Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

This performance reviewed at The Birmingham Hippodrome runs until 1st June

***** five stars

“It is silver and gold”

In the beginning for Rice and Lloyd Webber there was Joseph. And it was good. And the New Testament latest is that there is still Joseph, and it is still good, in fact very very good. They may have come a long way since those Canaan early days in amongst the chapters of Genesis, but this London Palladium production manages to breathe new life through the promised land with kaleidoscopic power.

Patriarch Jacob has many sons, but much to the chagrin of the other brothers he strongly favours Joseph and underlines his warmth with a gift of a technicolour coat. This turns the other brothers all shades of green, they have had enough. They attack Joseph, and he is sold and then resold and ends up in a dismal jail. There he begins to interpret dreams for his fellow inmates, which remarkably all come true. This incredible mystic gift comes to the attention of Pharaoh who is also having his share of sleepless nights. Again, the dreamer has his dreams calculated correctly and Joseph is promoted in the royal household. Eventually the starving brothers and indeed their father Jacob are all happily reunited with brother Joseph. The rolling commentary is sung through by the Narrator, a considerable task on its own, additionally in this new Michael Harrison production the narrator steps in as tidy number of other roles, male and female. In the hands of Christina Bianco, it seemed effortless and joyous, she is a natural storyteller and of course a delightful vocalist, beautifully welcoming us back to Egypt after the interval and singing sublimely for us ‘A Pharaoh’s Story.’

She also executes some lovely comedic timing as the scheming and voluptuous wife of Potiphar. Hippodrome favourite Matt Slack has swopped the panto crown for the Pharaoh’s crown and has great fun as the ‘King of the Nile.’ Adam Filipe dons the famous eye-catching coat, and it fits him wonderfully, a smooth, tongue-in cheek Joseph never too serious but with an infectious cheer and some dazzling vocals, particularly with probably the only serious song in the show ‘Close Every Door.’ Noteworthy performances in addition from Hugh Cotton and Will Haswell as Rueben and Simeon respectively. There was a delightful surprise to the patchwork, in the guise of the child actors taking on some of the adult roles, including the brothers and indeed Potiphar, an ingenious idea, not without risks but it worked like a dream.

The orchestra under John Rigby joined in the convivial atmosphere with considerable gusto and skill and Morgan Large’s design was bright and when it came to Pharaoh’s Palace it was suitably impressive.

So, Joseph keeps going and long may it do so particularly if the coat is open for a slight refurbishment every now and again. It was a joyous production and no matter what the weather is like when you exit the theatre, you will imagine blue skies for many a hour.

*****   Five Stars

‘A kaleidoscopic masterpiece for all time and all ages.’

David will be talking about his trip to see Joseph on his Musical Magazine Show every Thursday at 8pm on Box Office Radio. And the article will appear in the magazine this weekend.