[NEohioPAL] Review of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at PlayhouseSquare

Bob Abelman r.abelman at adelphia.net
Thu Mar 6 10:57:49 PST 2014


Energized, idol-ized 'Joseph' is living the dream

 Bob Abelman

Cleveland Jewish News

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics 

 

This review will appear in the Cleveland Jewish News on 3/7/14

 

Stunt casting is nothing new in the entertainment industry, but in these tough economic times it is all the rage on Broadway and in Broadway tours.  Hollywood stars and TV celebrities eager to expand their artistic horizons, rekindle a fading career or cash in on their newfound household name have been readily embraced by producers looking to boost flagging theater ticket sales.  

 

Recently, some great performances have surfaced on New York stages, including those turned in by Tom Hanks ("Lucky Guy"), Zachary Levi ("First Date"), Carla Gugino ("A Kid Like Jake") and Cuba Gooding Jr. ("The Trip to Bountiful").  

 

Some train wrecks have occurred as well, starring Kathie Lee Gifford ("Scandalous"), Orlando Bloom ("Romeo and Juliet"), and Jennifer Westfeldt ("The Explorer's Club").  And Jesse Eisenberg ("The Revisionist").   And Katie Holmes ("Dead Accounts").  Stunt casting is not without risks.

 

Some shows are particularly conducive to celebrity sightings, with "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" being the poster child.  After all, pop star Donny Osmond played the title role in the Toronto revival and U.S. national tour in the 1990s, followed by a series of soap opera stars, members of famous entertainment families, and pop singers.


So it is no surprise that the latest national tour of "Joseph,"  which is currently at PlayhouseSquare, is spearheaded by fifth-season "American Idol" contestant Ace Young as Joseph and third-season "American Idol" runner-up Diana Nicole DeGarmo as the Narrator.  

 

"Joseph" was written in the late-1960s by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who were in their early-20s at the time.  

 

Inexperienced at creating clever plots or developing intriguing storylines, Webber and Rice borrowed from the Old Testament.  "Joseph" is a non-religious rip-off of the Book of Genesis story of Jacob and his twelve sons, where favorite son Joseph is abruptly separated from his family, everyone encounters an assortment of trials and tribulations, and everyone is once again united. 

 

Still working on finding a distinctive musical voice to call their own, Webber and Rice don't provide one for "Joseph."  Rather, the play offers a variety of well established and highly recognizable styles including pop, country western, burlesque, and reggae.

 

Not yet confident at creating dialogue, Webber and Rice don't write any.  "Joseph" is more of a musical procession than a play - a veritable parade of musical numbers with each loosely tied to the simple story and filled with clever lyrics. 

 

As such, it is familiar, easily digestible, family-friendly fare that can be readily commandeered by those untrained in the theater arts but well-schooled in showmanship.

 

But is this new tour, which is being launched in our fair city, a solid rendition of this popular musical?  Does it offer anything unique when compared to previous stagings?  Let's go to the judges (well, the judges in my head).

 

Pop Singer/Choreographer Paula Abdul:  "'Idol' is all about turning raw talent into a marketable commodity, and Young and DeGarmo are as marketable as it gets.  They have the "Idol" stage presence that comes from performing in front of a live studio audience and millions watching at home.  They exude the 'Idol' charm and flash the 'Idol' smile as if stored in muscle memory.  And they unabashedly put on display the good looks and vocal gifts that allowed them to rise in the food chain of reality show competition.  In short, they have the goods to carry this show."

 

Record Producer Randy Jackson:  "And, dude, they are surrounded by an ensemble that delivers all that the pretty leads with pop-star voices do not.  They are well trained stage singers and talented dancers, dawg, that exuberantly execute the combination of classic, modern and hip hop movement provided by director/choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler.  In fact, several of their musical numbers - particularly "One More Angel in Heaven," featuring Brian Golub, and "Those Canaan Days," featuring Broadway veteran Paul Castree, nearly steal the show.  

 

And everything is surrounded by dynamic production values that jump-start every musical number and offer something that past productions do not.  Starting with the overture and continuing throughout the play, an array of colorful, animated images are projected on drapes that surround the stage, on the characters' brilliant costuming, and on assorted set pieces to create motion, establish location and add vitality and technicolor to everything.  Kudos to visual designers Beowulf Boritt, Howell Binkley, Jennifer Caprio, and Daniel Brodie.  This show offers endless eye-candy."     

 

Music Executive and professional s.o.b. Simon Cowell:  "OK, but this is certainly no "Phantom." I suppose that for what "Joseph" is - a big, eager-to-entertain, musical extravaganza - it will do.  Should it continue on to Chicago and perform at the Cadillac Palace Theatre?  I vote yes, but America will have to decide for itself."
 
WHAT:            "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat"
WHERE:        Palace Theatre, PlayhouseSquare in downtown Cleveland 

WHEN:           Through Sunday, March 16

TICKETS:       $10 - $75, call 216-241-6000 or visit www.playhousesquare.com.
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