Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

After having to postpone this production, it was fantastic to finally visit Alderley & Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company to see their production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’. Directed by Jean Clarke, this production was staged traditionally. Costumes were traditional, with a hint of modernity, such as Pharaoh’s light up trainers. Joseph’s coat was great, especially the extension to it. The lights in the coat were a nice touch as well, giving it a magical feel. There was a static set, which looked impressive and was utilised well throughout. The stairs and higher platform gave the opportunity for different levels and created some nice stage pictures, especially when we arrived in Egypt. The direction from Jean was secure, with good blocking. There were some nice elements throughout, such as the camel, which drew laughter from the audience. The characterisations were good, and there were good bonds formed between the characters. You believed the brothers were actual brothers. The storytelling from the entire cast was very good, and the story was told clearly by all.

Ed Nurse took the baton as musical director, and led the orchestra well throughout. Ed is very familiar with the score, and this was evident in the confident way that the orchestra played. The vocals from the cast were also very good and of a high standard throughout.

The choreographer was Rebecca Davies, who also appeared in the production. Rebecca had thought about the choreography, created routines that could be performed in a relatively small space. The choreography was full of energy and delivered well by the cast.

Technical elements were generally good throughout the production. The lighting design was good, with a great use of colours used. Different areas of the stage were lit, which drew the audience’s attention to the action happening. The sound balance between the orchestra and performers was good. There appeared to be some interference with the mics at time, which impacted the sound quality.

Taking on the title role was Myles Ryan. Myles was the quintessential Joseph. He looked the part and certainly had the pop energy that this part needs. He was able to deliver the more emotional moments of the show well. Myles created a good partnership with Sophie, and they worked well together to tell the story.

Sophie Lord delivered the standout performance of this production, as the Narrator. Her vocal clarity and diction was exemplary – every single word could be heard. Sophie delivered the story very well and moved the story along with ease. Sophie had a twinkle in her eye, and it was clear how much fun she was having in this role. An excellent leading performance.

Alex Connolly stole the show as Pharaoh. Alex looked like he was enjoying the role, and he certainly provided lots of laughs. The styling of the character was great, and Alex delivered his numbers very well indeed. The knowing looks to the audience were very funny. Great job!

David Lambert was well cast as Jacob. He looked the part and created good relationships with his sons. Bill Brown did well as Potiphar. He certainly showed his status, and gave a good performance.

The ensemble of brothers were well cast and a cohesive unit, with some great individual performances. Gareth Baddeley (Reuben) had fantastic stage presence and drew the eye instantly. His performance of ‘One More Angel in Heaven’ was great! Katy Thomason-Stewart (Simeon) led the brothers well in ‘Those Canaan Days’, as did Edward Needham (Judah) in ‘Benjamin Calypso’. Derek Swain and Scott Walker also performed as Baker and Butler respectively. They worked well together, and created good characters.

The ensemble of wives was well used throughout. With no children’s choir, this ensemble took on that role as well. They also appeared as dancers throughout as well. Everyone was invested in what they were doing and performed very well, helping to move the story along.

Overall, this was a good production. The staging was good, the vocals were great, and there were some great individual performances.

A big thank you to everyone at Alderley & Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company for their kind invite and their hospitality.

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