Recent Press
Tuesday 03 December 2002
This is Bradford
Telegraph & Argus
Joseph's show is an amazing treat
by Jan Winter
Everyone has a favourite Joseph, whether it be megastar Jason Donovan, cute Philip Schofield or smiling Donny Osmond.
That's the trouble with seeing any production of the classic musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
But audiences at the Bradford Alhambra are in for a real treat this week with a great production of the show which began as a school play more than 30 years ago and still wows the public.
This was a pacy version of the classic, moving along at a real lick and camping it up in all the right places.
Norwegian-born Arvid Larsen, pictured, was a Joseph who became stronger and stronger as the evening wore on.
He played the part in this production two years ago and has returned under director Bill Kenworthy after taking the leading role in another Biblical opus, Jesus Christ Superstar. He grew from the boyish Joseph to a fully adult, masterful prince and had a great rapport with the audience.
Acting skills teamed with a good voice were a winning combination, although one small gripe was what seemed to be a slightly strange accent which I felt didn't help some of the songs along.
Narrator Vivienne Carlyle had an excellent voice and great stage presence and was another real strength of the show.
The brothers, too, were superb. I find it hard to see fully-grown men dressed in rainbow-coloured dungarees with their initials on the bib as menacing but they were a great team, and individually - playing other parts throughout the show - showed skill and character.
The Joseph Choir was made up of children from Heckmondwike's Young Showstoppers and they were immaculate throughout the performance.
The staging was slick and spectacular, with almost every scene a showstopper.
Dancing girls, fire-eaters, a motorbike, even a talking camel - it would give the forthcoming panto season a run for its money.
Sexy Elvis-style Pharoah was a delightfully svelte version, and his performance at the start of the second half was the trigger for an appreciative audience to become a full-on, cheering mass - staying that way for the rest of the show.
In common with millions across the country, I sang in my primary school's version of Joseph and it's been a long time since I felt any need to sing the harmony parts of Any Dream Will Do in public. But the entire audience joined in for the lengthy finale, with many standing to cheer at the performance's end.
Judging by the audience's reaction last night - the first in the run - this show will be absolutely rip-roaring by the end of the week.
A fine, feel-good tonic for the hectic pre-Christmas period and a ray of light in the dark December nights.
On until Saturday.
© Copyright 2002 Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company
