Gateway Theatre goes big with its holiday season production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
With lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, ‘Joseph’ is an all singing, all dancing musical based on the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colours, from the Book of Genesis. Playing until December 31st, the holiday musical is always Gateway Theatre’s biggest production of the season, and their first staging of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat certainly is big. Director Barbara Tomasic has created a big, bold, and bright production of the classic musical; a big cast of 20+ players, with bold dance numbers and bright costumes. The big cast is filled with big voices too, Chelsea Rose leading things off as the Narrator (also Jacob and Mrs Potiphar) helping a young Dreamer (Timothy Liu) navigate his dreamworld, into which, enters Joseph, played brilliantly by Oliver Castillo. Rose and Castillo’s voices work wonderfully with each other, with the large ensemble adding in the balance and filling the stage with a joyful noise. The musical takes the audience on a journey through a history of musical styles; pop, country & western, calypso, rockabilly and others fill the songbook. Another stand-out performance is Madeleine Suddaby, making her Gateway debut in as Pharaoh, as the title suggests her comic turn is fit for a king, queen or diva.
A technical snafu resulting in Castillo’s mic failing caused some concern on opening night but his ability to fill the room without a mic highlighted his ability. Rose’s vocals were also a match when they were both unleashed without technology for the finale, before being joined by the ensemble.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat runs until December 31st at Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond. Visit gatewaytheatre.com for showtimes and tickets.