Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: An Unforgettable Performance
By Garrett Jenkins
This play is sure to please any audience member. You may think I am only promoting it because my sister and aunt are the directors and some of my family members are part of the cast. I assure you, this is not like Grandpa Alan bragging about having the cutest grandkids. There were many families that were on display, and there was one particular family that stole the show. Trust me, it is worth the drive to see such a display of talent.
Personally, I am not a big fan of the arts and theater. My sister Jessica, one of the directors of this play, has dragged me to many plays, claiming that I lack “culture”. She figured if I see enough plays, I’ll learn to appreciate the arts more. I don’t like to admit it, but I’ve come to like some theater. Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat is one I have truly enjoyed watching in years past. I really love the story, the characters, the humor, and especially the music. The songs should come with a warning label. They will be stuck in your head for a week.
The venue, Stansbury High School, was so gracious allowing the play to be held in their theater. The stage and seating was perfect for what this Jenkins Center Stage production needed. Members of the high school tech team helped with the lights and sound. They did a great job. Spotlights always shone on the brightest stars in their moments, allowing every spectacle to shine out, and stage lights gave color to every scene The sound crew had its hands full. I counted 15+ mics being used all at once, and they were all wireless. Sound crews have been made infamous in our community. Hearing things like “stop monkeying with it” and “who’s in charge?” have been common phrases when dealing with sound. All those things are an issue when there’s only one mic. Imagine managing 15+ wireless mics. While there were a couple of feedback issues during some louder songs, I felt they did an excellent job. One critique I would make is that sometimes the music was too loud to hear what the actors were singing. Hopefully they can fix it for tonight’s show.
As the first curtain was drawn to display the stage, I knew I was in for a treat. The voices of Breanna Jenkins and Grace Kennedy introduced the story. Their voices sounded like angels telling the tale of Joseph, the favorite son.
Then Adam Kennedy was introduced as Joseph. When he belted out the first song, I was in awe. He has a voice that rivals any of the main characters I’ve ever heard perform this play. He was the right man for the part of Joseph.
As the remainder of the characters were introduced, I marveled at the costume design and the characters in their element. It made it easy for me to stop thinking of them as the friends and acquaintances and see them as the characters that they were in the play. The costumes played a large part in helping them feel like their authentic characters.
I have to comment on the acting. While there were some who fit their characters more naturally than others, I still felt sucked into the story throughout. We have people talented enough to start making our own movies! With the talent displayed, it feels like we will have our community’s rich history told through actors like these.
There was an individual performance that I must highlight. David Allen as Pharaoh was a delight to watch. I always like watching David on stage, but this was on another level. He was charismatic, and funny in all the right places. The female ensemble was perfectly choreographed on this part as well. The way they swooned at the Pharaoh’s every move. Undoubtedly one of my favorite parts of the play.
At one point in the play I had a swelling of appreciation for the live singing and dancing. Key words being ‘live singing’. None of the songs were pre-recorded singing besides some background lyrics. It gave me an even deeper appreciation for the performances that were on display. Some may see that as a slight to those performers in Beth’s Spring Fling who lip-synced in the past. It’s not meant to be a criticism. It’s merely an observation of the talent that is displayed when singing and dancing is live. I thoroughly enjoyed the emotions as characters spilled their hearts out on the stage through song and dance. I even felt chills in the emotional times. One particularly moving moment was during the reunion of Joseph and his father, Jacob. Adam and Alex did an excellent job in their respective roles.
As the last number drew to a close and the main characters sang their song with the supporting cast, there was a power couple that shined above all performers. Adam and Grace Kennedy displayed singing and acting like I’ve never seen before in our community. Hats off to them. This family stole the show.
The standing ovation at the close of the play was well-deserved. The impact of all the talent and abilities brought together by the directors, Trisha and Jessica, was felt in the hearts of everyone in the audience. The time and effort put into a production like this is tremendous and all participants should be given acknowledgement for their efforts. Everything from the costumes to the choreography, the sound and the lights, the dancing and singing, the story and the music all came together to tell the amazing story of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.
