Summer doesn’t end at Bucks County Playhouse until the annual staging of this hit Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical.
By: Stuart Duncan
Summer isn’t officially over at Bucks County Playhouse until a visit from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. At last it’s here with its rock score and flashy but brief costumes. The Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice show sounds as good as ever, giving it all the ingredients that have made it such a huge favorite over the past half-dozen years.
Joseph opened off-Broadway in the East Village in mid-November 1981, played 77 performances and then transferred to Broadway’s Royale Theatre in late January ’82 for an additional 747 performances. But earlier it had made its first appearance at an elementary school just outside London. At that point it lasted just 18 minutes. The reception was so exciting, Webber and Rice kept adding to the story, changing the mood each time French pathos, cowboy serenade, Calypso. By the time they were finished, they had a 90-minute little gem (including an approximately 8-minute rapid-fire reprise of much of the tale).
The most exciting thing about this year’s revival at Bucks is the emergence of Jill Palena in the role of the narrator. She is in her fifth season at Bucks, starting at age 16, and celebrated her 21st birthday a few weeks ago. Of course, she began in the ensemble (that’s the new-fangled word for what used to be called the "chorus") and worked her way to supporting roles in shows such as Footloose and Grease. And she’s terrific a talented dancer, a fine singer and a personality that lights up the entire stage.
Lots of other talented people are on the stage. Ryan Stone, in the title role, stepped up when the original Joseph got called by an important touring company. Scott Ihde returns to romp his way through the part of the Pharaoh, à la Elvis. Ryan Cook has a delicious time in multiple roles, especially as Jacob, Joseph’s dad.
As always, director/choreographer Stephen Casey adds his own special brand of energy to the production this time with an extraordinary male ensemble (that’s Joseph’s 11 brothers) who dance as well as any in years. The opening-night audience gave their numbers full-throated approval.
You may remember that a number of teen idols played the Joseph role during the Broadway run, among them Andy Gibb and David Cassidy. You may also remember a 2000 video production that starred (be still my heart) Donny Osmond and Joan Collins. This staging is a whole lot better than that.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat continues at Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, Pa., through Nov. 14. Performances: Wed.-Thurs. 2, 8 p.m.; Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. 4, 8 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22-$24. For information, call (215) 862-2041. On the Web: www.buckscountyplayhouse.com