__________________________________________________________________
My daughter and I were lucky enough to be in the audience for the
Saturday 7th July 2007 performance. We were in row J seats 29 and 30
which gave us a good view, only part of the staircase where the
children sat was partially obscured.
It was truly amazing. I had met Lee Mead at the stage door earlier
so I was already all of a dither. When he appeared on stage, the
audience erupted into the loudest cheers and applause that I have
ever heard in a theatre. All of the cast members were fantastic. I
especially liked Pharaoh. The children were enchanting.
All in all a fantastic show. Lee Mead is the best Joseph ever. He
looked and sounded absolutely unbelievable. He truly was meant for
this part.
As this was only a preview show I thought that some things may not
be quite up to scratch . This was not so. It was exciting ,
brilliant, fun, etc, etc, etc. I could go on forever! I was so
impressed I have booked more tickets for the front row.
Unfortunately I have to wait until next April boo hoo!
Gill Chapman.
_____________________
"Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" – Adelphi Theatre,
Strand, London
Preview Week – Review by Melissa M. Roberts.
For some any dream will do. But not for the winner of the recent BBC
talent show of the same name.
For actor, Lee Mead there was only one dream and that was to be the
lead in "Joseph & his Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat."
On 6th July 2007 he got his dream when the musical opened at the
Adelphi Theatre in the Strand. As Lee took to the stage in his first
lead role in the West End, the question begging to be asked is did
the audience get their dream too?
In his coat of many colours Lee was amazing. Bare chested, dripping
with sweat, he was fantastic; women throughout the theatre cheering
as he was stripped to his loin cloth, all of them wishing they could
get closer to the deliciously good looking Essex actor.
The show opened with the familiar 'Any Dream…' song to an enthralled
audience. Preeya Kalidas (East is East, Bombay Dreams, Bend it Like
Beckham) as the narrator guided the show skilfully through each
splendid musical number along with the children's choir.
All the main parts were superbly cast, among them Dean Collinson
(Whistle Down the Wind, Notre Dame de Paris) as Pharoah, Stephen
Tate (Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line, Cats) as Jacob and John
Alastair (Mamma Mia) as Reuben, and all the supporting actors and
actresses who were enthusiastic and full of energy and keen to show
the audience what they could do.
And show us they did. The show was a lively mix of humour, familiar
songs and comic timing and yes, Lee Mead was everything we had hoped
he would be. For me this was a better show than the Jason Donovan,
Donny Osmond, Phillip Schofield era and with Lee in the role, Joseph
has been reborn. You'd be foolish to miss it.
_____________________
I saw the show last night, 11th July 2007, with my seven year old
son and two of our friends. We had terrific seats, D 19 to 22
stalls, almost dead centre and with a clear view of the stage. No
problem in getting a booster seat for my son and despite some rather
large heads in front of him he had a really good view of the action.
Lee Mead lived up to all expectations, he was magnificent. I have to
confess to having seen Jason Donovan and Phillip Schofield in the
role and whilst the Palladium would have been my choice of theatre,
Lee is far and away the best Joseph.
All the performances, with the exception of some very dodgy notes
from the narrator, Preeya Kalidas, were terrific, the brothers were
a very entertaining gang and Dean Collinson as Pharaoh was very very
funny.
The costumes, lighting and choreography were spot on and the show
just flew by. We all had a fantastic time and can't wait to go
again...if I could only get tickets!
Celia,
Ashford Kent
_____________________
I agree with all the previous reports above after my visit on 11th
July 2007.
The response to Lee must have been beyond his wildest dreams (and of
A.L.W.), and provoked the same response that Connie received at the
start of 'The Sound of Music' , but the final curtain call wearing
his highly extended Dreamcoat was just inspirational and must have
been so exciting for Lee himself. We were in row B of the Grand
Circle (comfortable seats and a great view although very tight leg
room for anyone like me at over 6 feet) and to be eye to eye with
Lee as he rose from the stage was just great, but he ended up eye to
eye with all the audience including those in the Upper Circle, and
to have such a standing ovation on all three levels of the theatre
just roaring it's applause immediately to your face must be an
unbelievable experience and must surely be a first for any star of
the West End (except perhaps for Mary Poppins as she left at the
end).
The whole show is so full of life and colour. The children as ever
are just great and give the show it's atmosphere which is a must see
for children of all ages (including us grandparents). It has been
given some modern twists which cancel a comment I heard recently
that the show is dated. (It isn't!) . The dancing is superb and
includes some choreography that almost defies belief, how can a man
swing his partner around like that? You have to see it to believe
it.
The humour is just great, the camel and the sheep are so funny.
If I have to find any slight criticism it would be concerning
Pharaoh. I have no problem with a re-incarnation of Elvis (he does
it superbly) but I don't think even Elvis's wildest and keenest fans
would say that his clarity of diction was his greatest asset.
