Bristol 22nd Feb 2011

[Tanith Messenger]

A technicolor tale
by Charlotte Richardson



WHEN producer and director Bill Kenwright brings his renowned production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to The Bristol 
Hippodrome this month, audiences will undoubtedly 
recognise the young man in the leading role.

Keith Jack was one of the most popular finalists in the hit BBC series Any Dream Will Do.

Watched by millions every Saturday night, the show was produced to find a leading man for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new West End production and Keith, chosen from tens of 
thousands of wannabees, charmed audiences week after 
week with his vocal talents, finally coming in a close 
second.

He went on to play the narrator in the UK tour of Joseph and returns for the 2011 tour in the lead role

Keith has appeared as Aladdin at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow and as the title role in Peter Pan at His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen.

He created the lead role of Charlie in the new musical Only the Brave, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festivaltook to the stage in front of the Queen and the Spanish Royal Family at the Parliament Picnic, as well as in Choices for Life 2008 and 2009 and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s birthday concert at Hyde Park.

Keith has released two albums. His debut was called This Time and went 
into the top 40 and his most recent An Evening at the Musicals was released last year.

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the colourful retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his 11 brothers and the famous coat sings out to young and old alike with a score which is wall to wall hits including Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do.

Bill Kenwright, one of the most successful and prolific producers in British theatre today, whose current hit West End shows include the musicals Blood Brothers and Cabaret and acclaimed drama The Letter, was on the expert panel of judges alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber, Denise Van Outen and John 
Barrowman and is delighted that Keith is taking on the leading role.

The production will be staged at The Bristol Hippodrome from 
February 22-27.

Tickets, priced £13-27, are available from www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk

© 2011 Archant Regional Ltd.
© www.thewestonmercury.co.uk

[Tanith Messenger]

By Natalie Hale.....

​Being a theatre lover, I can lay claim to having seen most musicals over the years either through work or pleasure.

However, believe it or not, I have never seen the musical behemoth that is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours just never appealed.

And what a strange, unexpected, mish-mash of a show this was – luckily, in a good way.

I certainly learned the error of my ways as last night’s sparkling show brought the house down at the Bristol Hippodrome.

This gaudy, toe-tapping, beguiling production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice classic boasts colourful costumes, simple yet effective sets, and big show-stopping numbers all performed jubilantly while keeping a satirical tongue firmly in its cheek.

With very little spoken dialogue the show is sung-through almost completely, and the music offers no end of appealing parody. Audiences are treated to French ballads, rock ‘n’ roll, Country and Western, calypso and disco, all performed with panache.

Keith Jack, who stars in the title role, was one of the most popular finalists in the hit BBC series Any Dream Will Do back in 2007. Watched by millions every Saturday night, Keith charmed audiences week after week with his vocal talents, finally coming in a close second to Lee Mead. He went on to play the Narrator in the UK tour, but now finally takes to the stage as Joseph.

Despite being small of stature, Keith had the audience in the palm of his hand as he belted out song after song including firm favourites Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do.

Narrator Jennifer Potts held the show together with aplomb with her understated performance and pitch-perfect voice, while Adam Jarrell went down a storm with his lip-curling, hip-shaking Elvis-inspired Pharaoh.

In fact, there wasn’t one weak link among the surprisingly small and impressive cast, the majority of whom took on dual roles.

Special mention should also go to the choir of children from Bristol School of Performing Arts, who provided a delightful vocal accompaniment throughout the show.

It was high energy right down to the very last encore as Joseph and his brothers had the spirited audience up on their feet.

OK, so Joseph is never going to be one of my most highly-rated musicals. It’s weird but it’s wonderful and more importantly it’s entertaining and uplifting.

And isn’t that what many of us want from a night at the theatre?

© www.thisisbristol.co.uk
© Northcliffe Media Ltd

[Tanith Messenger]

Joseph and his dreamcoat delight young audience
By Liza-Jane Gillespie

JOSEPH and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has given this week’s dull and wet half term break a real lift.

The show, written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and directed by Bill Kenwright, has brought to the Bristol Hippodrome all the fun, colour and vibrancy needed for a great night of family entertainment.

With so many well-known songs, Jacob and Sons, Close Every Door, and of course Any Dream Will Do, the audience can not help but sing along and get swept away with the cast’s enthusiasm.

The two-hour show tells the story of Joseph, who favoured by his father is sold as a slave by his 11 jealous brothers, only to end up as Pharaoh’s right hand man in Egypt years later, thanks to his ability to interpret dreams.

The cast is led by the BBC’s Any Dream Will do runner-up Ketih Jack, who takes the lead role. Jack does a good job with a strong stage presence though at times his performance was more shouting than singing.

However, Jack is well supported by Jennifer Potts, who plays the narrator, and the 11 actors who play Joseph’s brothers.

The brothers, bonus points for anyone who can name all 11, sang well and had some great choreography. Their renditions of One More Angel in Heaven, and Those Canaan Days almost steal the show.

The real highlight of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat though has to be the Elvis impersonating Pharaoh. Adam Jarrell delivers a convincing Elvis with the Song of the King complete with hip action and lip curl.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at the Bristol Hippodrome until this Sunday, February 27.

© Newsquest Media Group
© www.gazetteseries.co.uk