The enduring and popular musical Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returned to Tyneside last night and oh boy what a show - the audience enjoyed a fantastic performance packed full of energy and fun.
I was still singing ‘Go, Go, Go Joseph’ as I headed home from the opening night of this favourite of all musicals. It has been a consistent hit since it was first performed in 1968 and helped launch the careers of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. A regular show in the North East over the years, it again lived up to expectations with a fantastic up-beat and energetic performance.
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Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours, this magical musical is full of memorable songs.
With a score including Close Ev’ry Door to Me, One More Angel and the unforgettable Any Dream Will Do, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat reveals the brilliance behind the Rice and Webber partnership and the reasons for its incredible success.
Our narrator, the wonderful and award winner Linzi Hateley, is the linchpin to the whole show and was given the loudest cheers of the evening. Drama school graduate Jac Yarrow stars in the role of Joseph and has a powerful strong singing voice and fantastic stage presence.
Twenty years ago, Jason Donovan wore that same snazzy coat when he played Joseph in 1991. He’s back again as the glorious reimagined Pharaoh. I loved his hip-shaking and knee-shaking Elvis routine.
The leading actors are backed by a uniformly excellent cast including the Brothers and Wives and the Children who are outstanding!
The production takes us on a zany and wonderful adventure through a variety of musical genres. Pop, rock and roll, country and western, jazz, a French ballad and disco all feature.
As a whole, the musical is incredible with bright and breezy costumes and wonderful sets as Joseph’s story unfolds in front of our eyes through this almost entirely sung production.
And there’s a reprise at the end of the show too. The standing ovation given to the cast was marvellous and an apt reflection of the entertaining performances. And the colourful streamers strewn over the audience at the end were a delight for everyone and the younger members of the audience even brought them all the way home with them!
Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Saturday June 4.
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