The UK’s longest-running musical Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat pulled up at Stockport Plaza this week, starring Joe McElderry.
The X Factor winner slipped into the title role and the loincloth previously inhabited by Philip Schofield and Jason Donovan, in the retelling of the Biblical story about the coat of many colours.
McElderry played the dreamy dream interpreter as some sort of smirking simpleton.
To be fair, there were times in during the first act when I was on the treacherous brothers’ side in their jealous bids to do away with their father’s undeserving favourite.
But by the time we reached his solo in an Egyptian prison after being sold into slavery, McElderry’s vocal talents were fully showcased in a powerful rendition of Close Every Door.
It was the merry band of would-be murderous brothers’ ensemble numbers really brought the show to life with One More Angel in Heaven and Canaan Days as standouts.
The gang harmonised and danced on stage and into the aisles giving the production its wit, energy and colour.
Completing the triumvirate of reality alumni giving a good account of themselves were Britain’s Got Talent’s Lucy Kay as the Narrator and Ben James-Ellis, semi-finalist in the BBC’s search-for-a-Joseph show Any Dream Will Do, as the rock ‘n’ roll Pharaoh.
Special mention should also go to the children’s chorus, which was on stage for the entire production remaining engaged and singing beautifully throughout.
Despite being billed as a family musical, the entirely sung-through show was hardgoing for the six year old in our party but the rest of the audience seemed to be thrilled with the odd standing ovation thrown in.
They were up and dancing during the megamix encore and singing all the way out of the doors at the night.
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is on at Stockport Plaza until Saturday, May 27, with tickets available from the box office or online.
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