "In our production, Jesus is more central, with the other characters reacting to Jesus's fame." Rundle's take on this classic has left out the dancing and the hippie flavouring usually found in the play. It's set in modern Israel and touches on a range of contemporary conflicts, starting off with a suicide bombing. Obsession with celebrity, greed, jealousy, dirty politics, social unrest, loyalty, self-doubt, sexual anxiety and spiritual crisis are a few other themes she tackles.

Rundle has also chosen a more minimalist and focused approach to the play, which is usually put on as a big spectacle. "The actors transform, develop and change on stage," she says. "This is more a piece of theatre that is sung. In the first act, nobody leaves the stage. I use the bodies of the actors not in the scene to create the mood."

The play's soundtrack is 42nd Street produced, with François Blouin at the helm. The company performs in the art-deco Douglas Hall, and in keeping with the spirit of generosity, offers a free preview performance to Douglas Hospital patients.

Next week, regular columnist Amy Barratt returns. I've enjoyed introducing the people behind the plays and offering some insight on what they were about. There will be lots of good theatre in the coming months and always a ticket price to be found in your disposable entertainment-income bracket. See you there!

Jesus Christ Superstar May 2–4, at Douglas Hall,
Douglas Hospital (6875 Lasalle, Verdun), 768-0623

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