Joseph Review at Palace Theatre
By Nikki Cotter manchestersfinest.com
Produced and directed by theatre legend Bill Kenwright this colourful Biblical tale is packed full to the brim with classic songs that will happily buzz round in your head for days after, a fine example of the quality of an Andrew Lloyd Webber score paired with the witty lyrics of Tim Rice. Unbelievably Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is over 40 years old and the longest-running touring show in history (a whopping 36 years and counting) but still it has the absolute ability to entertain both young and old, gaining fans no doubt on every stop of the tour.
From the moment Narrator Lucy Kay opens the show you know this is going to be a top class production, with a sublime voice that gave me goosebumps and a perfect dollop of charisma, Kay gently leads the story, introducing us to the talented cast who soon have the audience in the palm of their hands.
Tonight it’s the turn of 2009 X-Factor winner Joe McElderry to don the coat of many colours, from the minute he begins to sing you know you’re in the presence of a true star, his voice is simply perfect, smooth and powerful with a cheeky and hugely likeable personality on top. His performance is a masterclass in musical theatre, undoubtedly the best Joseph I’ve seen, (and I’m old enough to have swooned at Jason Donovan and Phillip Schofield). McElderry’s star will no doubt continue to rise and deservedly so, he belongs on the stage and brings such pleasure to the audience it’s hard not to fall a little bit in love with him. The whoops and cheers from his dedicated fans who have travelled to see him are soon added to by the rest of the audience he has easily won over.
…their enjoyment is infectious and the minute the much loved finale mega-mix starts the audience take the opportunity to leap to their feet to clap and sing along…
A large chunk of the charm of this production lies in the huge amount of fun the super talented cast appear to be having on stage, each and every person gives this show their all and seem to be having an absolute ball, their enjoyment is infectious and the minute the much loved finale mega-mix starts the audience take the opportunity to leap to their feet to clap and sing along.
Another charming part of the show is the use of a local children’s choir, on this occasion its youngsters from Stagecoach Theatre School who treat us to a fabulous performance and perfectly compliment the rest of this hard-working cast.
Joseph and his band of brothers are in Manchester for one week only so get down to the Palace theatre immediately and lose yourself in this colourful, flamboyant and fabulous show.
Showing at the Palace Theatre until Saturday 2nd April
www.josephthemusical.com