BHCT’s ‘Joseph’ a colorful, musical trip
Posted by: Ruth in What went down, What's coming upby Ruth Milne
Technicolor is an understatement.
In Black Hills Community Theatre’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” the titular coat is constructed of men’s ties — including 6 color-themed panels with upwards of 40 ties each. And if you’ve ever been to the tie display at a second-hand store, you know just how vivid those things can be.
Talented costume designer Chris Lee came up with the garment, which is central to the plot. The story (clearly secondary to the spectacle) is the biblical tale of Joseph, played exuberantly by Adante Carter. Rough recap: his father gives Joseph an ostentatious coat, his brothers get jealous and sell him into slavery, and Joseph rises to power interpreting dreams for the pharaoh. All to some really peppy music.
The production features music by Andrew Lloyd Weber and lyrics by Tim Rice, the duo who also brought you “The Phantom of the Opera.” But this is nothing like “Phantom.” Directed by Mikal Kraklio, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” doesn’t take itself seriously at all; although based on the Bible, it is never overtly religious. It’s also not historically accurate: no matter who you ask, biblical-era people did not wear berets or cowboy hats, and they definitely did not wear ’60s-style polyester suits. But it’s fun, and at times laugh-out-loud funny.
As the cool, postmodern narrator, Michelle Martinson was front-and-center singing for virtually the entire production, and she filled the demanding role well.
Musical director Molly O. Dailey and choreographer Andrea Schaefer collaborated to make each song a blast, from the disco “Go Go Go Joseph” to the country-twanged “One More Angel in Heaven,” as well as other songs ranging from calypso to 1950s rock ‘n’ roll. Even the curtain call is an extended musical number. In the cast of 26 — that’s right, 26, all on that one little stage — it’s hard to stand out, but each member of the ensemble did a great job; in the lively musical numbers, each and every actor was constantly doing something interesting. It’s not only hard to single some out for praise, it’s actually impossible. Flip through the pages upon pages of cast bios in the program; they were well selected and well directed, and I salute them all.
The pharaoh — Stephen Faruggia as an over-the-top Elvis impersonator — was wildly entertaining; the only problem was that I didn’t take in any of the lyrics and had no idea what his song was actually about. Fortunately, that didn’t make a whit of difference. “Joseph” is straight-up entertainment for all ages, no mental investment required.
Exactly what I needed after a long day’s work.
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is the very definition of family-friendly entertainment, but surprisingly, the audience when I attended was nearly all adults — people who could have seen this musical when it first hit the stage in 1968. Perhaps the 7:30 p.m. start time was just too late for a school night. Still, the theater was packed, and everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the musical.
After tonight’s Wacky Wednesday showing, performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, with the last performance October 4, at the Black Hills Community Theatre at the Rushmore Mall. The box office is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; stop by, call 394-1786 or go to www.bhct.org for tickets, which cost $18 adults, $16 senior/military, and $11 students.
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