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Act I
The story is based on the Biblical story of Joseph, from the book of Genesis. It is told through the medium of a narrator who is telling the story to two young children, encouraging them to dream.
He begins by introducing them to Jacob and Sons. Jacob's favourite amongst his twelve sons was Joseph, the second-youngest, whom he presented with a beautiful many-coloured coat. The older boys were jealous of Joseph's Coat, and resented Joseph because of their father's favouritism, and because of Joseph's Dreams in which he appeared to suggest he was destined to rule over them. The brothers determine to get rid of him, intending to cast him down a pit, but instead sell him as a slave to some passing Ishmaelites (Poor, Poor Joseph), who carry him off to Egypt.
The brothers tear up Joseph's coat and smear it with goat's blood, before returning home to break the news to Jacob that Joseph is dead and there is now One More Angel in Heaven.) Taken to Egypt, Joseph is sold in the slave market to the wealthy Potiphar. Joseph likes his new master, and soon rises to a position of trust in Potiphar's household. Potiphar's wife then makes advances to Joseph, he rejects her, but when Potiphar barges in he misinterprets the situation and has Joseph thrown in jail.
In Jail, Joseph feels lost and dispirited (Close Every Door), but in spite of this he attempts to assist two fellow prisoners when they turn to him for help. Buth have had strange dreams which they ask Joseph to interpret. Joseph listens to their stories and gives them their answers (Go, Go, Joseph) - one, a butler, will be set free, but the other, a baker will be executed.
Act II
The Narrator predicts impending changes in Joseph's fortunes (Pharaoh's Story) because the Pharaoh is having dreams that no-one can interpret. The Butler, now freed in accordance with Joseph's prophesy, tells Pharaoh of the young man in the dungeons with the power to explain dreams (Poor, Poor Pharaoh). Pharaoh orders Joseph to be brought to him and tells the young man of his dreams involving seven fat cows and seven thin cows, and seven healthy ears of corn and seven dead ears of corn (Song of the King). Joseph explains to the Pharoah that his dreams are a warning that there will be in Egypt seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine in which his people will starve if preparations are not made (Pharaoh's Dreams Explained).
The grateful Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of carrying out the preparations, thus elevating him to the position of the second most powerful man in Egypt (Stone the Crows).
Time passes, the years of plenty have gone by and the famine has arrived. Back in Canaan, Joseph's brothers are suffering. They express their regrets at selling Joseph and lying to their father about the fate that befell him, and remember instead the good times when Joseph was still among them in Those Canaan Days. They They have heard that there is food in Egypt and determine to go there to beg for aid.
When the Brothers Come to Egypt they are brought before Joseph but do not recognise him behind his golden mask. The brothers beg for food (Grovel, Grovel) which Joseph generously provides, but as they are about to leave he accuses them of treachery and stealing his golden cup. Each brother is forced to empty his sack to establish "Who's the Thief?". Last to be searched is the youngest brother, Benjamin, in whose sack Joseph himself has planted the cup. The other brothers are horrified and beg that Benjamin be spared and and they be punished instead (Benjamin Calypso).
Seeing their devotion to Benjamin, Joseph realises that his brothers have learned their lesson and have become good men. He removes his mask and reveals to his brothers that he was in fact Joseph All the Time. Joseph sends for his father and the two are reunited (Jacob in Egypt). At last, Joseph's entire family are reunited in love and forgiveness (Any Dream Will Do).
FINALE
Joseph Megamix.
As the first collaboration between Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, first aired on stage in 1972, one might expect this feel-good musical to be showing it's age by now. In fact, despite the many elements that can only be described as distinctly 'cheesy', it remains amazingly fresh. Of course the modern Joseph has changed somewhat from the original version, with the glitzy, over the top 1991 London revival having set the pace for the Joseph we know and love today.
Although it is based on a biblical story, it is not 'preachy' or pretentious in the way that Rice and Webber's later biblical collaboration "Jesus Christ, Superstar" can be. Which is why this, I feel, is the better of the two. It works so well precisely because it does not take itself too seriously. In fact the whole production has a tongue in cheek quality that is amply illustrated by the eccentricity of the costumes and the musical styles in which the songs are presented - ranging from spoofs of cowboy folk and Paris cellar-cafe, and a Pharoah presented as Elvis Presley. The set is cleverly constructed around two staircases running down either side of the stage and meeting at the top, and decorated with palm trees, hieroglyphed stone columns, large golden sphinx head, and even pop-up sheep.
Craig Chalmers, in the title role, is good looking and has a superb voice, but lacks that final touch of panache to fully engage the audience - which left the way open for effervescent nineteen-year-old Keith Jack, as the narrator, to step up and steal the show. Jack is superb as he dashes up down the staircase that is the centrepiece of the set and holds the audience in his thrall as he relates the story through a medley of songs.
The Four Handmaidens and all the brothers provide an energetic ensemble that make the most of the slick dance routines, catchy songs and comedic sketches, and the local childrens choir flanking the two stairways sounded superb. The music is lyrical and the lyrics themselves are witty and well worth listening to, with snappy little couplets like the brothers lament on the famine "Now the feilds are dead and bare, No joie de vivre anywhere," and Joseph's aside after meeting his brothers again "I shall now take them all for a ride. After all they have tried fratricide."
It was announced at the end of the evening that the show had broken all box-office records for the Leeds Grand theatre, and judging from the cheers and applause on the night, the near capacity audience certainly had their money's worth.
A great uplifting musical, combining a wide variation of song styles into an exuberant and fast paced story with enough humour and emotive elements to please most people.