reviewvancouver: Metro Theatre-Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; John Anthony Jane

Metro Theatre
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

When & Where May 9 to June 8, 2025, Evenings 7:30pm, Thurs, Fri, and Sat, Matinees – 2pm Sundays | Metro Theatre, 1370 Marine Dr SW, Vancouver

Director Christopher King Music Director Jenaya Barker Choreography Shelley Stewart Hunt Lighting Designer Keith S Woods Costume Designer Erin Gravelle Sound Mixing Sam Armstrong Stage Manager Cat Main
The Musicians Livia Cohen - Keyboard, Mark Richardson - Guitar, Sheldon Graham - Drums, Chris Qiu - Bass, Miranda Wheeler - Reeds

Reviewer John Anthony Jane

Metro Theatre’s final presentation of the current season, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat pulls out all the stops. Christopher King directs and Shelley Stewart Hunt choreographs this ‘amazing colourful’ production.

I didn’t really want to see a by-the-book adaptation of the story of Jacob’s favourite son who never got along with his siblings. Didn’t most of us learn the original story in Sunday school? As it turns out, this family-friendly stage musical is antithetical to a bible class. The only similarity that Christopher King’s version has with the original book of Genesis is that the eponymous Joseph gets to wear a multi-coloured jacket.

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote this little piece of musical theatre even before their other biblical adaptation Jesus Christ Superstar and originally intended it for a school project in London. It can best be described as a secular oratorio -- almost the entire text is sung – except that it also includes costumes and scenery (well, not too much scenery). The story, naturally chronicles the life of Joseph, the most famous member of Jacob’s extended family. Despised by his brothers who sell him into slavery, he, through his uncanny knack of interpreting dreams rises to a position of power in Pharaoh’s inner circle.

King breathes new life into this musical chestnut by taking it out of Egypt in roughly, the seventh century BC to a live television variety show (minus laugh track) in 1975. The seventies were halcyon days for television variety shows that gave us the Cher TV Show (that inspired this production’s setting), as well as The ABC Comedy Hour and The Smothers Brothers Show.

The production boasts a large cast, with as many as eighteen performers and six musicians sometimes taking the stage together. The talented cast are blended from veteran actors and emerging talent almost straight out of theatre school who fill the stage with movement, song, and sparkling choreography.

Argel Monte de Ramos takes on the title role of Joseph who delivers a charismatic and heroic performance. He sings with flexibility and feeling, particularly in one of the few memorable songs from the show “Any Dream Will Do.” His “brothers” (four of his brothers are actually sisters for this production) are a group of energetic young artists who perform with focus throughout the ninety-minute show and look like they’re having a blast doing it. Their ensemble song “One More Angel in Heaven” was a highlight of the first act. Ivania Delgado is terrific as the narrator. Sharing the lead with Argel Monte de Ramos, she brings a fluid musicality to the songs that drive the narrative.

Erin Gravelle must surely have broken the budget with her seventies style clothing. It’s all certainly eye-catching, particularly Ms. Delgado's many costume changes and Pharaoh’s Elvis style white jumpsuit.

It’s hard to understand why this musical has endured; the songs aren’t easily remembered. Still, it certainly looks a lot of fun to perform. If you go and see it, you’ll likely have fun too. Just don’t expect a bible lesson.