The last time “Jesus Christ Superstar” was staged at the Bangor Auditorium, the brash, new rock opera was met with howls of protest from many in the religious community. One local minister even took to the airwaves to block the show from ever coming here.

My, how times change. More than 30 years after its last auditorium appearance, the only disturbance greeting “Superstar’s” return engagement Sunday night was the forecast of a fierce New England storm. No “This play is blasphemous!” pickets outside the arena; no zealots inside screaming, “Burn Andrew Lloyd Webber!”

A lot of water has gone under the bridge (recall Martin Scorsese’s unsettling “The Last Temptation of Christ”) since Webber, who wrote the music, and lyricist Tim Rice, retold the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

Although the Vatican embraced the Webber-Rice retooling, many Protestants couldn’t stomach a hip Jesus crooning to a rock beat. Not to mention a fawning Mary Magdalene and Pontius Pilate portrayed as a judge striving to save Christ’s life. And there was that peck on the cheek – you know the one – between Judas and Jesus.

So, was Sunday’s show worth the wait? And has it stood the test of time?

Let’s put it this way. I’ll wager there’s a lot of people in eastern Maine today who regret not shelling out $55 (for the good seats) to see this polished production. A half-hour before show time, a paltry 725 tickets had been sold.

Anyone with a pulse must have been moved to tears by the stunning crucifixion scene, alone. It’s one thing to watch Ted Neeley, who starred in the 1973 movie version, crying out from the cross on screen. But to see him in the flesh, writhing, screaming, is unforgettable.

The rest of the two-hour show was well-paced and flawlessly performed.

Billed as Neeley’s farewell tour as Jesus, this staging of “Superstar” relied on spare steel staging backed by an ominous black sky filled with hopeful white stars.

Although, at age 63, Neeley is almost twice the age of the Christ he portrays, the one-time rock star is still lithe, limber and believable in a role he has played thousands of times. His voice is raspier than the one heard on film, but he can still hit the high notes, which reverberated into the auditorium’s far corners. His white robe and shoulder-length hair are just as in the film, and at least from where I was sitting, he could have been 33 again.

Tiffini Dodson, dressed in a flowing red gown, was effective as Magdalene. She sang the show’s two signature songs – “Everything’s Alright” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.”

The role of Judas Iscariot, played by Corey Glover, lead singer of the rock band Living Colour, is a pivotal one. Judas soon becomes the story’s provocateur, and when the audience realizes he isn’t the bad guy, just a human being who made a horrendous decision, everything falls into place.

Glover brought unbounded energy to the role, but at times his prancing around stage wore thin, and his singing crossed over into yelling. Proper direction might have reined him in and delivered a more measured performance.

Another misfire was the show’s final curtain call. To go from the crucifixion and resurrection directly to Jesus stepping out of character (sort of) to work the crowd for applause seemed jarring and wrong.

But overall, good lighting, crisp sound and a live orchestra helped make “Superstar’s” second Bangor stop a memorable one. It’s just a pity the cast couldn’t have played to a full house. They deserved it.