Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Joseph at the Theatre Royal: Theatre review
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, started life as a fifteen minute pop cantata for childen in 1967. During the following twenty years, numbers were added and it grew into the two hour show we know and love today.The storyline is simple. Jacob has twelve sons. His favourite, Joseph, is the envy of his brothers, who sell him into slavery in Egypt and have Jacob believe him dead. Joseph’s convenient ability to interpret dreams endears him to the Pharaoh who makes him his deputy. Joseph’s family fall on hard times, travel to Egypt to find food where they are reunited with Joseph.
This production of Joseph, now playing at the Theatre Royal, is musically one of the strongest I have seen for years.
Vocally, all the principals are on the money. However at times, an obsession with delivering a precise vocal puts the drama of the story on the back foot, and the innocence and simplicity the narrative demands is lost in translation.
Craig Chalmers, a finalist in BBC’s Any Dream Will Do is a fine, if at times slightly nasal Joseph. He phrases beautifully and has the innocence a believable Joseph needs. His hair is also unequivocally fantastic.
Tara Bethan a finalist in BBC’s I’d Do Anything plays the narrator. She is vocally very secure and plays the role more as a commentator than narrator.
The cast of brothers are relentlessly energetic and are the engine of this production.
Joseph is two shows in one. The first and second act relate the narrative and then the longest encore in musical history reprises all the best numbers from the show allowing everyone to let their hair down. And do they let their hair down with the Joseph Mega Mix when all the best number from the show get a dance/rock treatment.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat runs at the Theatre Royal till Saturday January 31.
Box Office 08700 606 650 www.theambassadors.com
