“JOSEPH and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on stage at GWC. Photo courtesy of GWC Theater
By Michelle Woodhouse
Western Sun staff writer
Golden West College’s theater department brought Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic rock opera “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” to life on Friday May 6, the official opening night of the production’s week and a half long run.
A true opera, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is a contemporary comical spin on the Biblical story of Joseph. His story is told in song as the narrator leads us through the saga of a young man with the ability to interpret dreams.
Given a fantastic coat of many colors by his father, Jacob, who favors him above all his children, Joseph incurs the wrath of his eleven jealous brothers who kidnap him and sell him into slavery, with him serving as a household slave to the wealthy Potiphar in Egypt.
Falsely accused of trying to seduce Potiphar’s wife, Joseph is thrown in to prison, where he meets and deciphers the dreams of two fellow prisoners.
Word travels fast and soon the Pharaoh of Egypt, troubled by dreams no one else has been able to make sense of, comes to Joseph for help. Joseph prophesizes seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Grateful for Joseph’s warnings, the Pharaoh makes him one of the most powerful men in Egypt.
The story concludes with Joseph’s brothers, suffering from famine, coming to Egypt in search of food. Remembering their past actions against him, Joseph sets up a test for his brothers to see if they have changed their ways.
Set design was a delight to behold, not only in adding to the story, but in that any subtle changes to be made within a scene were done without distracting from the actors on stage. Set changes were accomplished seamlessly, with only brief periods of black outs while new backdrops were set up. The lighting was excellent both for the performers on stage and as part of the set, with vivid colors making a serene horizon throughout the story. Props brought this 1970’s classic into the present with laptops and bored wives thumbing through issues of Vogue.
The choreography was good, although at times it looked a little crowded due to the number of performers on stage. As all dialogue is sung, often in chorus, it was difficult to hear key parts of the plot in some numbers, leaving you scrambling to put it all together if you were unfamiliar with the story to begin with.
Of the most memorable numbers: “Go, Go, Go, Joseph” a pop number reminiscent of The Brady Bunch, “Those Canaan Days” a French ballad parody, and the hilarious “Benjamin Calypso” lead by a maraca shaking Michael Gallardo.
Tony Graham, as the lead Joseph, was a magnetic presence on stage, and his ability to convey different emotions through song was notable. The talented Katie Del Vecchio, whose pitch never seemed to waver, performed the role of the Narrator. She brought high energy into every scene.
This is a tongue-in-cheek re-telling, so there is high camp that might at times toe the line of cheesiness, but overall manages to really engage audience members.
The costuming combined bible chic with contemporary fashions such as Converse high top sneakers. The effect adds to the whimsical nature of the dance numbers on stage. The wigs worn by ensemble cast members left something to be desired, looking thrashed and ill fitted. Whether or not this was intentional, it was distracting.
The coat of many colors was exactly as you might picture it, long and colorful, almost a character in the story itself. During the finale, a sequined layer was exposed which definitely lived up to expectations.
“Joseph” was well received by audience members. Jessica Pearce, a student at Golden West, shared her thoughts “It exceeded my expectations. It was colorful and fun.”
Martie Ramm, director and choreographer, said, “I was thrilled with the performance and the hard work of our cast and crew has really paid off, I couldn’t be happier.”
“Joseph” is definitely worth seeing. The show will run until May 15. Tickets and show times are available online at www.gwctheater.com
