RCMPI production a success
From Nov. 20 to 24 at the River Run Centre, Royal City Musical Productions Inc. (RCMPI) presented its version of the classic musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with music by Tim Rice. This was the first Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly, and it is based on the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors from the book of Genesis.
Throughout the plot, Joseph faces many challenges, including the jealousy of his 11 brothers (talk about a big family), being sold into slavery and landing himself in jail. However, Joseph keeps on dreaming of a better future, and perseveres.
The cast and crew of the RCMPI production were incredibly talented and put on an amazing show that was enjoyed by all. It was upbeat, lively, fun, and had the perfect touch of humour.
RCMPI’s production showcased all of the traditional features of Joseph, with an Elvis-like character as the Pharaoh, and the wealthy Potiphar’s palace set in the roaring twenties. The audience was whisked away to a Western saloon, a Parisian café, the swinging sixties, and the Caribbean, all within the hour-and-a-half musical production. Songs sampled many different genres including country-western, calypso, pop, and rock ‘n’ roll. The dance styles also varied, ranging from ballet to tap.
The cast was composed of many talented vocalists and actors, including a few students from the University of Guelph. The talented Patrick Stiles returned to his roots in the lead role of Joseph, having performed with RCMPI in his first musical over 20 years ago. Emily Young, a fourth year voice music education student at Wilfred Laurier University, was mind-blowing as the narrator. Other stellar performances included the campy Potiphar (reminiscent of King Herrod from Jesus Christ Superstar), Joseph’s 11 jealous brothers (who added a touch of comic relief), and the Pharaoh.
The brilliant ensemble, orchestra, and dancers were equally impressive. The children’s choir was especially adorable and brought a youthful quality to the production. Additionally, the multiple costume, lighting, and set changes set the perfect tone for the musical, ending perfectly with rainbow streamers that were released during the finale.
While exiting the theatre, the audience members were abuzz with praise – gushing about the high energy the performance exuded. The entire cast looked as though they were having a blast from start to finish, and on top of this, they performed wonderfully. The performance was nothing less than a stunning success.