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5th September 2019
Review by Shaun Tossell
“… Go, go, go Joseph…”
Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is back in the West End, at the London Palladium, for a brand new production to celebrate the show’s 50th Anniversary.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is based on the story of Joseph and his “coat of many colours” from the Bible’s Book of Genesis.
This starry production has cast some big names for the roles of the Narrator and Pharaoh.
Sheridan Smith is the Narrator and looks like she’s having an absolute ball on stage. She brings her charisma and charm to the role. She also plays some smaller supporting characters to great comedic effect, playing to the crowd with a knowing wink.
Much has been made about these changes that gives Sheridans’ Narrator an expanded role, it’s a marmite decision but I personally loved it and think it fully utilises her considerable comedic talants.
Jason Donovan is back in Joseph but this time he’s playing the Pharaoh. This was a very smart casting choice, bringing the nostalgia factor with him. He definitely hams it up in this role but it works well and the audience went wild for him.
Now we come to Joseph who is played by newcomer Jac Yarrow in a star-making turn; Cast after being scouted at his college, ArtsEd. His cheeky demeanour and soaring vocals made for a brilliant Joseph. We will be seeing a lot more of Jac in the future.
The rest of the cast are the cream of the crop. Special mention of the actors playing Joseph’s brothers who were uniformally excellent and the cast of young children, some who humorously played a few of the brothers, with fake beards.
The set & costume design of this show by Morgan Large is gorgeous, bright and bold. I especially enjoyed the Pharaoh’s number with the Vegas themed sign and the dancing Egyptian statues.
The redesigned coat of many colours is absolutely beautiful, with its constellation desgins and chevron patterns makes it stand out from previous coats.
Another highlight of the show is the exuberant choreography from Joann M. Hunter, which fills the vast stage with ease.
Joseph as a show is pure bonkers but is so infectiously fun it’s hard not to get caught up in it. This production is full of spectacle and humour and I hope the rumours of a transfer mean we get to see it again very soon.
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