Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat a musical staged by BOS Theatre Company at Southport Little Theatre, Hoghton Street, Southport on Wednesday, 24th May 2023

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is a ‘sung through musical’ written in 1968 featuring lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber which guides us through the journey of Joseph, the son of Jacob, his twelve brothers and his coat of many colours. Based on the Bible’s book of Genesis and originating from a cantata written for a school choir. ‘Joseph’ features iconic ‘pop songs’ and ‘musical theatre classics’ like ‘Any Dream will Do’, ‘Close Every Door to Me’ and ‘Go Go Joseph’. Joseph has now been performed on stage in 86 countries around the World and starred such people as Jason Donovan, Donny Osmond, Alexandra Burke, Sheridan Smith, to name but a few!  In 1999 ‘Joseph’ was shot as a film which ended up being released directly to video with a sensational cast led by Donny Osmond as Joseph, Maria Freidman as the Narrator and Richard Attenborough as Jacob. 

The Production Team… BOS Musical Theatre Company were due to stage ‘Joseph’ back in May 2020 but, due to ‘you know what’, it had to be postponed!  Three years hence, with a few cast changes but the same production team, this wonderful ‘sung through musical’ finally reached the stage here at Southport Little Theatre.  I suppose the question on everyone’s lips was…  “Was the wait worthwhile” …  WELL WITH EIGHT STANDING OVATIONS AT THE FINALE OF EIGHT SHOWS, DO I NEED TO SAY MORE!’ …   Liz Clarke (Director) Steve Chesters (Choreographer) and David Wall (Musical Director) should all be proud of what they helped achieve.  There was little doubt that the Production Team knew what they wanted from this production and were able to deliver!   The show flowed with impeccable ease, humour/storytelling evident throughout which enhanced the production so much and Liz should take credit for all that!   The production was full of inventive choreography … ‘big group numbers’, ‘smaller ensemble pieces’ and ‘some little gems’, especially the dance involving Lucy Brown and Robbie Dale which was amazing and brought the house down.  The  ‘mega mix’ finale was energy driven throughout… congrats Steve, great job sir.  David Wall brought together an orchestra which, under his guidance, was flawless throughout, accompanying the singers with effortless ease and enhancing this show ever so much… well done David… congrats you three, be ever so proud! 

The Cast …. I’ve attempted to start this section of my review so many times!  As most will know this is where I usually ‘stick my neck out’ and start selecting ‘show stealers’,  MY favourite performances, but I’ve finally come to the conclusion that there were ‘no individual stand out stars’ … this truly was a group of people coming together as one… the chemistry, the comradery, the togetherness was evident throughout… the effort, the energy and the enthusiasm was tangible… this truly was an ensemble piece with no weak links… so to say that someone was better than someone else would, in MY opinion, be wrong!  But, having said all that, I do feel I need to give some ‘shout outs’ … our leading man Craig Billington took on the role of ‘Joseph’ and played it ever so well… his renditions of the classics ‘Close Every Door’ and ‘Any Dream will Do’ where notable.  Heather Lewis was impeccable as the Narrator.  Not everyone could have come back so strongly after a ‘dodgy mike’ in the opening scene, but Heather delivered, delivered and delivered… many congrats Heather, great performance!   I think I would be right in suggesting that the ‘crowd favourite’ was none other than BOS’s answer to ‘Elvis’… Phil Power who took on the role of ‘Pharaoh’ and knocked it out the park! Congrats Phil great job sir!  Chris Gerring took on the role of ‘Jacob’, Nick Lloyd played ‘Potiphar’, Chloe Davies almost stopped the show when she arrived on stage in ‘that dress’ as Potiphar’s wife… I had a row of ladies sat in front of me… the ‘oohs and ha’s’ were like a ‘tidal wave’ along the row!  Brothers/Men … loved the individual characterisations, loved their involvement and the songs sung by the ‘Brothers’/Gents Chorus were outstanding especially… ‘Those Canaan Days’ which was a highlight from the show for me!   Alan Casserley – Rueben; Ian Lawson as Simeon (Doubled/Baker); Nick Lloyd as Levi (Doubled/Potiphar), Tom Hallsworth as Judah (Doubled/Jersey Boy); Robbie Dale as Dan (Doubled /Lead Dancer); Daniel Kings as Napthali; Carl Sedman as Gad (Doubled /Jersey Boy); Dominic Johnson as Issachar (Doubled/Butler); Luke Rimmer as Zebulan (Doubled /Jersey Boy); Harry Corcoran as Benjamin (Doubled/Jersey Boy) and Dave Sidey as a (Guard).  Wives/Handmaidens – again some fabulous involvement/dancing throughout - included Olivia Andrews, Bex Billington, Emily Blinkhorn, Lucy Brown, Angela Clark, Lucie Colman, Chloe Davies (Doubled as Mrs Potiphar); Wendy Harris, Rachael Perrett and Nicola Powell… well done ladies be proud of what you helped achieve!

