Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

I was surprised that when I checked Joseph was first performed 56 years ago in 1968 and I have seen various versions over those years but I wondered how relevant and relatable it would to a youth group today. Of course, I was not to be disappointed as always Avalon rise to any challenge and created an outstanding piece of theatre from start to finish!!

As a youth group you produce an evening’s entertainment that is of a professional standard, in fact I have viewed professional shows that should have watched you perform. The 36 children on stage are privileged to work with a positive artistic team who have extremely high standards and every one of them raise their game to match this positivity and therefore all gain so much from the experience. I feel that became very evident when I was told ‘what a joy it was to work with such wonderfully positive hard-working children’ and my comment of ‘they get it from you’ was brushed aside. I would like to reinforce this statement forcibly if your team with Gemma at the head did not create the supportive, positive, atmosphere the show wouldn’t be the same.

As always, your audience’s experience begins at the door with a variety of statues, images and all the front of house team beautifully attired. This continued within the hall with either side of the stage adorned with stylised homes in Cannan with draped rooves and doors, wooden slatted windows, pots, palms and cushions. The curtain had Avalon Youth Theatre projected on it. It was interesting to see that a slope had been joined to the front of the stage this year and I awaited to how it was utilised.

We waited for the curtain to open to see what your wonderfully creative set builders had made this year and we were not disappointed. The stage was set at two levels with steps between them. There were beautifully decorated pillars around the stage, fireplaces and it was draped with a variety of pieces of material and a carpet at the back. These all soften the set and made it feel very homely. The floor had different groupings of players some sat on cushions. There were various baskets and ‘washing’ hung around which were removed and used excellently by the cast. The set was then transformed into Potiphar’s home no longer rustic drapes but more regal ones in black and purple edged in gold but the most stupendous transformation was at the beginning of the second act. Pharoah’s palace just blew everyone away. There were audible gasps around me and the audience began to clap. In front of us was like a film set with so much detail we didn’t know where to look first. Egyptians’ figures have been added in strategic areas on the upper level and behind his throne and a most elaborate ‘beetle’ above it. Hieroglyphs had been added to the front of the steps and prongs added around the fireplaces. The addition of the slope on the front of the stage gave you another level to work with and it was used extremely well throughout the performance. You are truly blest that you have within your company people with the vision to be able to create a set that can be changed to look like three completely different places. An additional useful item used this year was the cloth which was pulled across on the upper layer by the older members of your cast. The multicoloured curtain added a sense of celebration to the finale.

The props used throughout the show brought authenticity to the scenes, they all looked like they had been purchased in the middle east. The 3D birds on sticks were cleverly used, the snake, the goat, the guards’ shields, the staffs and the confetti canon all added to the musical but the prop that got the biggest reaction was the brilliantly created camels, they looked so real and they plodded across the stage in the first half and ran in the second half, they certainly had a feel of the horses in War Horse.

The soundtrack was set at an appropriate level from our position on the raked seating, although I did hear some comments from those who sat on the hall floor that it was very loud. The children’s radio mics were well balanced and all those singing principal parts could be heard although Jacob was a little quiet this could have been because of his beard. The lighting was excellent adding detail and pathos to the scenes throughout. The projection of the prison bars onto the steps in front of Joseph was great and colour wash at the end excellent.

Your costume team must have spent many hours creating your numerous outfits there were so many changes and all well-fitting. It was wonderful to see the thought that had been taken to create outfits which were appropriate to the scenes from the earthy tones in the opening number, the regal shades of purple, blue with green, white and black in Potiphar’s place, the simple plain shifts in the prison to the highly decorated elaborate outfits in the Pharaoh’s palace.  The added detail of collars, wrist cuffs, headwear etc all added to the overall effect. The scarves on the wrists at the end and the cow and corn headdresses in ‘Go, Go Joseph’ added detail  and of course lastly the hand crafted ‘Cloak’ was exceptional! I understand it was made out of all the scraps you had left it was a triumph, outstanding! It was also good to see that footwear and hairstyles had been taken into account.

The variety of dance types during the show were brilliant from small group to whole company routines, from upbeat numbers to a hoedown.  All of the dances had been well choreographed and rehearsed and all the players within them knew exactly what they were expected to do.  There was some very complicated armography and Egyptian moved within some numbers which must have taken time to perfect.  I noticed the subtle arm movements made by the cast standing on the side of the stage in ‘Grovel, Grovel’.  The group tableaus at the end of some numbers were brilliant and the dancing in the megamix at the end gave the impression that random, which it obviously wasn’t because each member of your cast knew their next position on the stage.

