AD/BC: A Rock Opera (2004) (TV)

Director:

Richard Ayoade

Writers:

Richard Ayoade (book)
Matt Berry (book)

Release Date:

21 December 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Musical | Comedy

Plot:

An all-singing, all-dancing, star-spangled musical leap around the biblical story of the Nativity, set in 1972...

Cast

Matt Berry	...	Innkeeper / Tim Wynde
Julia Davis	...	Ruth
Julian Barratt	...	Tony Iscariot
Richard Ayoade	...	Joseph
Matt Lucas	...	God
Noel Fielding	...	Shepherd
Tom Hillenbrand	...	Shepherd
Karl Theobald	...	Shepherd
Lydia Fox	...	Wise Man
Lucy Montgomery	...	Wise Man
Sophie Winkleman	...	Wise Man
Marc Cieslak	...	Townsfolk
Sean Douglas	...	Townsfolk
Laurence Fox	...	Townsfolk
Rich Fulcher	...	Townsfolk

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Baby Cow Productions

Quotes:

Tony Iscariot: What am I doing? I'm looking at one of the most beautiful women in Bethlehem. That's what I'm doing. Top twenty, easily.
[laughs]
Tony Iscariot: Top ten. I imagine that innkeeper doesn't know how to treat a lady. Would you like something to drink? I bet you've never had champagne before. Try it! The bubbles tickle your nose. Make you randy! Seafood, do you like seafood?
[louder]
Tony Iscariot: I said, do you like seafood? We must satisfy our appetites. Build up our stamina. You know, it's quite interesting, I've recently returned from the Orient. In the east, they make love for twelve hours. Did you know that? No? Twelve hours. Solid.
[...]

AD/BC: A Rock Opera (2004)

It was only the other day I had nothing to do so I decided to find a video and that is when I came across a 'Mock Rock Opera' which, I had recorded a year ago during Christmas on BBC Four. The Rock Opera was called 'AD/BC: A Rock Opera.' Being a huge fan of rock operas especially the father of all 'Jesus Christ Superstar', Matt Berry's spoof was a delight to watch again. The whole concept is clever because it contains elements of the traditional shows from the 70s like Superstar. I thought the whole film was cleverly laid out and had a real 'cult' sense to it. Of course some parts were direct 'take offs' from songs like 'Gethsemane' from Superstar but this just added to it's comedy texture.

I was ready to believe that all the singers were dubbed by professional singers as they showed some interesting and entertaining vocal ranges yet this was not the case. Also the score was another interesting aspect of the film. There were some real 'groovey' sounds there that sort of made you sit back and think to yourself "man the 70s was so cool...Why was I not alive then!"

Although the nature of this work is almost 'taking the michael!' I feel that it could be a professional stage show. Even though it would only attract a small group of a particular type of audience I would love to see this performed live and perhaps even extended with more songs.

My only bad feeling towards this show was that it felt it was missing that big song which would make it a big success. It needed that 'Let Me Entertain You' song to get the audience or viewers I should say, going wild and dancing in their seats.

In conclusion I would strongly recommend for any other rock opera or musical theatre fans to watch this just because it is so funny and still a great piece of music theatre.