by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
The feel-good musical of the year opened last weekend at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre and will be on stage till November 25th. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat never fails to lift our spirits and there isn’t any better family entertainment in musical theater.
When Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber partnered to write Joseph in l968 as a 30-minute children’s show, they never dreamed it would go on to be a full-length show. It has broken box office records around the world and is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running touring musical production.
This is the story of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob (Tony Triano) and the jealousy of his brothers, who sell him into slavery and convince Jacob that he has been killed. Because of his ability to interpret dreams, Joseph rises to the second most powerful position in Egypt and eventually reunites with his family.
Director Tod Booth assembled a cast of outstanding voices to sing the nineteen snappy songs that include almost every style of music except opera.
One of the essentials for any successful production of this show is the narrator, and Heather Beirne is outstanding in this role. You may remember her Maria in the Alhambra’s Sound of Music several years ago; well I am pleased to report Ms. Beirne is singing better than ever.
You could not find a better Joseph than Xander Chauncey, whose marvelous voice will send shivers down your spine. His fantastic charisma just flows from the stage like the Nile River, and you will fall in love with him like all the young ladies from La Villa School of the Arts did. They are the children’s choirs performing behind the singers. In coming weeks, choirs from Eagle Academy, Jacksonville Country Day School, Oakleaf School and Orange Park Junior High School will perform for a week at a time. Under the direction of Laura T. Adkison, they are a wonderful addition to the show.
Choreographer Conrad De’Andrea has the eleven brothers dancing up a storm with a very polished professional look.
Always a hit is the appearance of “The King,” Elvis, as the Pharaoh played with all the right moves by Matthew Jay Campbell. He even passes out some of his famous scarves to a couple lucky audience members. By the sound of the applause, the most popular song of this particular evening was ‘Those Canaan Days’ featuring all the brothers, lead by the incredible voice and panache of Lee Hamby as Reuben.
The sets by David Dionne are campy and colorful and the scenery whips in and out at breakneck speed to keep this show fast paced. The designing sisters, Dorinda Grogan and Camala Pitts (better known as The Costume Crew) have designed and constructed the costumes for their first Alhambra show. The costumes are absolutely wonderful and I have a feeling they will be back in the future.
Rounding out this strikingly enthusiastic cast are, Adam Daveline, Nicholas Barnes, Jereme Raickett, Paul Betz, Mark Mayfield, Joshua Edwards, Zackary Bass and Maria DeSimone.
I highly recommend Joseph. It is a lot of fun, and has extraordinarily talented actors on the very intimate Alhambra Dinner Theatre Stage. Did I say it was fast-paced? You will find yourself on the way home by l0 o’clock, thoroughly satisfied with this marvelous production that has become a classic and a must-see for everyone, especially families.
The Alhambra is located at 12000 Beach Blvd. When you call for reservations ask about the special ticket price for children. Call 64l-1212 or visit their website at alhambradinnertheatre.com. Go Go Joseph!
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