Pharaoh is telling the story of his dream for Joseph to interpret
and if I didn't already know the story line I would not have been
able to follow the story he was telling. The show is still on
preview and I hope that he might try to make it a little clearer
particularly for those who do not know what his dream was. (Perhaps
it was just my ears at my age but everyone else had wonderfully
clear diction so I don't think it was just me).
A lady sitting in front of me, obviously a critic, had a foolscap
pad and pen and was making notes during the show, She neither
applauded or joined in the standing ovation and if she was just
looking for criticisms to write she was missing the whole point that
this show is just great fun..
If you get a chance to buy, steal, or borrow a ticket grab it quick
! I can't wait to see it again with my group, and then again if
possible!
_________________
After hearing that the show was booked up through March 2008, I
decided to take my chance yesterday (12th July 2007) and queued up
for a return for Joseph. Bingo – one seat became available - F20 in
the stalls! Great seat, plenty of legroom, and very close to the
action. Also being bang in the middle of the row meant that there
was minimal disruption from people leaving / returning to their
seats, so I’d highly recommend a seat in this area.
All the reports on here are true – Lee Mead is a revelation! Great
voice, real stage presence, and genuine charm - you instantly warm
to him. Compared to the rest of the highly camp and comic first act,
his rendition of 'Close Every Door to Me' is just heartbreaking. You
could have heard a pin drop. Personally, I think Lee is set to
become a much bigger star in the long run than his counterpart
Connie Fisher. Despite her considerable talents, Connie to me seems
to lack the one big thing that will have the audiences coming back
for more – pure sex appeal. And that’s something that Lee has in
abundance – the screams from the ladies (and a few gentlemen) when
he first appears on his cloud were deafening! (Yes, I found myself
screaming too. It would have been rude not to.)
As for the rest of the cast, the real stand-outs are the ensemble of
the brothers (Mark Oxtoby as Simeon, Adam Pearce as Issachar and Tom
Gillies as the hapless Benjamin are particular scene-stealers). You
can see how much these guys are enjoying their parts, and they
reduced me to tears of laughter at several points. Preeya Kalidas as
the narrator had quite a problem with the high notes – something
that really needs to be addressed before the opening night –
although her performance was engaging - her energy and tiny frame
invoked a Puck-like presence throughout. And Dean Collinson as the
Pharaoh – well what can I say, except that I hope he appreciates
being PAID to have that much fun!
Sadly, it being a preview, there is always the risk of something
going wrong, and it did. After a very lengthy interval, we were told
that due to a technical problem, the second half could not be
staged. We would have our tickets refunded, and the cast had offered
to do the whole of the second act as a sing-through rather than
abandon the show. This was met with mixed reactions by the audience
– some booing, some slow hand-claps, and many people simply walked
out. I decided to stay (why walk out if you know you are getting
your money back??), and I was so glad I did.
In order to make up for the lack of staging, the cast gave 200% in
the second half - and to show our gratitude at their “show must go
on” attitude, the audience did the same. The energy derived from
this highly unusual situation led to a magical atmosphere in the
theatre, with every add-libbed joke and improvised dance routine met
with huge cheers from the diminished crowd. It was like sitting in
on a cast sing-through, and so much more intimate than the full
show. I for one am very grateful that they decided to go ahead, as I
can’t remember ever having this much fun in a theatre. And best of
all, because they had to send the children’s choir home, the
audience felt compelled to sing along, and no-one minded! The finale
was met with a full-house standing ovation. I can only imagine the
reaction to the proper ending, with Joseph lifted high into the
auditorium….I guess I’ll be going back to find out!!!
All in all, a highly recommended night out for the whole family –
just great, unashamed, old-fashioned, fun. And as for the sheep, the
camel and the snake – go and see for yourself. Possibly the daftest
thing I’ve seen in the West End (I’m still chuckling)!
And finally, to the two ladies seated next to me who stormed out in
disgust half-way through – you missed a truly special experience.
__________________
Lee Mead makes Jason Donovan look like he was wearing black and
white!!
I saw it Tuesday 10th July 2007 sitting in Upper Circle row M,
bought from theatremonkey
website itself, so thanks!! Anyway, had to lean forward but that's
only because I had someone rather tall in front of me and I didn't
want to miss a moment of Lee!!
Isn't he just wonderful? I knew from the moment I saw him on "Any
Dream Will Do" he had to win, just like Connie ("Maria" - The Sound
of Music - Ed) really, and he had everyone mesmerized throughout his
performance. One thing that does annoy me though is that these tv
programmes casting for theatre get bums on seats but bums that
wouldn't normally be sitting in a theatre which is good and bad. I
could say about 60% of the audience the night I went were there just
because they fancy the pants of him, and spend the whole show
chatting away and screaming at random moments instead of actually
appreciating his talent as a performer.
