Tabitha Nauser and Frances Lee bring different shades of Mary Magdalene to Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ Superstar

Sands Theatre, Aug 20 and 21, 8pm
Base Entertainment Asia

If variety is the spice of life, having two performers portray one character allows a production to paint in assorted colours and shades.

That was the case when Singaporean singers-actresses Tabitha Nauser and Frances Lee took turns playing the same role in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar.

The sung-through rock opera, which premiered in Broadway in 1971 with music by English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by English songwriter Tim Rice, is presented only for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a biblically accurate representation of Jesus’ life.

Nauser and Lee play Mary Magdalene, a former prostitute and one of Jesus’ most devoted followers. Gentle and caring, she comforts him during difficult moments and has a strained relationship with Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples.

Mary’s love for Jesus is depicted here as potentially romantic. Her signature number, I Don’t Know How To Love Him, conveys this unrequited love, which she does not feel equipped to handle.

The Straits Times watched Jesus Christ Superstar on Aug 20 and 21, featuring Nauser and Lee respectively, and their performance backgrounds gave rise to differing interpretations and presentations of the musical’s sole named principal female character.

Nauser, 34, an R&B singer whose parents are jazz lovers, took the stage during the gala night on Aug 20, alongside British actor Luke Street as Jesus and American actor Javon King as Judas. The Singapore Idol 3 second runner-up’s Mary was pared back and restrained, emphasising her inner struggle.

Nauser’s appearance during the song What’s The Buzz was greeted by cheers from the audience, and her statuesque poise and defiant looks commanded the stage in many scenes, especially when Judas questioned Jesus about mixing with “women of her kind”.

Against the many strong and dynamic male voices, Nauser’s soft, smoky pipes stood out like an oasis of calm. She hardly belted; instead, she used her instrument like a soothing balm, highlighting Mary’s role as the group’s peacemaker.

Yet, underneath her composed exterior, an inner struggle surfaced during I Don’t Know How To Love Him. Wistfully light in the opening verses, it built up slightly but was always controlled, as if the character herself was afraid of the consequences should her secret desire be uncovered.

Such a delivery imbued her performance with a sad, mournful quality: Mary’s love could not be reciprocated because it was never really expressed, and therein lay the quiet drama and charm of Nauser’s rendition.

Lee, 36, a Lasalle College of the Arts graduate, took a more direct approach. Performing on Aug 21, this time alongside American actor Ethan Hardy Benson as Jesus, her Mary was more theatrical and expressive.

Lee’s stage acting experience showed in her attention to detail. Even during scenes when she was not pulling focus, her pained expressions and indignant stances conveyed the agony happening onstage.

In I Don’t Know How To Love Him, her sonorous voice was clear, bright and sincere. It had an earnest, Disney Princess-like quality, inviting audiences into her world. When she sang the line, “Don’t you think it’s rather funny / I should be in this position?”, there was a sense of self-referential awareness and humour.

This openness allowed Lee to convey several of the song’s emotional registers, from Mary’s inability to understand her own attraction to Jesus to her fear of this longing to the guilt should it be reciprocated. Line by line, Lee fleshed out the emotions and fully expressed Mary’s predicament.

Both Nauser and Lee each found her own way to explore the multi-layered, but often overlooked, character of Mary.

The male leads also delivered stellar performances. Street’s portrayal was as gripping as it was vocally demanding, conveying Jesus’ charisma, insecurities and steadfast principles.

But King was by far the star of the show. His Judas was filled with an inner struggle, at times frustrated with his leader’s growing fame, but also plagued by doubt.

That Nauser and Lee could hold their own among these formidable voices shows the potential of home-grown creatives. Their involvement in this international touring production will hopefully open more doors for the pair to showcase their talents.

Jesus Christ Superstar (Advisory 16)

Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue
When: Until Sept 6, 8pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays); 2.30pm (Saturdays); 1.30pm and 6.30pm (Sundays)
Admission: $58 to $208 via Marina Bay Sands (str.sg/4ZJXt), Sistic (go to sistic.com.sg/events/jesus0926 or call 6348-5555) and Klook (str.sg/nAUD)
Info: The role of Mary Magdalene will be shared by Frances Lee and Tabitha Nauser in accordance with the production schedule. Casting for specific performance dates cannot be confirmed or guaranteed and may be subject to change without prior notice.