By Mary Brassard
The Utah Children’s Theater (now known as Parker Theatre) in Salt Lake City is currently running their production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It is a show not performed by children, but produced for an audience of children and their families. I brought my four-year-old, and my five-year-old, who were entranced. I love the atmosphere of the theater—a nostalgic, yet clean and well-kept atmosphere. It has the Art Deco feel of a 1920s silent movie theater. There is an adjoining soda shop, and my kids picked out a giant chocolate chip cookie, and a rainbow candy-covered marshmallow kabob. They even have an option to order concessions before the show, and have them ready for pick up at intermission. The service is excellent.
Joseph is a musical based on a Bible story, with music my Andrew Lloyd Webber, and lyrics by Tim Rice. It’s family friendly, has very little dialogue, a light, almost silly tone, and is told through song. But you probably already knew all of that. It’s a show that is often produced here in Utah.
As a mom there with my young kids, my favorite part was the opening song “Prologue”, and this is because they invite the children onstage with them. The children excitedly sit underfoot of the singers watching the song begin, and the first unfolding of the story start. Toward the end of the song, they’re brought to their feet and stand with the cast, almost as a stand in for the usual children’s choir in Joseph. The look on my four-year-old’s face, her belief that she had just become a theatrical star herself, was worth the ticket price alone.
The cast do an excellent job of telling the story, singing well-known delightful songs, making the adults laugh, and engaging the children wonderfully. They would often come close to the audience, looking directly at the kids when making exclamations, really bringing them into the goings on. My favorite example of this are the eleven brothers, played by Brinton M. Wilkins, Scott Urie, Guy Yarkoni, Eric Christian Lash, Jacob Bowersox, Tom S. Roche, Grant Christopherson, Lucas Tyler Stewart, John Sandorf, Siamani Moananu, and Tommy Kay. They are like a musical comedy Troup, coming on periodically to present songs in different styles ranging from reggae to Country. Lash sings “Those Canaan Days” and had the kids laughing heartily while he laid flat on the stage, propelling himself around with his feet, and lead his brothers in a choir of musical notes with a dangling fly in his fingertips.
This production features a small, four-woman ensemble Kaitlyn Hohl, Annie Cowden, Chloe Wood, and Cambry Wallentine, totally captivated me. They fill in as Ishmaelites, prisoners, Potipher’s wife, Egyptians, and more. They are beautiful dancers, their singing is pleasant and harmonized, and their faces absolutely tell the story.
The two narrators Mary Michael Hohl and Hannah Roskelley have beautiful voices. They seamlessly move through each song and set piece, and seem to be the puppet masters of the entire telling.
McKay Elwood as Joseph is delightful. His facial expressions are very vivid, and while the songs are mostly up beat and fun, even when serious events occur, his face grounds us into his reality. For example, during “Poor Poor Joseph”, his brothers are happily singing about selling him into slavery, the ensemble is hilarious disguised in wigs and beards, but look over to Elwood’s face, and be reminded how terrifying this situation is for Joseph.
The costumes by Julie Anderson are lovely. Simple yet elegant, with touches of fun. Like the brothers’ simple tunics, all in taupe type of colors, giving them a uniform look, and perfectly finished off with black and white sneakers, as if to remind us that this is really just a group of young brothers. A bunch of dudes just trying to navigate life and sibling rivalry. Director Joanne M. Parker steers her tribe of players with panache and sensitivity. The stage and set by James B. Parker are also simple, with a flair for surprises. To start, the stage is empty and bright, lit up with rainbow lights. And my favorite big set piece is the large awesome camel. Choreographer Marilyn M. Montgomery gives her actors lots of movement choices, appropriate for the show. My daughters especially liked the dancing.
The show held the attention of my young kids remarkably well. As a show with mostly singing and dancing, bright colors, physical comedy, and an overall very light tone (although they are telling a serious tale), it leans itself exceptionally well to children’s theater. For a story about a boy sold into slavery by his loved ones, seduced, imprisoned, all the while baring the burden of knowing the meaning behind dreams, the victories and tragedies that shall come to pass, it’s delightful. The grownups were never board watching the talented cast and famous play, and for the kids, it’s a magical theatrical experience, starting many of them on a journey of discovering and loving the arts.
In interest of a thorough review, I asked each of my kids what their favorite parts were. Here are their responses: my five-year-old Scarlett said, “The girl with the black hair!” (Every female on stage wore a black wig at some point…). And four-year- old Lucy said, “That he went to jail.” Well, there you have it, the official word from two future theater reviewers.
Whatever color your coat is, put it on, brave the cold, and take the family for an outing you can all enjoy together at the Children’s Theater in Salt Lake City, everyone from Grandma to your toddler will find something fun in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Oh, and try the rainbow marshmallows kabob. It’s big enough for the whole brood.
The Children’s Theatre of Utah/Parker Theatre presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
The Utah Children’s Theatre, 3605 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115.
December 7 – January 11, 2019 Weeknights 7:00 PM. Saturdays 1:00 PM, 4:30 PM
Tickets: $22
Contact: 801-532-6000, boxoffice@uctheatre.org
Utah Children’s Theater Facebook Page
Our director/choreographer, Marilyn Montgomery, deserves enormous praise. She and her work are amazing. She is patient, kind, and has wonderful artistic vision.
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