THEATRE REVIEW

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

Grimsby Auditorium

AS my colleague Laura Stuart-Cook and I settled in our seats to watch Joseph last night, I felt quite proud that I know all the colours of his coat – and in perfect order, too.

Laura reliably informed me this is probably a bit geek-ish and that I shouldn't admit to it in public. But I come from the generation that first saw the show with Jason Donovan at the helm and, being a Jason fan from the tender age of eight, it was my young mission to learn every word he sang.

So, when the house lights dipped, it took all my willpower not to sing out loud – as you can probably tell, the passing time has not made me like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical version of the biblical tale any less.

Playing the lead role is Craig Chalmers, one of the finalists in the hit BBC show Any Dream Will Do, who certainly charmed the audience – which showed its appreciation by wolf-whistling, stomping and screaming.

He made for a polished, very clean-cut Joseph and his rendition of Close Ev'ry Door (possibly my favourite song in the show) was lovely.

Also putting in an appearance were two other Saturday night TV favourites: Antony Hansen, another finalist from Any Dream Will Do, who played the Elvis-styled Pharaoh, and Tara Bethan, from the recent hit show I'd Do Anything, who took the role of the narrator.

Joseph's band of brothers were each great in their own way, and I was blown away by their gorgeous voices – I would have loved to have heard more.

Jacob, their father, ruled over his brood with dignity, and the moment he is reunited with his favourite son Joe towards the end of the show was very touching.

The girls of the cast sang and danced their way through with unwavering enthusiasm, and praise has to be heaped on the young children from Stagecoach, who performed very well – and were as good as gold, showing a wonderful knack for concentration.

Theatre impresario Bill Kenwright's production was very tongue-in-cheek: we saw the brothers dressed as Frenchmen, cowboys and American football players; a giant Pharaoh head began spookily talking to Joseph; the wife of a rich Egyptian captain – with whom Joe is accused of having an affair – spoke disturbingly like a man... and inflatable sheep, representing Jacob and the brothers' flock, got huge laughs.

But for me, it will always be about the glorious music (it is a shame the live band is hidden away from view) – it never fails to make me jig in my seat.

And just in case you're interested, Webber and Rice rule there are 29 colours in the coat – it was red, yellow, green, brown, scarlet, black... oh, I've run out of room!

LUCY WOOD

The show is on nightly at 7.30pm, with a matinee today and Saturday. Tickets £11 to £25. Group discounts. Call 0844 847 2426 or visit www.grimsbyauditorium. org.uk

Craig Chalmers is taking the Grimsby Telegraph on a backstage video tour of the show – see your Grimsby Telegraph on Friday.