[Ponine]

I have not seen this tour company, but we get them down in SD soon.

My two comments.... Ted neely, bless his heart, has/had a good voice, but imo he's a bit long in the tooth to play this role.

Mary, unless I remember incorrectly, I dont think that ALW intended for us to view Mary as a mother in this telling. I dont remember if that is ever stated in the libretto, but I bet that LSPE knows.

Though I have questions....
Tell me about Herod and Pilate.

The last time I saw a tour group they had Pilate as a over the top quasi cross dresser in leather caps and a bare a$$, that was "getting off" when Jesus was being whipped.

I didnt care for that 'take' on the show, or at least that portion.

I've seen the show about five times since '87, and by far, the best was an Orange County community theater production that I saw in about '90 or '91.
They set the show in an 'authentic' time period, and had some strong performers.

The venue wasnt huge, and they included the audience in a great many numbers. Meaning, there were cast members in the aisles for any large company number.
If I remember right, Kirby Ward was up there in the role of Herod, and I havent seen a better tap number in a while.