Theatrical Night on American Idol

Although most people can see no connection between Broadway plays and a bunch of kids trying to become America’s next pop star, the famous Broadway composer Andrew Lloyd Webber was the guest mentor Tuesday night on American Idol.

Surprisingly, Webber actually got really involved in the project, proving to be a very patient and enthusiastic coach, as well as a great guest judge.

So, America’s favorite boys, David A. and David. C., both chose selections from “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Archuleta picked “Think of Me” and managed to completely reinvent the song, which brought him the usual admiration of the judges, not to mention the admiration of his continually screaming fans.

"You put your own personality into it," Randy Jackson said. "This boy is the one to beat."

But Webber probably made the best comment of the night when he scolded Archuleta for keeping his eyes closed all the time, to add more drama while singing his inspirational songs.

"Little David has a real musical soul to him but ... he must keep his eyes open. I can't watch someone who keeps his eyes closed all the time," Lloyd Webber said, awakening our admiration for finally speaking out what everyone secretly believed.

Cook added a few rock notes to “The Music of the Night,” which he found quite uncomfortable to sing, especially after Webber demanded that he sang it to him as if he, Lloyd Webber, was a "gorgeous 17-year-old from the chorus line." He managed to get some praises from Jackson, who appreciated his “amazing vocal performance.”

Carly Smithson was very inspired when she decided to listen to her mentor’s advice and choose “Jesus Christ Superstar” instead of a ballad. The performance was certainly successful, powerful, and managed to impress the judges. Even Simon concluded it was one of his favourite performances of the night.

After making the mistake of singing a well-known song performed by a past American Idol winner some time ago, Syesha Mercado chose a song that nobody heard of, “One Rock & Roll Too Many" from "Starlight Express." Her singing was quite good, but Simon probably called the performance “very sexy” because of Syesha’s perfect red dress.

Jason Castro had no idea the song he chose, “Memory,” was sung by a cat. He was aware that the song was very popular though. Webber also expressed his surprise, as he had never thought he would see a man with dreadlocks singing “Memory.”

Well, Castro pretty much ruined the very popular song that everybody so much wanted to hear, failing to play the role of “an extremely old glamour puss," as Webber described the “Cats” character that originally performed the song.

Both Randy and Paula called the performance “a train wreck,” while Simon said Jason looked like a kid who had been forced by his parents to sing at a wedding.

Before Brooke White started to sing “You Must Think of Me” from “Evita,” Webber informed her about the character’s condition, so she could interpret it well. “She's dying and she knows it," Lloyd Webber explained.

Following the indications, Brooke succeeding in making puppy eyes and biting her lower lip, but she forgot the song’s lyrics and had to start it all over again. You can’t have it all, can you?

Paula was the only one with a harsh attitude, telling Brooke it was completely wrong to stop and start over.

"You must never start and stop," she admonished Brooke, while the men all considered it was so brave of her to stop and begin again.

This is the second time on the show that Brooke stopped a performance and then restarted it, and this might cost her dearly.