Theatre
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
MCC

Everybody loves a good musical – the Maltese more than most; and there is nothing more entertaining in terms of wholesome family fun than a Lloyd Webber favourite.

Possibly because I had once been involved in the children’s choir for the same musical when it was first produced in Malta many moons ago, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice) is one which I remember very well and has a very special place in my heart. The latest production by relatively new theatre company, Hoi Polloi at the Mediterranean Conference Centre last weekend did not fail to deliver.

With a title based on the notion of colour, originally written in the 1960s and expanded to its full version in the mid-1970s – one cannot expect anything less than psychedelic from a show like this. The highly stylised set designed by Adrian Mamo was rather storybook-like and resembled double-spread illustrations in a children’s bible. Coupled with the use of projections, and cleverly crafted props however, it turned out to be quite effective.

In terms of the visuals though, what really made the show quite spectacular were the costumes – so wonderfully creative and stunningly styled that they were easily recognisable, making them instantly iconic.

The choreography was in fact a very important element in the lavish tone set for this production and served to showcase the ensemble’s talents not just from a vocal perspective but also from the point of view of discipline and cooperation.

For a cast this large to coordinate properly and function as a synchronised whole, it must have certainly taken them, along with their two choreographers Alison Bird and Johane Casabene, countless hours of hard work and dedication.

With musical direction in the able hands of Brian Cefai and choir direction under Stefania Galea, the stage was certainly set for a quality show.

What proved to be a revelation was director/producer Marco Calleja – a relatively new face in the mainstream Maltese theatre scene, who proved that his enthusiasm and innovative ideas gave the show a clear vision and tight direction. Granted, much of the styling seems very similar to that of the latest West End revival, but it was so well done that it worked nicely anyway.

Dorian Mallia looked the part as Joseph and had a surprisingly good singing voice for a professional dancer, if a tad contrived at times, however some flaws in diction still need to be addressed – particularly a rather forced sibilant which was exacerbated by the occasionally loud amplification balance. With experience, this young man can do nothing but improve – he is certainly on his way to becoming a triple threat and working alongside seasoned cast members like Katherine Brown, who played the narrator and Ralph Mangion (Mr Potiphar and Reuben) is definitely an asset.

Ms Brown was terrific as a narrator – with a clear, sonorous voice and a pleasant, instantly likeable demeanour; she made the most of the part and gave an excellent performance while Mr Mangion is a veteran of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and gave a very polished interpretation.

I also liked Warren Vella’s rock ‘n’roll Pharaoh, Kate De Cesare’s nymphomaniac Mrs Potiphar and Stefan Attard’s kindly and bumbling Jacob who all gave commendable performances. The Brothers, all 11 of them, stole the show from the start and just kept getting better with each ensuing number, with One More Angel in Heaven, Those Canaan Days and Benjamin Calypso, with a raggae-solo by Joseph Zammit, being the highlights. This vocal section was strong and clean, expressing not just words but spirit and just proves how good male voice choirs can be – we need more of them.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is a musical with a youthful audience in mind and the children’s choir was not only highly coordinated and harmonious, but also integrated nicely into the scene-by-scene development of the piece. It was clear that they were enjoying every bit of it – as a feel-good show like this undoubtedly has this effect on you.

What was most encouraging was that this is a new generation of youngsters who are becoming brought up to appreciate the performing arts and along with the many other newcomers who were involved in this performance, will hopefully continue to explore the possibilities that the stage has to offer.

A thoroughly enjoyable evening indeed.