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Stories from the Old Testament are weighed down with morals and the story of Joseph and his brothers is no exception. However, Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, in the hands of Rice and Lloyd Webber, has been transformed and uplifted with a more important theatre ingredient … FUN!

What an absolutely fabulous production this turned out to be, with enough lights to blanket Blackpool, enough fireworks to satisfy Guy Fawkes and enough talent on stage to keep Simon Cowell happy. A simply breathtaking night out for all those lucky enough to see it.

Jonathan Parkin, in his first lead role in theatre, may have been a little drowned out at the beginning by what was an incredibly loud orchestra, but that didn’t stop him. His characterisations and sense of timing carried him through as the boy sold into slavery by his brothers, to become the saviour of Egypt. Yes, his vocals got a little lost at times but overall, and especially once he found his range, Jonathan was superb.

No such problems with stand-in Narrator, Amanda Claire. From first note to last she was inspirational in her role of storyteller and so full of beans it was possible to imagine her – dressed as she was in her rainbow-on-black blouse and black trousers – teaching the show to many of the hundreds of primary school children who packed the auditorium.

Amanda Claire has a huge voice and a vast talent. On stage for virtually the show’s entirety, it is to her increased credit that she must have been called in very late as she was not even in the programme notes as understudy and yet still sang so faultlessly.
If not exactly stealing the show, then certainly giving it its most memorable moment, Marlon Moore as the Elvis wannabe Pharaoh. With an array of dancing girls and screaming fans, Moore hit all of the King’s deep notes, swivelled his hips and wowed the audience until he had them eating out of his bejewelled hand.

Nothing about this show is small. The sets are vast, incorporating pyramids, a Sphinx head, dog’s heads and a gigantic walkway on which a choir of primary aged children sit and sing on either side. There’s even a motorbike and a stunning light display that picks out an effigy of the Eiffel Tower.

The costumes, too, are astonishing and range and change in time with music that gyrates from Jazz to Country to Rock ‘n’ Roll and even through 1930’s Edith Piaf styled lamentations at a literal drop of a hat, until finally Joseph’s Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is revealed in full to tremendous applause.

The moral of the story still runs true and is as timeless as the hills. The revamped version of Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, however, is quite simply an Amazing Technicolor Dream Night Out.
9/10

www.kenwright.com
Teachers. For an Education Resource Pack Click:
http://www.kenwright.com/uploads/res_jo_tour_education_pack.pdf

When:	5th Mar to 10th Mar
Where:	Liverpool Empire Theatre, Liverpool
Times:	Mon-Thu 19:30. Tue-Thu 14:30. Fri 17:00, 20:00. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

When:	12th Mar to 17th Mar
Where:	Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
Times:	Mon-Thu 20:00. Tue-Thu Mats 14:30. Fri 17:00, 20:00. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

When:	19th Mar to 24th Mar
Where:	Derngate Theatre, Northampton
Times:	Mon-Thu 19:30. Fri 17:00, 20:00. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

When:	26th Mar to 7th Apr
Where:	Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham
Times:	Mon-Thu 19:30. Tue-Thu Mats 14:00, 17:00. Fri 20:00

When:	23rd Apr to 28th Apr
Where:	Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Times:	Mon-Thu 19:30. Tue-Thu 14:00. Fri 17:00, 20:00. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

When:	7th May to 12th May
Where:	Blackpool Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Times:	Mon 20:00. Tue-Fri 14:00, 19:30. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

When:	21st May to 26th May
Where:	Hull New Theatre, Hull
Times:	Mon 19:30. Tue-Thu 14:00, 19:30. Fri 17:00, 20:00. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

When:	28th May to 2nd Jun
Where:	King's Theatre, Glasgow
Times:	Mon 19:30. Tue-Thu 14:30, 19:30. Fri 17:00, 20:00. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

When:	4th Jun to 9th Jun
Where:	Forum Theatre, Billingham
Times:	Mon-Thu 19:30. Tue-Thu 14:30. Fri 17:00, 20:00. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

When:	10th Sep to 15th Sep
Where:	Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
Times:	Mon-Thu 19:45. Tue-Thu 14:00. Fri 17:00, 20:00. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

When:	29th Oct to 3rd Nov
Where:	His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen
Times:	Mon-Thu 19:30. Tue-Thu 14:00. Fri 17:00, 20:00. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

When:	12th Nov to 17th Nov
Where:	New Theatre, Cardiff
Times:	Mon-Thu 19:30. Tue-Thu 14:00. Fri 17:00, 20:00. Sat 14:00, 17:00, 20:00

 

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