[NEohioPAL] Mercury's 'Joseph' - a different perspective

[SAVvystars1 at aol.com]

I have been intrigued reading the comments about Mercury Summer Stock's  
production of "Joseph" for a number of reasons, mostly because I was holding  
tickets for tonight's production.   Now that I have seen it, I feel  
compelled to add my own two cents...with a bit of a unique perspective.
 
First of all, like so many of you, I have seen "Joseph" more than a dozen  
times...ranging from children's community theater to the 'Donny Osmond' 
version  to performances at the National Theater in Washington, DC.  I happen  
to love the music...so although the productions varied in talent level, they 
all  were pretty much equally enjoyable to me.   
 
Here's the unique perspective part -- I have long been an Andrew Lloyd  
Webber fan, and I, as a working broadcast journalist, was fortunate enough  to 
dine with Sir Andrew at the National Press Club in Washington more  than a 
decade or so ago.  He was asked many questions about his  successes including 
"Joseph" and the surprising (to him) longevity it has  had.  The one thing 
that stuck with me was when he was asked about  variations of his creations 
and whether he ever tired of seeing his shows in  performance.  With a 
smile, he noted that he wished there was more  "creativity" out there...and loved 
when he saw a new "twist" on something or  more "innovation" with existing 
productions.  
 
As I sat at the Brooks Theatre at the Cleveland Play House tonight watching 
 the exceptional performance, I couldn't help but remember that  
conversation.  My nine-year-old son who accompanied me to tonight's  performance 
wouldn't know Mae West from Charlie Chaplin...but that didn't stop  him from 
laughing heartily and understanding the story that he was still  reminiscing 
about an hour after the car ride home.   He was perhaps  more intrigued by this 
production because of the beautifully created  black and white costuming, 
the complexities of the set, props and moving  camera, and the clever 
interplay by all of the cast members  playing the narrators, rather than just 
having a single storyteller.    And as far as the "balloon-popping"....it was his 
favorite part...not just  because he's a child and likes balloons (he has 
been on the stage since birth  and appreciates good theater!)...but because 
of the 'new twist', the  'creativity', the 'innovation' of it all.  Sir 
Andrew would be proud.
 
Go for any of the aforementioned items; go for the amazing choreography by  
Director Pierre Jacques-Brault (how he is able to create such a visual  
masterpiece on such a small stage boggles the mind); go for the music 
re-created  so masterfully by this wonderfully talented and effervescent cast and  
orchestra...just 'go, go, go see it'.....you'll leave with a smile on your  
face.
 
I have no doubt Sir Andrew would too.
 
###
 
 
Staci Vincent
 
 
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