Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has been around for 50 years but still provides companies with a fresh, lively and enjoyable show to this day.  It was a great choice for KYMT who, due to the renovations happening in their normal home theatre, had to move to a nearby church venue with all the staging challenges that provided.  KYMT rose to those challenges admirably with curtained off areas at each side of the stage for costume changes and benches in front of the curtains where those not on stage could sit and still feel part of the production and add to the singing.  

The show from the start was energetic and colourful with the stage area used well by the 40 plus cast. The costumes and lighting added to the colour with the white ceiling of the church being used to good effect for moving, colour changing lighting effects. The sound, although loud, was well balanced with the singers heard against the music backing track.  

It is difficult to include all the principals in a show but in this instance, several need to be named. On the evening I was there, Joseph Paton played the part of Joseph with a quiet confidence and a strong singing voice. Jack Kitchen and Gabe Gilfillan played Jacob and Reuben respectively. Again, singing and acting with obvious enjoyment. It is noted that they swap roles on alternate nights, hopefully not getting mixed up by mistake. Emilie Hastie and Grace Gilfillan played the roles of Potiphar and his wife superbly.  All credit also goes to a gyrating, gold lamé embellished, Elvis impersonating Pharaoh, Cerys Paton.  I’m sure as my friend who was with me commented; when this Elvis leaves the building it will be to much greater things. Splitting the role of narrator between four people worked well with Emma and Louise Balfour, Sophie Fenelon and Kristy Tollick providing clear links between the various scenes. All the principals were well supported by the other brothers, wives and young people with well thought out choreography which managed to fit the stage area without it seeming overcrowded. Congratulations to the Production Team as a whole!  Mention has to be made of the camel who managed to walk across the stage twice without tripping up. Great costume!  

A thoroughly enjoyable evening had by all as was evidenced by the standing ovation at the end and the huge smiles of all on stage. Well done and I look forward to seeing what you do next year.   

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