Manchester Opera House – until 2 April 2022
5*****
Joseph is my go to musical. The first musical I ever saw, just under 40 years ago. The first musical I ever saw in the West End around 30 years ago and a perennial favourite ever since.
This re-imagined version by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice was first performed at the London Palladium in 2019 and is now on its first tour around the UK. Produced by Michael Harrison, this version is gloriously colourful and full of fun. For me, it was reminiscent of a school assembly, but in a good way and the use of the children with the adults worked really well.
Alexandra Burke led the cast in her role of Narrator. Beautifully pregnant, I’m amazed how she managed to carry a whole musical in her advanced condition – although I think the sparkly trainers may have been a concession to her gravidity. Rarely off the stage, Burke played multiple roles including Joseph’s dad, Potiphar’s wife and various others with very impressive singing and dancing. I was incredibly impressed, but I hope she gets to rest between performances though.
Jac Yarrow had his first professional role playing Joseph at the Palladium, nominating and winning multiple awards for his performance. And it’s easy to see why, lyrically versatile and immensely likeable. His vocals were outstanding for Close Every Door, showing a huge range of emotions and he seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself in the role. We also get a performance by Joseph alumni, Jason Donovan as the Elvis inspired Pharaoh and his breakout number where he explains his troubling dreams to Joseph was an audience favourite.
But this is an ensemble piece and all the performers are excellent the brothers – Shane Antony-Whitely, Tyler Ephraim, Zac Frieze, MattGibson, Will Hawkesworth and Sam Stones perform a variety of musical styles from calypso, to a tango, a hoe-down and in the case of Those Canaan Days a song that wouldn’t sound out of place being sung in a French wine bar by the Little Sparrow herself. All aided by Erica-Jayne Alden, Natalie Benyworth, Gemma Buckingham, Meg Darcy, Abbie Platts, Rochelle Sherona and Holly Willock and a group of 8 children interacting and harmonising beautifully.
John Rigby clearly enjoyed himself leading the orchestra and Joann M. Hunter’s choreography, Morgan Large’s design and Laurence Connors expert direction all combine to give us an outstanding production.
In Manchester until April 2nd and on tour around the UK, with a standing ovation and an encore that goes on forever, expressive singing of well written songs, comic interaction and spellbinding performances make this a show not to be missed.