Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Back in 1968 lyricist Tim Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber could never have conceived that their 15 minute 'pop cantata' commissioned for a London school would be the hottest ticket in the West End over fifty years later.  Joseph has been performed globally by over 20,000 schools and amateur groups and seen by more than 200 million people. However, there's been a 30 year famine in Australia to see a professional production. Thankfully the wait is over and Melbourne and Sydney audiences are in for a performance where dreams really do come true!  This new offering, straight from the London Palladium, is indeed a feast for the senses. Audiences will be captivated by the sheer brilliance of the staging, costumes, and the performances of this incredible cast.  

Director Laurence Connor has made some wonderful enhancements to this production. The Narrator, or one of the junior ensemble, have taken over the minor roles of Jacob, the Baker, the Butler and Potiphar and his wife. This style of storytelling takes the audience back to their own childhoods where role playing and making up stories was an integral part of growing up. Another refreshing change in this new production is the amount of dance numbers. Choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter is exciting and original. The large ensemble handled the diverse styles exceptionally well.  There are so many genres in Joseph including pop, folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll, calypso, the can can and even a dance mega-mix. Kudos to the junior ensemble who performed tonight. They didn’t miss a beat!  Also, their singing on such songs as ‘Any Dream Will Do’ and ‘Close Every Door’ was angelic. 

The epic set designed by Morgan Large includes constellations of stars, a huge prison gate and the opulent court of Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Props include a golden chariot, singing Egyptian statues and even two camels! With ‘technicolor’ in the title I expected this show to be very colourful and the costumes (including Joseph’s beloved coat), also designed by Large, didn’t disappoint. They have been meticulously researched and are exquisite to say the least.  The dazzling lighting design is by Ben Cracknell. During ‘Joseph’s Coat’, the constellations around the stage change colour to help us learn the different shades on Joseph’s coat. The sound design by Gareth Owen was well balanced and every word was audible. The band under the capable baton of Peter Rutherford might be small, but wow, they sound grand!  

Paulini is a tour de force as the Narrator, the ethereal storyteller who invites the children (and the audience) on an exciting journey with her. Through stories, songs, dance and role play we learn about the bible character Joseph and how we all need dreams to get us through tough times.  This role is demanding, as the Narrator is onstage for most of the show and takes on so many personas. Paulini’s vocals, dancing and comedic timing seem effortless. Her act two opener, ‘A Pharaoh Story’ received rapturous applause. Her chemistry with the cast and rapport with the audience was genuine. Paulini is the glue that holds this production together tightly. Her performance is flawless!

Australia’s youngest Helpmann Award nominee, Euan Fistrovic Doidge, is Joseph, the innocent dreamer and favourite son of patriarch Jacob.  Euan brings so much experience to this iconic role. His emotionally charged performance of ‘Close Every Door’ received deafening applause and cheering, stopping the show! Each time Euan graced the scene he filled the stage with joy and vivacity. The audience was riveted to his tender reprise of ‘Any Dream Will Do'. Euan's ‘charm and winning smiles’ really did ‘slay us in the aisles’ tonight.  Shane Crawford, the AFL football legend, coach, Brownlow medal winner and TV personality is a surprise choice for Pharaoh. Obviously not a natural singer, his acting and dancing was up there with the rest of the cast. Crawford’s performance was entertaining and an obvious crowd pleaser. Time and experience will be the making of him I’m sure.  One surprise of the night was Joseph’s eleven brothers singing ‘Those Canaan Days’.  The dirge about how bad things have become since the famine hit Canaan is a fun song but not one that usually stands out.  However, the crowd went wild and it received the longest and loudest applause of the night. Well done boys!  

Even if you have seen Joseph before, it’s well worth a revisit. This new London Palladium version is so different from anything previously offered. Productions of this calibre don’t come around very often.  

Joseph has a ‘dream’ cast and is an ‘amazing’ night out, fit for a King!

Jonathan Cox

Photographer: Daniel Boud