The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at New Wimbledon

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at New Wimbledon | Theatre review
1 November 2013
Timothy Bano
Avatar
Timothy Bano
1 November 2013

There are few who are unable to hum a tune from this musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, especially after the revival reality TV show, Any Dream Will Do. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is now in its third year of touring, with the title role of Joseph being filled by Ian “H” Watkins, former member of Steps.

There are many children in the audience and the whole show is designed with them in mind: a children’s choir sits on-stage, the cast all wear wide smiles, and comic elements have been thrown in to give a pantomime feel.  The stage is very colourful, with big cartoonish sets in the shapes of sphinxes, palm trees and pyramids. Outlandish costumes adorn the singers – varying from skimpy, spangly skirts (even for the men) to flowing robes.

Ian “H” Watkins is bouncy and fun to watch, but his singing is not as good as it should be. Every note sounds like an effort, stretching the sinews in his neck. He over-enunciates every hard syllable and there is too much rubato so the flow of the very familiar melodies is lost.

The rest of the cast is impeccable: the group of brothers display incredibly tight vocals and choreography, working completely in unison. Jennifer Potts is stunning as the narrator, like the kind and gentle primary school teacher every child wished they had. Her voice is powerful and versatile and she gracefully weaves through the onstage action as the storyteller, observing and not interfering.

There is some sing-along from the audience and lots of people dancing in their seats or even standing up during the many, many false endings and encores. The children seem to love it, and even a few parents hum Go, Go, Go Joseph as they leave the auditorium.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a very silly musical thanks to its fusion of musical genres (encompassing disco, rock ‘n’ roll and calypso), its arch-campness and some extra ridiculous directorial touches, like inflatable sheep and a giant talking camel. An exercise in biblical hermeneutics this is not; a charming children’s romp, however, it very much is, and this production emphasises all its strengths to provide a visually dazzling, funny and heart-warming musical experience.

Timothy Bano

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 2nd November 2013. For further information or to book visit the show’s website here.

Related Itemsreview

More in Theatre

Live Lab at The Yard Theatre: An interview with associate director Cheryl Gallagher

Mersa Auda
Read More

We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online

★★★★★
Samuel Nicholls
Read More

We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks

Mersa Auda
Read More

Public Domain at Southwark Playhouse

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Unlimited Festival at the Southbank Centre: Centre stage for diversity

★★★★★
James Humphrey
Read More

RSC Next Generation: Young Bloods proves Shakespeare is timeless

Brooke Snowe
Read More

An interview with Ifrah Ismael: Tales from the Front Line and other stories

Selina Begum
Read More

A Livestream with David Bedella at Crazy Coqs Online

★★★★★
Regan Harle
Read More

Undercover at Morpheus Show Online

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Jeremiah Fraites – Piano Piano
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Female filmmakers lead nominees for the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards
    Cinema
  • The White Tiger
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks
    Theatre
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • 23 Walks
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Live Lab at The Yard Theatre: An interview with associate director Cheryl Gallagher
    Theatre
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • We Ask These Questions of Everybody: An interview with Amble Skuse and Toria Banks
    Theatre
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • WandaVision: Marvel’s charming sitcom proves an astounding success
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • The Queen’s Gambit: A chess story that’s not about the moves but the motives
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Undercover at Morpheus Show Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Gravity | Movie review
The Card Shark Show at the Royal Institution of Great Britain | Theatre review