THEY say the old ones are the best and this production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat certainly proves the case.
This was the fourth time my family has seen this hit musical but we never tire of it.
Story continues In fact, this latest touring show was fresh and vibrant and was probably one of the best Joseph productions we have seen.
For those who haven't seen it, the musical is the retelling of the Bible story of Joseph, his 11 brothers and the coat of many colours. From start to finish, it's packed full of unforgettable songs, including Any Dream Will Do, Close Ev'ry Door To Me and One More Angel.
Joseph was first performed on March 1, 1968, at a school in London. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice had been commissioned by the school's headmaster to create an original musical piece for the end-of-term concert.
The result was the first version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which was just 15 minutes long. Over the years the musical was expanded and the record-breaking production which opened at the London Palladium on June 12, 1991, starring Jason Donovan ran for more than two years. Since then many big names have played the role of Joseph, including Phillip Schofield and Darren Day.
This time round, Craig Adams is the man wearing the Technicolor Dreamcoat - and what a good choice he was for the part. The only slight concern was when my six-year-old son Joe pointed out that he has dark hair when Joseph should really be blond!
For us, the star of the show was Marlon Moore as Elvis/Pharoah. He delivered a high-energy performance and had everyone singing and clapping along.
The cast were superbly supported by the talented young stars of the future from the local Mark Jermin Stage School. The costumes were dazzling, particularly the Technicolor Dreamcoat, the sets were amazing and the music was fantastic.
And if the applause was anything to go by, Joseph will still be around for years to come.
FORGET Jason Donovan, the new Joseph is the perfect mix of pop heart-throb, world-famous rock star and that "Je ne sais quoi" that makes him perfect for the role.
Mention the title role - from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - and many people instantly think of Aussie actor Donovan, who starred as the Biblical dreamer in the late 1980s. Others to have played Joseph include Philip Schofield, Donny Osmond, Darren Day and H from Steps.
But new kid on the block Craig Adams is perfect to play the part in the 21st century, says Henry Metcalfe, the co-director and choreographer of the Bill Kenwright production which comes to North Wales as part of a national tour next week.
"He's absolutely correct as a 2005 Joseph," says 61--year-old Metcalfe, who has worked on a string of West End smashes and also plays Joseph's father Jacob in the production. He adds: "The Jason Donovan image was very pretty, he was right for the 80s, but Craig's very beautiful but in a very, very characterful way." Of Adams, who was in the international tour cast of Abba-inspired musical Mamma Mia! earlier this year, and has also appeared in Coronation Street, Casualty and Hollyoaks, Metcalfe continues: "He's not like an actor or a singer playing Joseph, he actually becomes the part. "He's got a bit of early David Essex when he was very beautiful, a bit of Steve Tyler from Aerosmith to rough it up - mix the two of them together, add a little bit of an impish charm and that's the man. "The very first requirement for a Joseph is 'do they look like a Joseph?'. You see a picture of them when they send their CV with short-back-and-sides looking like Leonard Rossiter and you know they're not the right type of guy. "The right type is a young boy, fresh-faced and excitable.
Looks are important in a Joseph because he's got to lead that show, but the most important thing is a very good vocal range. The finding of the Joseph is very much concerned with how marketable they are - you get hundreds sending their CVs but when it comes to the audition there's always one that makes you say 'Oh my God we've just seen Joseph'."
The show, which is loosely based on the Bible story, charts the rise and fall of Jacob's favourite of 12 sons, Joseph, who is blessed with a talent for interpreting dreams and has a very natty dress-sense. The show was first aired in 1967 as an end-of-school-term production, but has been one of the most enduring hits on the West End for nearly 40 years. So, what is its appeal?
"It's a phenomenon," says Metcalfe. "The theme tune says it all: Any dream will do. It's got to do with human aspiration, it's also a story of local boy makes good, it's got to do with the feeling of familial love, treachery, forgiveness. "Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph are Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber's finest works. It has no pretensions to be important and that's part of the success. But most of all, it's a damn good story."
There is only one word to describe the current production of Joseph at the Congress Theatre - stunning.
I grew up with Joseph and have seen more productions of this show than I have had hot dinners but I have never seen one so visually beautiful.
The colours of Nick Richings' lighting design are quite amazing and Sean Cavanagh has designed a great set.
Joseph stands or falls on the performance of the Narrator and Bill Kenwright has found a real gem in Amanda Claire who played the role in London's West End.
Craig Adams is well cast as Joseph and really gets the audience going at the end.
Associate director Henry Metcalfe also plays Jacob/Potiphar and is responsible for the first-class choreography.