The stage door episode is a prime example...... Lee comes out
girls/women scream dive into a circle around him and fight over who
gets a signed picture!!! Never seen anything like that outside a
theatre!! Poor old Lee, I didn't get a chance to even get near him
let alone congratulate him, I found out the other day he was in Geri
Halliwell's Raining men video, and I was in that too!!! Couldn't
believe it, don't remember him though which is a real shame he would
be a fantastic contact to have now!!!
___________________
When Lee Mead won 'Any Dream Will Do' I thought I’d try and buy
tickets for 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.' Imagine
my amazement when I managed to buy two tickets for the matinee
performance on the 14th July 2007, then imagine my disappointment
when I heard that Lee was not going to be performing in any of the
shows in July (untrue - editor)! Serious depression loomed, however
having bought tickets and arranged a babysitter my husband and I
decided to have an afternoon at the theatre anyway.
At the Adelphi Theatre we were shown to our seats in the totally
packed auditorium. Almost immediately the choir appeared on stage
with Preeya Kalidas as the Narrator, who gave an incredible
performance throughout. By Scene Three all my prayers (and those of
every other woman present) were answered when Lee appeared to huge
applause and sang 'Any Dream Will Do' with the children. I sat
spellbound for the whole of the production, the subtle humour was
just right (the role the sheep played was especially comical) and
the performance from Dean Collinson as an Elvis Pharaoh was
incredibly entertaining. All of the actors who played Joseph’s
brothers were fantastic; I especially liked the 'One More Angel in
Heaven' sequence. Lee’s performance of 'Close Every Door' was
especially powerful and would tie with the 'Joseph Megamix' at the
end of the show (when he’s raised up on a platform without the aid
of a safety net) for my favourite parts of the show.
Lee is a fantastic leading man and has an energy which defies you to
not watch him. Safe to say, I was completely spellbound and would
happily (if I thought for one minute I could get tickets) go again –
as long as Lee is on stage!
Sasha Dawkins
____________________
I was looking forward to seeing 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat' at the Adelphi Theatre last night (17th July 2007.) I've
been playing the soundtrack on my Ipod rather allot in the last few
months and I think I know most of the songs well enough to actually
be an understudy myself.
Lee Mead, the guy who won Andrew Lloyd Webber's reality TV show to
star in the musical, wasn't my first choice of Joseph, though. The
very concept of the television audition show was to find someone
fresh and new. Someone who wouldn't normally ever be considered for
a musical production - let alone one in the West End. Lee's done
plenty of professional theatre before and in that respect shouldn't
have even been considered. Never the less, the public found his
lispy voice and 1970's perm something of an endearing feature and
voted for him in their droves. Rather annoyingly, Andrew Lloyd
Webber hasn't moved the show on much either. It's still very much
stuck in the 1960's which was a shame.
Over all everyone did a good job. The band were top notch and nice
and loud. The little kids were fantastic, and Tom Gillies, the actor
who plays brother Benjamin is a bit of a hottie (in a geeky kind of
way). But it's Lee Mead as Joseph who gets the most wolf whistles
and whoops from the girls as he struts around the stage in just a
loin cloth.
Playing the part of Joseph isn't very demanding. Indeed, it's
probably one of the easiest leading man roles going - therefore the
cheering and euphoria as he came on stage each time was a little
over the top, but the audience were more typical of those maybe
watching the red coats at Butlins than your average West End crowd.
So, in a nut shell, it was OK, but Andrew Lloyd Webber's production
is probably more pantomime than it is musical theatre. Oh and the
forced clapping and manipulated standing ovation at the end wasn't
my cup of tea either. I do hate people who clap along to songs.
Furthermore, if any theatre cast try and encourage me to stand up at
the end in order to massage their own egos I make damn sure I stay
sat down - even if I was the only one out the 1000 or so
theatre-goers last night to remain in my seat. I do give standing
ovations when due but I'm not sure I really like being cajoled into
doing so.
James
from Kent
____________________
My friend and I have now seen the show 5 times since previews
started, including the very first preview on Friday 6th July and
Press night on Tuesday 17th July 2007. On every occasion the whole
show has been simply sensational and we have thoroughly enjoyed
ourselves.
We had Lee picked out as our Joseph from his very first audition and
we were lucky enough to attend all of the ADWD ("Any Dream Will Do")
shows at the BBC.
I am familiar with and have great affection for the show and the
songs because I, like many others, had taken part in Joseph when my
school put on a production. From the very first moment that the
overture starts, you know you are going to enjoy yourself, the songs
are so timeless and everyone knows at least one of them. Thanks to
the genius of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice......
Preeya Kalidas is superb as the narrator...great expression and
interaction with the other members of the cast...she seems both to
be on the outside and inside of the story without confusing the
audience.
The roar of approval when Lee makes his entrance is deafening. The
excitement and anticipation on Friday 6th was absolutely amazing -
you could feel the energy from the audience. But when he starts to
sing, you can hear a pin drop.
He is so perfect for the role that it is hard to imagine now that
anyone else has ever played Joseph before and he is going to be a
tremendously hard act to follow! He showed on ADWD that he can do
serious and intense acting and is vocally gifted, but his comedic
acting is a joy to behold. Particularly loved the pit scene and
comedy dancing! In contrast, Close Every Door is completely
heart-wrenching and the audience is almost holding their breath
during his performance..... Totally convincing in every stage of
Joseph's life from a charming, if spoilt young boy, through to
sexual object of Mrs Potiphar (jealous, me? of course I was!),
desolate young man in jail and powerful Prince.
Lee looks like he is having an absolute ball and takes the audience
along for the ride. At the same time he is totally focussed, never
out of character.......even though at times the audience excitement
is almost over the top and must be distracting!
The brothers are wonderful.............their singing and dancing is
superb and even when they are being mean to Joseph........you can't
help but like them. Loved 'Those Canaan Days'......brilliant! Thanks
for the blogs John (Alistair), any chance we can continue those?
Loved Dean Collinson's portrayal of the Pharaoh......and totally
hooked on the new song ('King Of My Heart'), how soon can we get a
new cast recording? Glad that this new song gives the Pharaoh more
time in the production.......Dean's performance certainly deserves
it.
Big parts of the show are also the sets and costumes. So much
enjoyment from various animals, colourful costumes and a particular
mention to the wardrobe department for keeping the curls intact and
the loincloth small! The attention to detail is impressive and
certainly even after several shows, we still found new things to
enjoy.
It's great that the children's choir is an integral part of the show
and you can tell that they are enjoying themselves too. The adult
cast are also very generous and supportive and make sure that the
children get their chance to shine.
The 'megamix' ending and Joseph's 'uplifting' encore are amazing.
Every time we went, the whole audience was on it's feet and joining
in. It just feels like one big party. This is a show that you don't
ever want to end and I'm just so glad that we've got tickets booked
at regular intervals throughout the run........once will never be
enough!
The seats we sat in are as follows:-
Stalls G27/28 - great view (especially as the row was curved) and on
our preferred side of the theatre
Circle B33 and G34 - restricted view seats which we thought great
value for money (we are both short and had a perfectly acceptable
view - only missing the action from the very far left of the stage
which was mainly the interaction with the children's choir)
Stalls B24/25 - almost felt like we were on the stage - right in the
action!
Upper Circle N24/25 - had a safety rail in front of us which did not
impede our view - we were far away from the stage but dead centre,
so did not miss any action, nothing to block your view but stairs
are steep and probably not good if you suffer from vertigo!
Stalls V32/33 - might have been a problem if we had taller people in
front, but we were lucky and only down side is that you don't get to
see the 'uplifting' part of the encore
Tracey
________________
Managed to get tickets for the evening performance of 'Joseph' on
1st September 2007, purchased 'PREMIUM TICKETS' - F27 and F28, can't
quite see what makes them special except the price!!! The rake was
poor and a young girl of average size sat in front and obscured some
of the view to left of stage.
The whole experience was a little surreal, firstly I didn't realise
the whole thing was going to be in song (except for a few spoken
lines), the next thing was the euphoria of the audience for the
leading man Lee Meads, I have never seen or heard an audience react
so wildly to the entrance of a character and this euphoria continued
on through the performance. The whole show had a feel of pantomime
about it which was completed by the selling of 'glow sticks' and
'flashing toys' in the interval along with the mandatory ice-creams.
I thought Lee sang very very well and had good stage presence. There
were a number of baffling moments in the play such as the brothers
singing in a French accent and then there was Elvis! - quite
strange!
The whole show is very vibrant and a fairly young cast seem
enthusiastic. All in all it was not a typical West End theatre night
out but certainly uplifting and you can't help but smile and get
carried along with all the enthusiasm.
One final thing, at the end Lee came to the front entrance and
signed autographs for a waiting crowd, I think he does this
regularly as there were security men organising the crowd (50 -100
people maybe).
Paul
________________
We sat in seat O 37 to 39 Upper Circle. These tickets are so high
and far from the action as to be not worth doing, even when using
opera glasses! The height made 2 of us feel extremely queasy for
most of the show as your eye has to keep adjusting between looking
at the ceiling (which we were perilously close to) and the stage
miles below. Everyone seemed to have a big head which blocked the
stage and we spent the whole performance craning our necks and
moving from side to side for better views. The actors never included
us in their gaze and it all became a bit boring. Another thing, the
lighting during "Close the Door" was dim and as lee curled up on the
floor to sing it, only standing for the last few lines, it was
pretty boring.
Don't go to a matinee in cheap seats as lots of rough types bring
their fidgeting children and then yell at them throughout the show,
breaking into hand clapping fervour over their heads in the last few
minutes. One woman clipped my nose with her hands and put her
children on her shoulders so we couldn't see a thing… it was pretty
unpleasant. I am surprised the seating hasn't had a revamp as its
not worth sitting in the last half of the Upper Circle at all as
views are terrible.
The performance was energetic and Lee Meade can hold the audience,
but the sets were cheap and the whole production had the feel of am
dram at the local school. A bit disappointing and definitely for the
masses who don't know any better.
_________________
Our trip to "Joseph" was on Tuesday 4th September 2007 and we were
sitting in Row D seats 29 to 32 of the Dress Circle. The seats were
slightly on the side but this didn't affect the view at all - all
parts of the stage were visible and legroom was fine.
The atmosphere of course is electric before the lights go down, and
the buzz as Joseph (Lee Mead) glides into view quite thrilling. Lee
was excellent and manages to go through all the right emotions on
his journey. His rendition of "Close Every Door" was as good as I
have heard.
We saw the Narrator understudy - Fiona Reyes - and she was very good
and clear despite a slightly shaky start. I love this production of
"Joseph" having seen the original back in the 90s at the Palladium
with Jason and Phillip etc and it was like visiting an old friend
who hadn't changed a bit - in fact looked ten years younger ! One of
the best lines in any song must be "its getting rather hard to see
us from sideways on" - love it, love it.
Fantastic commitment and energy from the entire cast and every song
memorable and sing-able. One new song has been added for Pharaoh
which was very tuneful but rather annoying for us fans who can't
sing along with him. Great view in the Dress Circle when Lee ascends
into the audience with his coat flying out behind him - fantastic.
This show and this particular production has to be in my top five
musicals - if you like feel-good theatre it doesn't feel much better
than this.
___________________
Upper Circle, seat K7, 21st July 2007, £31.50:
End of row, with bar by left side - but only comfort intrusive
rather than view which was good.
So this was the first "proper" Saturday night show after the
previews and opening, so I expected (and got) a level of squealing
young girl "Lee" fans. For me as a bloke Preeya Kalidas (Narrator)
was total eye candy. Gorgeous!
The show was as expected, lively. The little things off focus add to
the experience; as other commentators have stated the "animals"
raise a chuckle, and there is so much going on with a completely
talented cast you would need several visits to this show to see all
that goes on "periphery."
Enjoy the performances of the rest of the cast because they do a
great job! Lee is only the star due to TV - there is a "team
performance". Needs the side bits for the story but again, watch the
background not the front for the entertainment. The majority of
people my age have experienced this show at either school, local
theatre or "Donny" on DVD, so yes, a good show and is a "feel good"
show that raises your party spirit and you leave humming the tunes.
Go for a party!
_____________________Saw Joseph in October 2007 and had a
thoroughly entertaining evening. Lee Mead was excellent and seemed
to be enjoying himself immensely. Preeya Kalidas as the narrator was
very entertaining but she lacked vocal range at times.
We sat in stalls row G seats 19, 20 and 21. I am 6ft 2ins and the
legroom was terrific and I had plenty of room to stretch out. My
view was also excellent but my wife and daughter (being somewhat
shorter than me) had there view slightly obstructed by heads in the
row in front, the rake at row G being very shallow. The lack of a
centre aisle meant a bit of a trek from the side aisle over bags /
coats / refreshments and other people despite us arriving early.
All in all we had a fantastic evening.
Adam
______________________
Joseph has about twenty songs, and almost everyone in the
audience knows almost every one. The sets are huge blockbuster
pieces, which constantly change, and are rarely seen twice, and
the slanting sliding flats are put to excellent use. The singing
is all pretty good, the dancing truly spectacular, the costumes
are some of the best you will ever see, and its all over in 2
hours 10 minutes. So why is it not quite the perfect evening it
could have been?
Well, primarily, its greatest strength is also shown up as
its most crippling weakness; Andrew Lloyd Webber's score. Famed
for its pastiches of many different styles (country, Elvis,
classic French ballads, calypso...) it means the show lacks one
all encompassing theme. This is reflected in the staging and
whilst almost every scene is, in itself, fantastic, they never
really form a complete whole. The most obvious example of this
is the act 1 finale: Joseph is in prison, speaking to the baker
and butler, when suddenly he is at some hippy/disco-cross party
complete with guru. The song ('Go Go Go Joseph') is one of the
show's biggest hits, the look of the whole thing is great, but
why has it happened? Act 2 begins with us being told "Joseph is
still doing time in jail", so it's really just an excuse for a
big number, which, whilst not the worst thing that could be
shoehorned in, does feel slightly incongruous.
Reading what I have said, it might seem like I didn't enjoy the
show, and that really isn't true. In fact my main problem was
with the first half hour, where there's a lot of fast moving
plot, and the choreography isn't all that exciting. However as
soon as the hoedown kicks in, the dancers show you what they've
really got, and it's all fun from there on. In my opinion act 2
works better, since it basically all takes place in the
Pharaoh's palace, and so feels more coherent.
All of the minor niggles don't detract from the fact that when
this show is good, it's truly excellent. Each set piece will
blow you away, even if, together, they don't necessarily work as
a set of set-pieces. Lee Mead has real charisma and a great
voice, and Dean Collinson makes both of his songs standouts.
Preeya Kalidas looks absolutely stunning and has a very pretty
voice, even if it occasionally gets lost among the eleven
brothers. But the brothers are amazing. 'Those Canaan Days' was
the song of the night and they really put everything they've got
into their performances. The whole thing is so fast paced and
full of energy, that by the time the disco medley finale, known
as the megamix, is over (culminating in Lee on a small flashing
platform high above the stalls trailing a huge rainbow tail) it
is simply impossible not to have been won over by the infectious
fun. Overall, definitely worth your time and money.
A.C
_____________________ This evening (2nd November 2007) I went
to see 'Joseph.' Firstly in this theatre it is not worth sitting
upstairs in the Upper Circle, at the back. Most theatres I go to
I do normally sit in the circle with no trouble, but this was
impossible to see the show and had to stand up to see it all -
so worth paying the extra for decent seats.
The first five minutes I thought, 'oh no-boring' - how wrong.
Lee Mead, who I actually picked from the TV in the first two
minutes as "the winner," was fantastic - he has an amazing stage
presence his voice is phenomenal.
I wasn't sure what sort of show to expect and was very impressed
with all the liveliness with the dancing and of course the
songs, but for me the dancing was superb. The narrator was
brilliant a lovely voice and all the cast gave superb
performances. I was never particularly an Elvis fan but thought
the guy who played him in this was brilliant also.
There was a lot of fun in it a huge amount of energy and the
whole cast worked tremendously well together. I would recommend
this to anyone. Believe me, I wasn't sure what to expect and
thought, to be honest, it would be quite heavy going and boring;
WRONG, far from it.
The scenery was reasonably good with some better than others
which is the case in most shows. I cant think of anything I can
fault the show with but, as I have already said, make sure you
do not sit in the circle at the back - very poor and not worth
compromising a good show.
Christina Brooks
Highgate
______________________ I took a coach group yesterday (7th
November 2007) to 'Joseph' and they just loved it. From my point
of view there are just two comments. Being the Wednesday matinee
we had the understudy for the Narrator who I felt was infinitely
better than Preya Kalidas at least based on her performance when
I was invited to the Clients evening preview performance. She
reached all the high notes and held them very musically wheareas
Preya struggled to reach the high ones as you mentioned in your
preview.
The only problem I had was that the tallest member of my group
at 6'4" had asked for an aisle seat which was very unfortunate
for him as I had to allocate him U17 & 18. If only he hadn't
asked, any other seat back to row T would have have given him
plenty of leg room. There is at least a foot difference in leg
room between row T and U, at least for those seats that are
immediately in front of the mixing desk. He literally could not
sit with the seat down and had to perch on it in the upright
position. The row does widen in the lower numbers past the
mixing desk but it really is bad for those 6 - 8 seats that are
immediately in front of the mixing desk. Even fairly short
members of my group sitting near him had their knees crammed
against the seat in front.
_______________________ I took my 10-year-old daughter and my mum
to see 'Joseph' on 8th November 2007.
We
sat in the stalls, row T seats 21 to 24. The view was excellent
(you can't
account for big heads though), and the show was incredible. One
of my
all time 'faves' anyway, from the moment the curtain went up it
had me
hooked. We were disappointed when it was time for the interval!
Lee Mead
is truly a shining star. He can act, sing, and even dance. And
his pecs
were greeted with a 'wooo hoooo' from the audience. I can't
imagine any
of the other hopeful Josephs being so right for the part.
The
only time
our view was restricted, is right at the end when (look away now
if you
don't want to spoil a surprise) Joseph is extended to Circle
level on a hydrolic platform that reaches out over the stalls. (Lucky
people in the
front row of the circle - no wonder we couldn't get tickets
there!).
Personally I didn't like the extra song sung by the Pharaoh
(which in
our show was brilliantly played by the understudy), but that is
my one
and only gripe. My mum had never seen any 'Joseph' production, but
she
really enjoyed the score, and the humour. I want to go again!! J.D - Bedfordshire
________________________ Saw the show on 12th December 2007
with my husband, who despite all his protests thoroughly enjoyed
it!
I had followed Lee throughout the BBC show and was thrilled
when he won the role of Joseph - he does not disappoint. I
thought he was great and along with an excellent cast appeared
to be really enjoying himself.
It's worth all the effort to get hold of a ticket!!
Sarah,
Kent
________________________ I saw the show again tonight (21st
January 2008). As I suspected, compared with Lee, Lewis is way
too scrawny!! And I suspect the sound-desk helped a lot...
________________________ I booked up to go and see Joseph as
part of the 16 to 25 live offer (January 2008). I went with
three friends on Thursday 24th January 2008 and we paid £15 each
- bargain! We got seats in the Upper Circle, seats B15 to B18. I
had my doubts about being in the Upper Circle after reading some
reviews but we couldn't have asked for more for the amount we
paid!
You couldn't see the very front of the stage unless you leant
forward but you don't miss much of the action as most of it goes
on further back. Otherwise we had a great view - especially of
Lewis at the end when he rose up on a platform (much to my
friend's delight!). The people in front of us leant forward most
of the time but a few minutes into the show, we didn't notice
them and they didn't really get in the way. I didn't feel that
there was bad legroom (and my legs are too long for my own
good!) but, to be honest, I was concentrating more on the show.
The show itself - amazing! I've seen loads of Joseph productions
(even though I'm only 16) and this was by far the best I've
seen.
We had Lewis Bradley playing Joseph as Lee was on holiday.
Having supported Lewis throughout 'Any Dream Will Do', I was
very happy to have him as the lead and he really didn't
disappoint! Everything about his performance was amazing. A
highlight for me was definitely Close Every Door - he sang it
with so much emotion you would have thought it was Joseph
himself!
I should also mention Jenna Lee-James as the narrator - wow she
can sing! When she sang Pharaoh's Story at the beginning of the
second act she totally blew me away! I would have given her a
standing ovation there and then!
The dancing is outstanding, the children were wonderful, the set
was fantastic and the entire cast were amazingly talented. I
could go on picking out almost every moment of the show saying
how great it was and it would be such an understatement! It was
a superb night out. Great fun and it was made even better by
meeting Lewis at stage door afterwards. For only £15 what more
could you ask for?!
If I could only pick out one thing wrong it was the audience -
I'm not being biased being a Joseph lover but I'd have thought
that any show that makes you smile that much you would cheer
for. Most of the time the audience could only just be bothered
to clap! The cast deserved much more praise than that, they were
truly outstanding.
Rochelle.
_____________________ Went to see this on Tuesday night, 18th
March 2008. Fantastic – the place was buzzing - what a good fun
night out. Have seen it twice before and enjoyed it just as
much. Lee Mead was a very good Joseph. Very charismatic. The
female lead was a bit of shrieker at times – shame because she
had a good enough voice but felt the need to belt it out a bit
too much! The children were all very good singers and there were
some great dancers in the cast. A good Elvis impression by the
guy playing the Pharaoh – couldn’t always hear what he was
singing too clearly though.
Sat Row E of Dress Circle 27 to 32 – good view – little tight on
the leg room and a bit hot too but nonetheless great seats and
probably just as good a being in the stalls – especially at the
end – not to give anything away!
A great show to take the children to (if you can afford it) at
£45 a shot an expensive night but we did get a free pud at TGIs
so that’s something!
This is what West End musicals are all about and no one does it
better than ALW.
Lizzie Loves the Theatre
______________________ I took my Group to Joseph yesterday
(26th March 2008). It was a superb day. Everyone loved the show.
For me the main thing that stood out was the singing of The
Narrator. She was so much better than the first one (Preeya) .
That show grows on me!
______________________ Went to see this production of Joseph
for the sixth time today (5th April 2008) and it was the best so
far; this in spite of the best efforts of the out of control dry
ice machine at the beginning ( Lee handled it like a total pro!)
At last we have a narrator fit to polish the boots of the
legendary Linzi Hateley, well done Jenna Lee Jones you were very
good! Lee was fabulous as always and inexplicably moved me to
tears during 'Close Every Door' today - I must be hormonal LOL.
I'm dreading the day when he hangs the loin cloth up for good, I
trust his Grace will be able to find a more worthy successor
than "sweet" Lewis Bradley.
Just want to heap praise on all the supporting cast
especially the brothers and in particular Adam Pearce whose
facial expressions deserve a show of their own. As always the
highlights for me are 'Go, Go, Go Joseph' and "that" note during
'Canaan Days.' Thank you everybody involved for two hours of
pure joy, tickets for 'Joseph' should be available on the
National Health - Prozac without the side effects!
Sallythfc
_______________________ A different viewpoint...
I wondered if I would have anything different to say about
'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' when I sat down
to write my second review of the show at the Adelphi Theatre on
the evening of Saturday the 24th May 2008.
On this occasion we had seats in the central front row which I
know adds something special to a performance but, as Joseph had
been so magical the first time, I wondered if I would enjoy it
as I had first time round.
Boy did I. In our vantage point, many of the facial expressions
and props that had been missed first time round were more
obvious and added so much to the performance.
