St Helen’s Theatre Royal – until 23 November 2019
Reviewed by Carla Whittaker
5*****
I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to review Bill Kenwright’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat with my 8 year old son, at the St Helen’s Theatre Royal as part of its record-breaking tour. Last night’s show did not disappoint, what a blast! This biblical musical has been reborn as a modern day take on the vibrant, glitzy, all singing and dancing show, more than fifty years following its first production.
Narrated by Alexandra Doar the story like other productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat retells the biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colours and his eleven brothers. It tells the story of Joseph being his father’s favourite son who is blessed with prophetic dreams. His jealous brothers sell Joseph into slavery and taken to Egypt where he ensures an adventure that challenges his spirit. Joseph is purchased by Potiphar then thrown into prison for refusing the advances of Potiphars wife. Whilst in prison Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams catches the attention of Pharaoh which sees the rise of Joseph’s journey from slave to second in command.
At the start of the show, it was announced that Jaymi Hensley of Xfactor Boyband Union J in the lead role would be replaced by the understudy of Tom Bainbridge who would take the lead role of Joseph. Initially I was disappointed to hear of the replacement as I have always been a fan of Union J, but Tom did not disappoint, and any doubts instantly disappeared with his outstanding performance throughout the production. He certainly was no substitute! Tom captivated the St Helen’s audience, with a twinkle in his eye and his enthusiasm for the role shining through! Surprisingly for me, Tom’s vocals are phenomenal with an impressive range and fantastic jaw dropping operatic tones and power. I especially enjoyed Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do which were amazing. On multiple occasions a tear was brought to my eye due to the emotion.
I was surprised to hear that Joseph was the professional debut for Alexandra Doar. Her vocals were beautiful, with an amazingly clear voice and clear passion for performing. She engaged beautifully with the audience adding humour to her narrating. Her vibrant personality shone through and I am sure she will be one to watch in the future!
My son was particularly taken by Andrew Geater who was entertaining, charismatic and so funny in his role as The Pharaoh. Additionally, the 11 brothers of Joseph brought exceptional humour and fun to the show. Every member of the cast worked exceptionally hard (often having more than one role), each bringing individual character to the show, leaving members of the audience unable to take the eyes of the stage with sublime new choreography by Gary Lloyd. The costumes, lighting and backdrops were effective, catchy and professional. I felt a connection with all the characters which, for me, is really important in order to maximise the enjoyment of the show.
The young choir sang their hearts out with pure passion and were amazing; I am sure several the choir members will be stars of the future!
Myself and my son love every second of the show. It was easy to follow, with it being both mine and son’s first-time seeing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. For me the finale at the end was outstanding. In all the shows and concerts, I have seen I have never heard so much whooping, cheering, dancing and interaction from the audience before, providing a vibrant and electric atmosphere which both myself and son will never forgot.
If you have not got tickets yet for Joseph I would highly recommend that you go and see the show whilst it is showing in St Helen’s. If I didn’t have plans over the weekend I would go and see it again. It certainly has a sense of a family’ feel good factor! As usual, the St Helen’s Theatre staff were exceptionally helpful, and the theatre is easily accessible to individuals who may have disabilities.