Civic Theatre produces dreamy 'Joseph'

Talented, high-energy cast offers polished take on Lloyd Webber musical

BY JENN MCKEE

News Arts Writer

Remember that scene in “Pulp Fiction” where John Travolta thrusts an adrenaline shot into Uma Thurman’s heart?

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream-coat” is the Broadway musical version of that shot - for at the end, a high-energy, abridged reprise of the show’s catchy songs whips the audience into a clapping frenzy, so that you leave feeling as though you’ve just taken part in some kind of show-tune revival.

Not that that’s bad. It’s downright wonderful, actually, as is the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre’s production of “Joseph.” Although I’ve only been watching A2CT shows for eight months, this is the strongest production I’ve seen from the company.

The musical re-tells - by way of a narrator (Amanda Brown) -the biblical story of Joseph (Reynaldo Arceno Jr.), the favorite son of Jacob (Michael A. LaFlamme), who interprets dreams. When Jacob gives Joseph a multicolored coat, Joseph’s 11 jealous brothers conspire to sell him into slavery.

And once in Egypt, Joseph lands in jail. Word of his dream reading abilities reaches Pharaoh (Eric Beitchman), however, and after Joseph demonstrates his skills, Pharaoh makes him an adviser. When Joseph’s brothers later arrive in Egypt, hungry and seeking help, they don’t recognize him, so he decides to test them.

The show’s enormous cast -including nearly 30 kids - works together marvelously, and much credit goes to the two leads. Both Arceno and Brown have gorgeous voices, and they exude a confidence that translates into powerful charisma on stage.

Also noteworthy is the fabulous newcomer Beitchman, who, as Pharaoh, sports a ludicrously gigantic pompadour and needs only to swivel his hips and snarl to make his slave girls swoon. (Let’s just say he’s the king in more ways than one.)

Vocally, the men’s chorus sounds fantastic, including featured standouts Dann Smallwood (“Those Canaan Days”) and Zachary Ryan (“Benjamin Calypso”). And the combination of an impressively solid orchestra, led by Debra Thomas, and Bob Skon’s effective sound design allows nearly all the lyrics to be heard clearly, even in the acoustically tricky Mendelssohn Theater.

“Joseph,” of course, features songs in numerous genres, and director Wendy Sielaff has put her own stamp on the show, giving the brothers’ “Poor Poor Joseph” a hip-hop sensibility and providing “Go, Go, Go Joseph” with the caged go-go dancers it always begged for. (There’s a surprise for one audience member, too, but giving it away would be un-pharaoh.)

In addition, the costumes, by Cheryl Berteel and Barb Wells, are clever, colorful and evocative - especially the technicolor coat and Potiphar’s wife’s ensemble - and Tawna Dabney’s intricate choreography has a lot of fun with the different music styles. Featured dancer January Provenzola is a particular pleasure to watch.

Of course, I’ll also confess to some minor qualms - the tango portion of “Canaan Days” didn’t look as polished as other numbers on opening night, and Arceno’s performance of “Close Every. Door,” while technically sound, didn't fully capitalize on the song's emotional heft - but overall, Sielaff and her talented cast have pulled off an amazing Technicolor feat by way of this irresistible production.

Go, go, go see it.

“Joseph"continues at 8 tonight and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Information: Call (734) 971-2228, or visit www.a2ct.org.