For its second show of the season, the Wick Theatre journeys back to Biblical times to bring modern audiences the high-energy, music- and dance-filled tale of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob from the Book of Genesis, and the young man’s many adventures – good and bad — in a family-oriented, fit-for-the-holidays story called Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Told entirely in song, the performance is helmed by capable director Simon Coulthard who gathers an awesomely talented cast blessed with noteworthy vocal, acting and dance skills. All these attributes meld seamlessly during a two-act show that fills the stage with intricate movement, memorable music and eye-catching scenery.
The production stars Broadway actor Stephen Christopher Anthony as Joseph, performing in his Wick debut. The actor who portrayed Joseph up north excels on the local stage as well.
Regional favorite and Wick regular Leah Marie Sessa plays the narrator, who effortlessly sings much of the extensive storyline with incredible talent. She is also visibly active in just about every scene.
Coulthard doubles as choreographer – and gets a leg-up from assistant choreographer Cat Pagano. Together, they make sure the stage is filled with stylish footwork that blends perfectly with the players’ acting and musical skills. Renowned Bobby Peaco returns as music director.
Based loosely on an Old Testament story, Dreamcoat was created by a duo famed for turning out many popular tune-driven productions — lyricist Tim Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (Jesus Christ, Superstar; Evita, among others)
Dreamcoat made its first public appearance as a 15-minute pop cantata, then underwent a series of modifications until it took to the stage in full modern format in 1974. The show moved to Broadway in 1982 and has generated major revivals, and morphed into a 1999 direct-to-video movie starring Donny Osmond.
Dreamcoat’s soundtrack offers a mélange of varied musical styles: rock ‘n’ roll (“Go, Go, Go, Joseph”); country and western (“One more angel in heaven,” the tale of Joseph’s phony demise) and one calypso number, among other genres.
When he’s brought in as Pharaoh in Act II, Aaron Atkinson stands out by executing a scene-stealing, over-the-top performance as a campy Elvis in the “Song of Kings.” Definitely a crowd favorite.
The narrator opens the show by introducing Joseph, the dreamer (“Prologue”), who sings “Any Dream Will Do.” Though it initially lacks depth, the tune’s importance gains definition when Joseph sings it again in the finale.
To demonstrate his love for Joseph, Jacob presents him with “a coat of many colors.” Joseph is ecstatic with the multi-hued frock that makes him “a walking work of art.” But the loving connection between father and son ignites bitterness and jealousy among his 11 envious brothers who put Joseph through a nightmare of revolutions – unknown, of course, to Jacob (Troy Stanley, in one the actor’s two Dreamcoat roles).
Among the atrocities: The brothers sell Joseph into slavery and cover up the dastardly deed by telling Jacob his favorite son has been killed. They show him the Dreamcoat, now tattered and blooded (with goat’s blood to stress the ruse).
Actually, Joseph is taken to Egypt and sold as a slave to Potiphar (Troy Stanley again), an Egyptian millionaire. While wrongly imprisoned for supposedly putting a move on Potiphar’s wife (Sabrina Lobner), Joseph realizes he can interpret dreams.
When Pharoah finds out about this through a third party, he springs Joseph and makes him his right-hand man. He uses his dream interpretation skills to help predict Egypt’s famine – and Joseph offers advice on how to deal with it.
Back on the home front, Joseph’s brothers suffer the pangs of hunger and embark on a journey to Egypt in search of food. They come face-to-face with Joseph in what is initially an unpleasant encounter (“The brothers come to Egypt/Grovel grovel”). Joseph walks boldly through the fraternal crowd as anger taints the air. Finally, reason is restored in a pleasing and enthusiastic climax.
