The book they’re referring to is Genesis, and this is the fun and whimsical musical retelling of the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors from the early collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It is currently being staged by Riverside Children’s Theatre in Vero Beach, Florida. And Director Kevin Quillinan and his cast do a great collaboration of their own by putting together a show filled with great humor and great singing within the walls of the large, newly renovated Riverside Theatre.

Leading us through the story are a couple of charming 16-year-old actors who share the role of the Narrator. Susan Moore, from Vero Beach High, has a great voice and style. Abby Colella, returning from school in Massachusetts to spend her summers in her hometown, has a natural sense for comedy with terrific expressions and stage presence. Together they playfully interact with the others characters who are led, of course, by Joseph, here played by his namesake, 19-year-old Joseph Ruel from Texas State. With strong vocals and a naively likeable demeanor, Joseph Ruel takes us from his happy-go-lucky youth, to his despair in prison (highlighted by the haunting Close Every Door number), to his sudden and prosperous rise in Pharaoh’s court, and finally to his mixed emotions as his eleven brothers return, not recognizing him as the brother they had sold to Ishmaelites so many years ago. Joseph’s reaction of love, pain, and forgiveness as his brothers have their heads bowed, groveling to the Egyptian leader, adds nicely to the heartwarming story.

The rest of the cast is full of exceptional performances, beginning with the swivel-hipped King of Egypt/King of Rock Jamie Jones who, in hilarious over-the-top fashion, channels Elvis Presley’s signature moves and voice, turning in the hip action even when pacing anxiously awaiting Joseph’s interpretations of his dreams (a.k.a. “the things he saw in his pajamas”). He turns on the charisma so high that several of his female servants scream and faint dead away. Not to mention one male attendant…

Then there’s the great group of brothers and their wives. Ben Earman captures the humor of the twangy country-western dirge One More Angel as he breaks the news to their distraught father Jacob (Tim Chastain) of Joseph’s untimely passing from wrestling with a goat – the lament aided by his operatic wife (Katie Lanahan) and the rest of the siblings and wives who can’t wait till Jacob wanders off in misery so they can turn their dirge into a hoedown. Brother Chris Girard takes us into the despair and starvation of Those Canaan Days with the amusing and well-sung French ballad, not finding much comfort from his wife Sarah Simon who is bored and irritated, only going through the motions of dancing with him before she finally storms off in a grumpy huff (a development that appears to be welcomed by the brother). And then there’s the hilarious Benjamin Calypso led by the dynamic Mark Lambert that turns a tense Egyptian throne room into a cool party, the Pharaoh’s guards (Kimmy Zerega and Austin Carroll) turning their spears into limbo poles.

Performed July 20-29, 2007.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

Joseph: