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353 Appendix A: Jesus Christ Superstar Plot Summary and List of Recurring Musical Material Each section of the score is listed below. In the cases in which a number refers musically to another number, that reference is listed in brackets. Following each title is a description of the plot during that section. 1. Overture [“Trial Before Pilate”] 2. “Heaven on Their Minds” Judas reveals his disappointment in the way his friend, Jesus, is currently handling their social movement. Judas feels that Jesus has allowed the adoration of the crowds to convince him that he might be God, and Judas fears the wrath of the Roman occupiers if any more attention is drawn their way. Already, Judas is disillusioned by this turn away from their formerly quiet, controlled activities. 3. “What’s the Buzz?” Jesus fields questions from his enthusiastic but naı̈ve apostles, who are overly eager to act. Mary Magdalene attempts to soothe an annoyed and tense Jesus. 4. “Strange Thing Mystifying” Judas scolds Jesus for spending time with Mary, whose reputation could bring him harm, but Jesus, frustrated, turns on Judas and the rest of the apostles, declaring that none of them understand him. (In the 1973 film version only, a song for the evil Priests, “Then We Are Decided,” follows, in which they agree strong action must be taken against Jesus.) 5. “Everything’s Alright” Mary attempts to calm Jesus, but he and Judas debate Mary’s place, what the group should be doing with their money, and whether people appreciate Jesus while they still can. This trio for Mary, Jesus, and Judas also includes the apostles and some women, who eventually help calm Jesus. 6. “This Jesus Must Die” [“Trial Before Pilate”] The scene shifts to the Jewish Priests, led by Caiaphas and his sidekick Annas; they all agree that Jesus and his adoring crowds of supporters threaten their leadership, and they resolve that Jesus must be stopped. 7. “Hosanna” Jesus and his crowd come on the scene. Jesus smiles at Caiaphas’s attempt to quiet them, and he joins happily in the crowd’s singing; it is the most pleasant time for Jesus in the musical, but it is tainted when the crowd’s adulation changes to a fleeting call for his death on their behalf. 8. “Simon Zealotes/Poor Jerusalem” [“Pilate’s Dream”] The crowd’s political goals become pronounced, as Simon encourages Jesus to use his power to lead a revolution against the Romans; the crowd gets whipped up into 354 Appendix A Simon’s frenzy. Jesus tries to explain that this is not the way to help Jerusalem, that they do not understand power, but his manner is already defeated; it seems they may never understand. 9. “Pilate’s Dream” Pilate, the Roman leader in Jerusalem, sings alone, recounting a dream that foreshadows his meeting with Jesus; he envisions that he will be blamed for Jesus’ death. 10. “The Temple” [“Gethsemane”] The scene moves to the Temple, where crowds sell, buy, and gamble for all manner of sinful goods and services. Jesus, infuriated, clears them out, but soon loses his energy and feels defeated. One by one, then in a surging mob, people come to Jesus, begging for help and healing. Overwhelmed, Jesus shrieks that there are too many of them, that they should heal themselves. 11. “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” [introduction: “Everything’s Alright”] Mary Magdalene comes on the scene and soothes Jesus, then reflects on her love for this strange man, so different than the others she has known. 12. “Damned for All Time/Blood Money” [“This Jesus Must Die”] Judas goes to the Priests, tormented by his conflict: he loves Jesus and their movement , but he feels Jesus cannot control it any longer, and despite his fear of eternal damnation, he is driven to talk to the Priests. They offer him silver for his information, which he refuses, but eventually, in defeat, he accepts it and reveals that Jesus will be in the Garden of Gethsemane. 13. “The Last Supper” [“Everything’s Alright,” “Superstar”] The second act begins with “The Last Supper,” at which the shallow and mindless apostles relax and imagine how Jesus will make them famous one day. Jesus knows the end is near; he offers them bread and wine, hoping they will remember him when they eat and drink. Then he rounds on both Judas and Peter, until Judas and Jesus erupt into a shouting match. Jesus urges Judas to go betray...

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