Straight from the West End, the new, reimagined production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat is a delightful, fun, engaging and dynamic family musical. Wonderfully directed by Laurence Connor, it is based on the biblical character Joseph.
Seen as his father Jacob’s favourite son, he is gifted a beautiful technicolor coat by his dad. That enrages his 11 siblings, who sell Joseph into slavery. While serving Egyptian noble Potiphar, he attracts the interest of Potiphar’s wife, but after refusing her advances he ends up in prison. With an ability to interpret dreams, he is brought before Pharoah, who challenges Joseph to decipher his. That Joseph does and soon finds himself as Pharaoh’s trusted right-hand man. Meanwhile, Joseph’s long-lost family has fallen on hard times and without realising who he is they turn to him for help.
More than half a century after it was conceived and subsequently expanded, the music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics from Tim Rice remain ear pleasing. Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat has a magical, cartoon-like quality about it, with more musical styles than I can recall seeing in any other big stage musical. Everything from pop and rock to country and western, calypso, can-can and more are on show. With musical direction from Peter Rutherford and musical supervision from John Rigby, the sound design is by Gareth Owen. Add tap dancing and cheer leading to a truly diverse repertoire.
Dance and athleticism are key components of the musical and Joann M. Hunter’s choreography is superb. The costuming is colourful (the coat Joseph receives from his father is a magnificent, multi-hued creation) and the sets spectacular. In fact, everything is suitably showy thanks to the efforts of set and costume designer Morgan Large, while Ben Cracknell’s lighting design is creative and captivating.
As the narrator of the piece, who also appears in various guises, Paulini is poised and sassy. With the most mellifluous voice, Euan Fistrovic Doidge is a pleasure to listen to and triumphant as Joseph. Shane Crawford appears in the second act as Pharoah, mimicking Elvis in Las Vegas. He makes the most of his showmanship, although vocally he is no match for the polished singers that have made musical theatre their life’s work. I refer to both the leads and the ensemble. The talent also extends to the many children that appear in the show who receive widespread acclamation.
Overall, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a highly imaginative, memorable and satisfying production that has much to get excited about. It is playing at the Regent Theatre until 15th January, 2022.
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Regent Theatre) – musical theatre review
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Capitol) – theatre review
- The Music of The Night (Chapel off Chapel) – theatre review
Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.