Lee Mead, still looking gorgeous in his loin cloth, having been
in the lead for almost a year now, continues to put his heart
and soul into every performance and his passion for the part is
striking. As he sings, the veins in his neck stand out with the
force he gives each note. As he performs the heart rendering
“Close Every Door” I found myself breathing heavily as the song
reached its final notes, such is the emotion Lee puts into an
already emotional song.
The children were enchanting, the dancers and brothers vibrant
and energetic and Jenna Lee James in the role of narrator
stunned me with her voice and stage presence. She sounded
phenomenal, oozing sex appeal, at least judging by the reactions
of the man sitting next to me when she bared her long legs in a
short, sparkly dress!
We voted Lee Mead as our Joseph and he hasn’t let us down. The
dream lives on for both him and us as he gives the performance
of his life every time he is on stage. Long may dream coats be
in fashion!
______________________________ 28th May 2008, Afternoon
performance:
Seats were stalls C9 to 12. A little to the side, but a great
view. None of my group had any problem with the stage height,
and we felt almost part of the action. I found the legroom to be
adequate (remembering I am well above average height!). Maybe,
had the show been a long one, I might have had trouble, but for
'Joseph' I didn't notice. Occasionally the banter between the
groups of characters at our side of the stage was a distraction
from the main action but I actually enjoyed that.
As for the show, I have a chequered history with 'Joseph' - the
first production of it I ever saw was with Jason Donovan at the
Palladium, and loved every minute. Since then, no other version
of this show has quite come up to scratch, particularly the
Kenwright version in Sheffield, where nobody seemed to notice
that everybody was doubling up parts so much that we lost a
brother halfway through act two.
So, given that this new version is basically a retread of the
Palladium staging, I thought it was time to put my money where
my mouth is, and take my wife and her parents along to see what
I had been raving about all this time.
Amazingly, I was not disappointed in the slightest! It had all
the energy and fun that I remembered, plus a company that
over-acted just to the right degree to make it a fantastic
afternoon of entertainment. Lee Mead was great in the role, but
the star of the afternoon was Fiona Reyes as the narrator - she
was fantastic, and is a really good reason to go to a Wednesday
Matinee. Having said that, the whole cast were great, the team
of brothers were on top form. Sometimes there was so much going
on on stage that it was hard to know where to look, but
everywhere, the cast were acting and getting involved. (I know
this sounds obvious but back to the touring version - if any of
the cast were awake it was a bonus!).
The new song for Pharaoh was a little superfluous, but Dean
Collinson made the most of it. The children sang well, most
looked very natural, only a few cheesy stage school smiles, and
the ensemble of adults looked very relaxed in the roles - if
they are bored by now it didn't show.
Of course, 'Joseph' is undemanding entertainment, and if that is
what you are looking for, it is among the best in London at the
moment.
On an aside note, lots of children around us, all were
immaculately behaved which is good to see. Some of the adults
around us however could have taken lessons from them.
_______________________ Dress Circle, Row F, seats 7and 8. I
must say I was actually quite happy with these seats. They are
certainly not anything special but you get a very good view of
the whole stage, allowing for a good overview on the production.
And the leg room was much better than I experienced in the
stalls at the Aldwych Theatre.
Now my opinion on the show: Firstly, I think a lot of the cast
had changed fairly recently (early June 1008), I am guessing
maybe the brothers etc; but they were great, and you would have
thought they had been doing it for ages.
I was very impressed. Lee Mead was excellent in the role of
Joseph. He certainly wasn't my favourite on the show (Ben Ellis
was!) but from the moment he slowly descended on to the stage I
couldn't imagine any of the others in the role. Throughout the
show he was commanding in the role and his voice excellent. For
me, however the star of the show was Jenna Lee James as the
Narrator. I thought her voice was superb and had great emotion,
but it was the little things like facial expressions and body
movements that really stood out and made her perfect for the
role (which works much better with a woman in my opinion). Also
the guy playing the Butler (can't remember his name) was very
funny and his mannerisms were brilliant (I watched him a lot
whilst Pharaoh was on)
The first act was thoroughly enjoyable and passed so quickly.
The second act, didn't quite live up to the first for me. I
thought Dean Collinson as Pharaoh was a let down (which my
mother was upset about as she knows him!). I thought his diction
was poor, he was too shouty, and the jokes were quite old and
tired for a show that felt very modern (not his fault I know).
The act with the brothers after Pharaoh also took a while to
grab me but by the end I did enjoy it. The end of the show with
the mega-mix of the songs was a great ending and performed so
energetically by what must have been a tired cast. The very
ending with Lee coming up on the platform was very OTT but
worked perfectly and the whole theatre on their feet loved it.
Overall I thought the show was very good, a better Pharaoh would
have resulted in an excellent. Lord Webber does know how to put
on a show, and 3 days later I am still singing go, go, go Joseph
(my fave number in the performance, I loved the 60's styling)
and talking it up to everyone who happens to mention what I did
last weekend. |
