JOSEPH has always been more of a crowd-pleaser and less of a critic's darling, and this entertaining - if not slightly off-balanced - production could prove to be more of the same.
Arguably, the show has always belonged to the Brothers, but few directors acknowledge this. The exception is Jayme McDaniel, who is no stranger to the material. The production comes to vibrant life whenever his solid, strong unit is on stage either as siblings or as members of the ensemble. Their energy is infectious as they are provided dance breaks which feel fun instead of forced. Individual numbers "One More Angel," "Those Canaan Days," and "Benjamin Calypso" are genuinely entertaining.
Anthony Federov is a good-looking Joseph with a powerful voice, and he fares better when he is not over-pronouncing everything. The same can be said for Jennifer Paz, the gorgeous Narrator with a refreshing persona. Her delivery could be softened in some areas to be more effective.
According to his bio, McDaniel has staged the show before, and in some areas it seems that he has merely transplanted his previous production to this stage and forgot to transfer it to an arena setting. An example is when Joseph meets the Pharaoh, and there are men and women lined up on either side. The "let's face this side of the theatre now" approach during the dance is obvious.
The production is at its best when it strays from literal interpretation as when the Brothers sing "The dreams of our dear brother are..." ala "Cool" from WEST SIDE STORY. The Narrator is thoroughly enjoying her cocktail provided for her during the calypso number. However, seeing the Pharaoh portrayed as "The King" and watching a 1960s send-up of "Go, Go, Go Joseph" remind the audience just how stale and dated the show is.
Still, if you are looking for carefree family fare (except for the girls' costumes during "Potiphar") this JOSEPH will certainly do. B-
