By Joseph McDonough
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jesus Christ Superstar has something old and something new for its two-week run at the Aronoff Center.

Back for its umpteenth touring appearance, the defining early '70s rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) is, of course, the story of the final days of Jesus Christ, often seen through the eyes of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot.

The "old" of the production is Carl Anderson, the strong-voiced Judas from the 1973 Norman Jewison movie version.

New is Sebastian Bach, former lead singer of heavy metal band Skid Row, as Jesus. (Generational hint: If you're old enough to remember when Superstar was daring and controversial, then you probably have no clue who Skid Row is.)

Anderson is no longer the youthful, misunderstood hippie Judas. But he knows the role inside and out, both vocally and emotionally.

The fiftysomething Anderson carries the show with precise feeling, though he does look like the wiser, wearier uncle of the other apostles.

As Jesus, Bach has a clear, distinctive rock sound that grows on you after the first couple of songs.

But Bach is not much of an actor. He just goes through the motions between the wails and screams of Jesus' trials and tribulations. It's painful to watch at times, but Bach's many vocal fans in the audience didn't seem to mind on opening night.

Director Kevin Moriarty doesn't help matters with a few odd choices, such as cutting the jarring, discordant music usually played behind the crucifixion scene, leaving Bach to go it alone up on the cross.

Still, Moriarty and the design team have given Superstar a fresh, contemporary take.

The set is urban America, with huge pillars that dwarf the actors. The money changers scene in the temple has Wall Street tickers. The rabble-rousing apostles look like they came from a hip-hop concert, not Peter, Paul & Mary.

Gone is the tie-dyed look; in is a group of earnest Gen-Y and Gen-Xers with many costume changes, but with no Nehru jackets, love beads or flowers in their hair.

Best among the strong ensemble is Natalie Toro (last seen locally in Everything's Ducky at Playhouse in the Park) as Mary Magdalene. Her beautiful voice shines in "I Don't Know How To Love Him" and she has a fine duet with Peter (James Clow) in "Could We Start Again, Please?"

Also notable: Stephen Breithaupt as the stern Pontius Pilate, Lawson Skala as a deep-voiced Caiaphas, and Scott Allgauer, standing in on opening night Tuesday as party animal King Herod.

Jesus Christ Superstar, Broadway in Cincinnati, through March 2, (513) 241-7469.