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The character in this show is Mary Magdalene, not Mary the mother of Jesus. (Mary, or Mariam or Miriam, was a very common name in that time and place. There is also the Mary of "Mary and Martha," two sisters visited by Jesus.) Jesus Christ Superstar follows the notion (not supported by scripture) that Magdalene was a reformed prostitute, and in this case, suggests that she's in love with Jesus, which I suppose means that Andrew Lloyd could follow this up with a DaVinci Code musical someday.
It sounds like the staging you saw was close to or identical to the London and Broadway revivals of the late 90's. I disliked the over the top leathery camp elements in that version as well. (This staging is preserved on DVD, for the curious.) I'm actually very fond of the 1973 movie, which certainly shows its 70's origins all too clearly, but it is conceived and directed with some dignity, it has a total powerhouse in Carl Anderson's Judas, and Ted Neely, though pretty green at the time, and not yet in posession of his full vocal abilities, comes off well. (Also, porn star Paul Thomas is in it, as the apostle Peter, credited as Philip Toubas.)
It's a shame that Jesus' nappies caused laughter during what should most certainly not be a comedy highlight. Anyway, I suggest giving the '73 movie a try, with the caveat that it's a product of its time.
I saw Ted Neely touring with this show (with the now-sadly-late Carl Anderson) 15 years ago, and he was a better Jesus then than he had been back in 73. I'm glad to hear he's holding up, but yeah, he is getting a little old for playing a guy who only lived to the age of 33.
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