This show being a ‘sung through musical’ has no dialogue spoken the whole story is sung therefore the cast have an enormous task on their hands and your company came up trumps. All those performing sang with passion, energy and clear diction. I am sure that if a member of the audience did not know the story of Joseph, they would have easily been able to follow it. All the words were delivered clearly and the harmonies were heard and the various emotions were evident during the performance.

The young actor who has the biggest role to play in this production was the Narrator and your player was exceptional. She sang with so much passion and feeling, danced brilliantly and was a quick-change artist. This was the first time I had seen the Narrator with complimentary outfit during the first act but I think it added to the performance. A tour de force performance!

Joseph was portrayed by an actor who I found out is usually classed more as a dancer than singer. Well, you would never have known. ‘He’ looked the part in a plain shift which ensured ‘he’ stood out from the rest and I was pleased to see the added detail when his position of power changed. The part entails being able to demonstrate all the emotions that Joseph goes through from being his father’s favourite, interpreting his dreams to his brothers and sold by his brothers, being a slave, thrown into prison and eventually being in a position of power. All this had to be delivered through song and ‘he’ moved extremely well also. ‘Close Every Door’ and ‘Any Dream Will Do’ were brilliant. The performance ‘he’ gave was an impressive achievment!

The brothers had to sing and dance their way through a variety of situations through the show many of which they had created. Their costumes all had subtle differences which showed their individual characters. Although classed as a group they all needed to have their own personalities which yours did with aplomb, lots of sideway glances and gestures which aided their delivery. They feature in ten songs as brothers and Reuben, Simeon and Judah have solo lines. All the group sang tunefully with feeling and moved with ease. I really enjoyed ‘One More Angel in Heaven’ and ‘Those Canaan Day’ with French accents. Well done all.

 Accompanying the brothers in many numbers were Jacob’s family members. They all interacted well with the other members of the group and moved and sang well.

Those members of your cast depicting the Ishmaelites did so in a calm manner. The paid the brothers tied Joseph to the camel and sedately took him to Egypt.

Jacob is a difficult part for a young person to depict, he is meant to be well over 100 years old which is a stretch for an adult to portray. Your actor had been dressed well with an impressive wig and beard and tried hard to show his age by stooping when walking with his staff and it was great to see him stand up straight and throw his staff away in Jacob in Egypt when the ensemble sang ‘so Jacob came to Egypt no longer feeling old’.

Potiphar appeared on the stage beautifully attired in purple and black with and imposing staff and a fantastic hat. He maintained his upright stance of a powerful and rich Egyptian throughout his performance. He showed his kindness and displeasure with Joseph and his frustration with his disobedient wife. I understand from your director you would rather act than sing but I’m hoping that the fantastic performance you did this year will give you confidence to sing more solo parts.

What a scheming minx Mrs Potiphar is, she is determined to get what she wants and; in this musical; it is Joseph. This is often a difficult part for a young person to play but I thought your actor did a grand job. She looked the part and worked well with Joseph during the seduction scene.

The Baker and Butler, both Pharaoh’s servants, find themselves incarcerated in prison with Joseph, where his talents for interpreting dreams are called upon by them. Both these young players looked correct in their black costumes, sang well and reacted clearly to Joseph’s pronouncements. The Butler also delivered the information to Pharoah clearly.

The last member of the cast I need to mention is young man who played the role of Pharaoh. We waited with anticipation to see how he was attired and I was delighted to see that he had a traditional blue and white outfit of cloak, a shendyt around his waist and a nemes on his head. He created a fantastic character demonstrated his weaknesses with his cuddly camel, his true belief in his power and faith in Joseph. His singing voice emulated the iconic Elvis interpretation with the correct accent.

Finally, I need to mention all your other members who played numerous roles with excellent movement, great acting skills, and singing. You as a company demonstrate such wonderful chemistry and togetherness. You put in so much effort, energy and enthusiasm into every production and I swear this all comes from your brilliant director and creative team who spend so much time teaching you all the skills needed to produce a show of such an outstanding level and may I say this is not just my view both the President and Vice President of NODA were blown away.

The evening’s entertainment you gave us all was joyful ,with so many well know songs, from the beginning to the exuberant Mega-mix at the end.

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.