Judas’ Anguish, I’ll Sing It from the Soul

Will it hail the birth of a new “superstar”?

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s biblical rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” will take the Korean stage next month.

Although the eponymous “superstar” is Jesus, the musical recounts his final week from the perspective of his disciple Judas, whose importance in the plot is so hefty that the title initially considered had been “Judas Iscariot Superstar.” Consequently, each production has generated much interest regarding the casting of the role of Judas.

In Korea, Chu Song-ung (1941∼1985) played Judas Iscariot during the musical’s first run, followed by Kang San-eh and Yoon Do-hyun, both of whom “arrived” on the entertainment scene thanks to this role. This time, singer JK Kim Dong-uk (30), famous for his hit song “Dangerous Love,” will take his first shot at a musical as the new Judas.

“I called Yoon Do-hyun and he told me, ‘Take the role, it’s a great one. It helped me make my name as a performer.’ But when I asked him for advice, he wouldn’t give me any.” (Laughs)

“Jesus Christ Superstar” consists of one song after another with no lines of dialogue in between. Because of the expansive vocal range required by the musical numbers, rock musicians have usually filled the shoes of Judas Iscariot in past productions. But JK Kim Dong-uk is mainly a soul singer.

“Although rock is the principal genre for the songs, some of them have a strong ‘soul’ feel as well. Like the song ‘Superstar,’ for instance.”

JK Kim’s rendition of “Superstar” at the rehearsal room was so like that of the original Broadway cast in the middle and low registers (Kim’s main vocal range) as to be virtually indistinguishable. But the real interest—and Kim’s challenge—will be the high notes, which he will need to draw out of this 182cm, 80kg physique.

“I have to go all the way up to high D,” he said, “and I’ve never sung that high.” The “high D” requires one’s voice to scale over three entire octaves. Music director Kim Mun-jeong explained, “Not only will he have to hit the high note, but sustain it for over 12 beats as well. It’s too much even for a lot of the rock singers out there.”

The song demanding the most attention is “Judas’ Death,” in which the traitorous Judas Iscariot sings his anguish, grief, rage, and mortification before taking his own life. It’s such a pivotal number that music director Kim states, “You can mess up all the others if you successfully pull off this one song.”

JK Kim explained that for this key number he would draw on the grief and rage he felt when a close friend of his suddenly died in the military a few years ago.

Unlike the previous incarnation of “Superstar,” which strongly evoked a religious drama, the current production is based on the most recent Broadway revision, brought to the stage in 2000. With the setting moved up to the present day, the production emphasizes a modern sensibility and a sumptuous feel. The media competes fiercely over exposés on Judas after his arrest, and the number “Superstar,” sung by Judas alongside a host of angels in hot pants and sunglasses, is reminiscent of a Las Vegas show.

JK Kim was cautious throughout the interview, perhaps owing to a sense of intimidation about taking on a role formerly played by illustrious performers with far more seniority in the industry, but he unobtrusively revealed his ambitions toward the close of the conversation.

When the interviewer asked one of the crew members, “So, how many Judases have there been?” JK Kim quickly intercepted the reply:

“Please say that this was the first (to be played so well).” (Laughs)

November 6~8 at the Gyeonggi Culture and Art Center (test run), 42,000~84,000 won. November 18~28 at the Main Hall of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, 30,000~120,000 won. 02-501-7888

Sue-Jean Kang sjkang@donga.com