CHILDRENS DREAMCHOIR… children’s chorus! OMG – this was so much more … they sang, they acted, they danced their hearts out… they were amazing and added so much to this production… Lola Birtles, Rylee-Hannah Bradshaw, Finlay Casserley, Isabelle Culshaw, Nathaniel Grills, Katy Watkins (Loved, loved, loved – the Camel); Amelia Hayes, Madelin Hutchings, Bryony Jones, Lucy Scott, Lucy Manchester and last, but certainly not least… Bella Cumia. I’ve left Bella to the end simply because, if there was a person on the planet, who’d enjoyed those two and half hours, between 7.30 and 10, more than Bella, then I need to meet them!  Bella, had the biggest smile, whether front and centre or anywhere… she sang, danced and acted her heart out… be ever so proud young lady… we could all learn the meaning of enjoyment from you!

Staging/Set/Tech… a terrific ultra-modern set was used throughout!  Aluminium trusses were used to create a ‘pyramid effect’ toward the rear of the stage.  A ‘video wall’ was used within the ‘pyramid shape’ that allowed images to be shown, which added so much to the overall effect … really impressive!  Lighting… the lighting was ‘top draw’ from ‘opening to finale’ and enhanced more or less every scene.  Sound… other than the ‘mike failure’ in the opening scene (live theatre folks… covered ever so well by Heather Lewis) the sound was, as always here at the Little Theatre, first rate!  So, congrats to Andrea Shacksmyth-Claire (Stage Manager), to Infinity Technical Services (Stage Management/Lighting/Sound) and to Dave Murray (Sound)… great job folks, busy show, you all did yourselves proud!

The Orchestra… under the guidance of David J Wall (Musical Director/Keys) included Janet Hitchen (Violin), Hannah Chappell (Cello); Sarah Dutch (Reed 1); Liam Lacey-Kiggins (Reid 2); Emma Lenehan (Horn); Paul Taft (Guitar); Adam Dutch (Bass) and Mike McKay (Drums).  Amazing sound, accompanied the singers with ease and aplomb… well done folks… great job!

Matrons … shows involving young people can’t happen without dedicated people offering their services to keep those children safe… so congrats and thanks to Gill Corcoran, Lesley Power and Hollie Power.

Costumes… supplied by Charades Theatrical Costume Hire from St Helens were superb and again enhanced the show so much… noteworthy costumes were the ones used in the Pharaoh’s scene … which were amazing!   Props…  which were apt and used ever so well were provided by the cast, friends of BOS and SDC.

If I can, I always have a ‘sneaky listen’ to what’s being said from those sat around me, comments made at the interval and the audience leave… a real good source of information!  The chat that evening was all centred around words like … amazing, wonderful, exciting, colourful, best yet!   MY feelings … thoroughly enjoyed everything that was thrown at us from opening to finale… a great number of gifted folk graced that stage, all of whom gave us their all and there’s very little more you can ask… be proud one and all, great job!  PS: my answer to the question “Was the wait worth it” … ‘FOR SURE’!

Folks, thank you so much for a wonderful evening … my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed.  Thanks to Anne Powell and Lesley Power for looking after us ever so well throughout the evening, really appreciated… can’t wait to see you all again at ‘Harvard’ for Legally Blonde!

“Stay Safe and Keep Well” …
‘Stronger Together!’

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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