Stage: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Playhouse Opera, Durban Performances until July 16
REVIEW BY BILLY SUTER
SLICK, vocally strong throughout and fizzing with fun, this is the 21st production – and most ambitious and certainly the largest to date – from Durban’s Young Performers Project, a theatre initiative for local youth which, as always, cannot be praised highly enough.
Since initiated by the late Themi Venturas all those years ago, the YPP, as it is known, has remained a very valuable project through which local high school pupils, under the wings of theatre professionals, learn theatre craft.
More importantly, however, as is pointed out in programme notes by amiable Joseph director Jaco van Rensburg, these youngsters also learn life skills including work ethics, uniting for a common goal, building confidence, boosting communication skills, understanding other points of view, and developing social skills and great friendships.
This year’s production, which as usual also features professionals, delivers all of that. It also showcases the project’s largest cast yet (167 youths from 50-plus schools throughout KwaZulu-Natal), and for the first time also embraces primary school pupils.
With deft direction from Van Rensburg, top-notch vocal direction by Des Govender (who has led the team since 2017) as well as lively choreography by Simone Mann, the youngsters in this production offer a truly captivating spectacle of the long-popular Tim Rice-Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.
The biblical tale of a curly-haired lad whose vivid dreams foretell the future, and who is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, plays out on a stage with grandstand seating flanking central steps, and against a changing backdrop of projected visuals.
Kyran Taylor, a pupil at Reddam House Umhlanga, makes for an excellent Joseph, possessing a sweet, strong, clear voice and a good stage presence; while Georgie Kelly is the show’s standout – in brilliant voice, with clear diction and pretty as a picture as the Narrator.
Georgie got her first big bite of showbiz playing Hodel in YPP’s Fiddler on the Roof many years ago and has gone on to play the title role in such KickstArt successes as Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The show’s other professional is comical Aaron McIlroy, a big crowd-pleaser as leg-shaking, Elvis-inspired Pharaoh. Aaron’s daughter, Reddam House Umhlanga pupil Grace McIlroy, features as a prominent dancer throughout, and in the role of Potiphar’s seductive wife in a glitzy sequence that tips a hat to Chicago.
There are lots of quirky moments in this enjoyable romp – look out for the angel on the stands who, in between solo vocal high notes, sits down to file her fingernails during One More Angel in Heaven; a couple of scooters depicting camels; a high-spirited hoedown set to the first-half closing number, Go, Go, Go, Joseph, and a disco-themed free-for-all during the pharaoh sequence.
The production has set design by Chris Taylor, costume design by Kathy Singery, lighting by Dylan Heath and sound by Megan Holder.
The show is a joyous jol which spurred an instant standing ovation and hearty clap-along during the rousing finale. It is a treat for all age groups and a show so very deserving of support. Please see it! Booking is through WebTickets and tickets are priced from R150 to R250.
Joseph runs for 90 minutes with a 20-minute interval and is suitable for ages four and above. Final performances are as follows:
Sunday, 9 July – 2.30pm
Tuesday, 11 July – 2.30pm
Wednesday, 12 July – 2.30pm
Thursday, 13 July – 2.30pm
Friday, 14 July – 2.30 and 6.30pm
Saturday, 15 July – 2. 30 and 6.30pm
Sunday, 16 July – 2.30pm (final)
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.....SoSuterBill..... 