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This is South Devon

DREAMCOAT OF A SHOW

19 June 2002

THERE'S something about musicals - you either love them or hate them.

Fortunately the production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Torquay's Princess Theatre was loved by the audience.

From the opening notes of scene one to the rousing final crescendo the near-packed theatre was enthralled by this slick rendition of Rice and Webber's much loved masterpiece.

First staged professionally in 1972 the musical based on the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers has entertained audiences around the world for 30 years.

Directed by Bill Kenwright, well known as a director of Everton Football Club, and with a cast of tried and tested stage performers this production combined humour and feeling in equal measures.

Jonathan Ball, was a safe pair of hands in the lead role of Joseph.

He filled the role previously played by such musical luminaries as Philip Schofield and Jason Donovan with relish.

Alternating subtle humour with musical power Mr Ball ably held the spotlight as the linchpin of the show.

His renditions of Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do had the audience singing and clapping along with gusto.

He was well backed up by the rest of the cast and choir.

Vivenne Carlyle kept proceedings moving along as the narrator.

And Andy Lingfield as Pharaoh nearly stole the show with his rendition of the audience's favourite, Song of the King.

They were standing in the aisles and cheering him on to sing an encore.

This was a tight, professional production guided by the experienced hand of Bill Kenwright's direction.

But the real stars of the show are the songs themselves. It doesn't seem to matter just who is performing them.

Audiences seem to love the mix of pop, calypso and musical comedy in Joseph. And this production certainly was a crowd pleaser.

Many people seemed reluctant to leave when the final curtain fell.

If you like your musicals bright and funny go along to the Princess Theatre and watch Joseph.

And be prepared to sing-a-long - you may not be able to stop yourself anyway.

The Grand Theatre, Blackpool,

22 - 3 August 2002

A dream of a show!

by Marion Ainge

ANY sunshine dream will do -- and this summer you can see a rainbow of a show at Blackpool's Opera House.

After more than 30 years on the stage, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a legendary melée of mind-blowing music and colourful fun.

And Bill Kenwright's production is a dream-machine of non-stop action, familiar melodies, surprises and laughter to suit all ages.

A "reap what you sow" message runs through the biblical tale which begins with Jacob's gift of a dazzling coat to his favourite son, Joseph. This leads to jealousy, betrayal, slavery, imprisonment, recognition, success and revenge.

But there's no real darkness in a story which portrays forgiveness as a shining light and feet were tapping and hands were soon clapping along to Any Dream Will Do and One More Angel.

Jonathan Ball, as dream-teller, Joseph, replaces the billed Graham Tudor who pulled out with a bronchial infection at the last minute.

Jon's infectious personality, cheeky smile and West End theatre voice charmed the audience and he evoked a strong sense of drama with his powerfully emotional Close Every Door To Me. But the moment this blond spiky-haired, stocky Joseph cowered before the mighty Pharaoh, it was pure Freddie Starr meets Elvis.

Trevor Jary as Pharaoh Presley was a smouldering, snarling send-up -- a knight in a white satin jumpsuit who made the audience beg for a rocking good encore.

Effervescent Vivienne Carlyle served up a bubby, polished performance as the narrator and Joseph's all-singing, all-dancing eleven brothers offered strong vocal harmonies and good characterisations.

James Head was a benign Jacob who leapt into action and a pair of dungarees plus straw hat to join his bunch of red-neck sons at the hilarious hoe down. And they switched from southern drawl to French accents, striped tops and berets for the Parisienne-influenced Those Canaan Days. The Joseph choir comprised children from the Blackpool's Stagecoach theatre school.

There were fire-eaters, deliciously camped-up Egyptian slaves, kitsch 70s go-go dancers in lime-green flared catsuits, posh-talking camels, a butler who could have been John Cleese and a budding curly-haired Michael Ball. There was also more than one Joseph. Franciscan monk, Francis Morrison, 25, was in the front row of the theatre, clad in full-length multi-coloured striped dreamcoat, gold boots and glitter belt.

Francis travelled from Edinburgh to watch his 142nd performance of the show. A part-time DJ and youth worker, he has been following the show for 15 years. "I'm a real Joseph fan," says Francis. "There's nothing like it."