By Kevin Albrechtsen and Yvette Albrechtsen
Over the years I have loved attending Beverly’s Terrace Plaza Playhouse in Washington Terrace, Utah, partially because of their wide range of theatre, but mostly because of the sense of community they bring to their productions. And as expected, such was the case of their current offering, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Aside from the obvious talent of the leads, the casting of local actors and family members made for an enjoyable evening filled with familiar and time-honored songs and dance.
During the introduction of the play, by whom I believe was director Jacci Olsen Florence, it was stated that Joseph has been the “bread and butter” of the playhouse for years. And it should. The musical created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice brings the familiar story of jealousy, love, and redemption straight from the biblical narrative of Jacob and his 12 sons to the present day, with music, costumes, and dancing in different genres and time periods. Joseph, having been rewarded with a coat of many colors by his father Jacob (David Nielsen), is sold to a group of traveling Ishmaelites, thrown in jail by Potipher, and then finally recognized by the Pharoah for his skill in interpreting dreams. Joseph soon becomes a well-respected member of the Pharoah’s staff. But in the end, it is Joseph’s love and forgiveness for his brothers, the tribes of Israel, which leads to redemption for all.
It is the music, ranging from country to calypso to rockabilly, and the choreography, that keeps the crowds coming back, again and again. Although not as slick and polished as a Broadway production, the Terrace’s Joseph highlights local talent, and in many cases, their family members. The lead protagonist, Joseph is adeptly performed by the very listenable Blaine Hickman, whose son George Hickman was cast as the young Benjamin. The remainder of Jacob’s sons are played by a talented group of actors, whose singular skills are occasionally highlighted in various individual numbers. Brian Sears as Reuben,does an admirable job with the Western-style number, “One More Angel in Heaven”. John Rollins changes from Simeon, the Israelite, into a comical Frenchman, if only for a moment, in “Those Canaan Days”. And finally, the amusing and talented Kimball Bennion as Judah performs the rhythmic island version of “Benjamin Calyspo”. But my favorite numbers were those where all eleven (or twelve) brothers came together and harmonized as one (maybe there is a moral there, also). And complementing the brothers in both song and dance, are their wives (and in some cases, I believe, their actual wives). Of course all twelve sons and wives would make for a very full stage, but the director uses the entire venue for both song and dance, adding to the intimacy and excitement of the play. And who could forget Elvis? Kim Florence, in the role of the rich, stuffy Potiphar, also comically portrays his polar opposite, the hip-swinging, Elvis-like Pharaoh. Mention should also be made of Emily Richards, who plays Potiphar’s wife, and later performs a wonderful dance number as the Apache Dancer.
As much as the play centers on the story of Joseph, it is the narrators and the children who hold the saga of these twelve tribes together. For this production, it is accomplished by two narrators, Jamie Balaich and Becky Christensen, who link the adventures of Joseph into the story that it is. I enjoyed the addition of the second narrator. At times, individually playing off of each other, and other times combining together, they deftly guide the story through all of Joseph’s ups and downs. By guiding the story, they are guiding the children. These talented and colorful members of the children’s choir were fun to watch, as they ranged from fairly young children to more experienced performers, all of them doing their best to add to the production.
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Finally, the amazing costumes must be applauded. Certainly a character themselves, the costumes are not just an addition to the production, but a central part of the play. Joseph’s coat(s) of colors are breath-taking and a surprising highlight of the evening. Additionally, the attire of Potipher’s court, the Pharoah, and the finale group made this a cast of many colors and for me an added bonus. Overall, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a familiar story with familiar songs, but well-produced and performed musicals, such as the one at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse, remind me of the talented duo of Rice and Webber, and their amazing gifts.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Beverly’s Terrace Plaza Playhouse,99 E. 4700 S. Washington Terrace, UT 84405
Contact: 801-393-0070
Tickets: $10-$17 Reserved Seating
June 8– July 21, 2018 Monday, Friday-Saturday 7:30 PM
The show runs 2 hours with one 15-minute intermission
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