Don't let the use of the logo from the 1993 revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Andrew Lloyd Webber/> and Tim Rice's first collaboration) fool you into thinking this is a reproduction of that show. Far from it - and in all the right ways. This new national tour of Joseph is an amazing (well, I had to use the word) hybrid of the original 1982 Broadway version and the revival. The show that opened last night at Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre is a breath of fresh air. Joseph is the first don't-miss of 2006!
Director Dallett Norris gets what other directors of this popular tuner seem to always miss. He keeps the quiet, sincere moments quiet (a stunningly underplayed, exquisite "Any Dream Will Do", which nicely bookends the evening), the campy moments campy, but not excessive (the sexy, slinky Apache dancing waitress and fly (yes, fly!) in "Those Canaan Days"), and the loud, fun numbers ("Song of the King") loud, fun, and best of all, eye-popping. Rarely do all of the design elements of a show come together with such focus and unity as they do here: the witty, colorful costumes (designer uncredited in the Playbill), the alternately mesmerizing and rock concert-exciting lighting designed by Rick Belzer, and the dazzling, tongue-in-cheek scenic design by James Fouchard. Not one move (fun, creative and certainly athletic) choreographed seamlessly by Arlene Phillips ever seems stale, and always looks like such a good time, one wants to charge the stage and join the gifted, versatile ensemble. It should be noted that this is the rare production of this piece that fully utilizes the female ensemble.Videos