AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

The Liverpool-based amateur company, Bentley Operatic Society will be one of the last groups to perform at The Epstein Theatre, as it will, unfortunately, be closing at the end of this month. 

This didn't dampen the company's enthusiasm and dedication to the show however. The production values for this, their 42nd show, were extremely high, and the show was professionally produced. Director Michael Pearson's vision for this show was more of a staged concert rather than a full-blown musical, taking inspiration for this from the straight-to-video film version, as well as bringing his own ideas to bear with great skill. A series of stepped rostra in a triangular shape formed the only set, with a bare minimum of props and bring-ons. The live band being placed on stage around the sides and back of the rostra, with solid musical direction by Wendy Tucker.

This was also the first time that this reviewer has ever seen a production of this show which has been performed entirely by adults. Even the professional tours have gone for the 'ah' factor, and stuck to the fact that this show was originally written to be performed by children. That being said however, this show didn't need the children, working excellently as a more 'mature' piece of musical theatre.

With the music written by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, this show, along with several others from his pen, has gone through many different adaptations, alterations, additions, subtractions, etc over the years. In fact it is probably true to say that this particular show has gone through more metamorphoses than any other Broadway / West End musical. From its unstarry days as a short, one-act show for primary school children, to the big show it is today. For this reviewer at least though, some of those changes have not been for the better, and the ever-lengthening of this show by giving the show two renditions of 'Any Dream Will Do' as well as a short mega-mix at the beginning of the second act, and the unpardonable horror that is the finale mega-mix, don't sit well with me.

Pearson understood the genre of the piece and knew that it had to be rather tongue-in-cheek for it to work, and the characters that peopled this romp were over-the-top and quite rightly mono-dimensional. Elliot Tutt headed the strong cast as a very sincere and earnest Joseph, allowing his tenor range to belt out some nicely placed high notes in the 'Close Every Door' solo. 11 brothers, his dad (Jacob), Potipher, Potipher's wife, and finally the Pharaoh himself all aided and abetted his journey this evening, all giving sterling performances with their own individual characters. These were in turn, supported by a strong and lovely-sounding chorus.

Narrating the story this evening were three ladies, splitting the role between them, and in so doing, providing opportunity for some sublime three-part harmonies. The narrator's role in this show is quite a tricky one since they are not apart from it, nor are they a part of it, and they have that difficult road to tread which means interacting and intermingling but never actually "acting". These three ladies managed this with apparent ease this evening. They were Kizzy Leigh, Sarah Mullis, and Sally Allcock.

Technically, this was one of the best amateur shows I have seen for a long time. The lighting was creative and effective, using colours and specials with aplomb. The costumes were excellent and always appropriate. Sound levels were not too high. [Thank you - this is one of my biggest bugbears with theatre at the minute.. everything is pumped up to the max. Not here. Well done]. 

The singing overall was of a very high standard, with the cumulative choral sound (including some lovely harmonies) excellent; whilst the choreography (Karl Newsam) was always fun, high-energy, and executed neatly by the team of dancers. The obvious highlight being 'The Song Of The King'.   

Bentley Operatic Society have produced a very slick, upbeat, and hugely proficient and entertaining version of this classic musical. It runs at the Epstein Theatre until Saturday Catch it while you still can!

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 14.6.23