An Andrew Lloyd Webber musical always promises to be a good one, and this particular musical has well and truly stood the test of time, being over 50 years old and still often appearing on the most well-known and loved songs of all time. So, when Curtain Call Creative announced their intention to bring back the traditional ‘summer-season’ to Shanklin Theatre, it was obvious to this reviewer that they had picked a safe-bet of a show.
The musical is based on the biblical story of Joseph, a beloved son of Jacob, who earns the wrath and jealousy of his brothers after their father gifts him his titular technicolour dream coat (more to be said about that resplendent coat later!). After his brothers sell him into slavery, the story follows his rise to fame and fortune in Egypt, by using his talent of interpreting dreams.
The production was a collaboration between the junior members of the theatre school, and adults (both amateur and professional). Bursting with energy, colour and endurance, this musical didn’t slow its pace throughout and was a well-thought out production from the experienced duo Tony Wright (Director) and Andrew Woodford (Musical Director). The story is mostly told through song, with a fabulous array of costumes and props that accentuated in all the right ways. The standout for me was the use of the dreamcoat, filling the entire stage in bursts of colour.
Leading the cast as Joseph was the sensational Nathan Stubbings. He rightly stole the show with his soaring vocals, showcasing both a tenderness and strength that belied his young age. He is one to watch out for on London stages in years to come, I am sure.
Holding the story together was the sassy and captivating Alexis Mackness, as the Narrator. She has the lion’s share of songs which she effortlessly delivered, whilst keeping the pace going throughout her transitions and interacting well with both the cast and audience.
Sean Smith took on the role of a rock-n-roll Elvis-inspired Pharaoh. Those gyrating hips and smooth vocals were mesmerising (not least to the lucky front-row audience members!). Having shot to fame on X Factor, and having starred in several West End productions, he was a strong addition to the cast.
Supporting the leads were a fantastic ensemble cast. Playing several roles each, with quick costume changes and no drop in energy, they each added to the professional feel of this show.
Joseph’s Brothers had some excellent musical numbers, my favourite being Canaan Days and Benjamin’s Calypso. In particular, the facial expressions of Ches Checkley as Simeon, the fine voice of Finley Revert as Zebulun, and the fabulous hip-rolling of Simon Apsey as Dan stood out for me.
Elsewhere, I also loved John Woodford’s sincere and emotive turn as Jacob, and the seduction techniques of Rebecca Finch as Mrs Potiphar. The laughs were aplenty in this scene!
The real stars of the show, though, were the wonderful students from Curtain Call Creative theatre school. They practically didn’t leave the stage from start to finish, yet were engaging with the cast, and gave brilliant performances, especially in Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do.
The use of a simple set, amplified with some specific set pieces to diversify location, worked extremely well and made set changes easy.
The choreography by Jake Alabaster was diverse and vibrant. With every musical number having a distinct style, the cast handled the transitions with ease and showcased their ability with confidence. This was proven by the 10-minute extravaganza Joseph Megamix , where the cast gave a highlight reel of the songs and dances they’d been performing over the last 2 hours. This tour-de-force musical number sums up why this production is a success!
The final mention must go to the orchestra – we sometimes take for granted how professional and talented these musicians all are, coming into the rehearsal room a mere few days before the show starts, yet making it sound as if they’d performed the pieces for years.
May I return to watch it again when it returns to Shanklin on Tuesday 20th August and Tuesday 3rd September? I sure hope so, but based on the popularity so far, I’d better go go go and get my tickets quick (and you can too, at www.shanklintheatre.com).
Reviewed by Bryony Bishop
IWtheatre 