FOR THE RECORD: BILL KENWRIGHT'S JOSEPH

Overture and beginners please...

I don’t know the official stats, but I would think Bill Kenwright’s legendary production of Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat sits in the records books as the longest touring production in modern theatre. It started life in 1979, when Kenwright agreed to take over a Christmas season of the show from a producer who had hit financial problems, and continued touring until 1991. After a gap of 6 years (to allow Lord Lloyd Webber to produce his own version with Jason Donovan, Phillip Schofield et al) it was off on the road again and it continues to this day, gathering new generations of fans wherever it goes. The production grew organically and for many years featured a song called “I Don’t Think I’m Wanted Back At Home”, hijacked from a piece called Jacob’s Journey which, in the early days of Joseph's development, was the first half to a much shorter version at the Albery Theatre (now the Noel Coward Theatre). This was removed from Kenwright’s production in the late 1980s at the insistence of Lloyd Webber, who was none too pleased to find it had been included in the show without his knowledge or approval.
  There have been a lot of recordings of Joseph over the years, from productions all around the world, and Bill Kenwright’s production has had a number of occasions where it was committed to either vinyl, cassette or CD. For the most part these releases were only available at the theatres where the production was playing, and were never made available in record shops. So I thought I would take a look at the recordings, which fans around the country have snapped up over the years, to see how they stand up today.

JOSEPH (1980)

Principal performers: Jess Conrad (Joseph),  Leo Andrew (Narrator), Dave Mayberry (Pharaoh)  Running time: 10 minutes

The first official recording of Bill Kenwright’s production arrived in the shape of a vinyl EP of just four tracks. The star performer of the time being 1960s pop star Jess Conrad who leads the EP with “Any Dream Will Do”.  It’s fair to say that Conrad’s success is mostly down to his good looks and charisma, not his singing voice. No amount of vocal multi tracking can disguise the shortcomings of his voice. But this EP has a couple of secret weapons. Dave Mayberry is perhaps the most Elvis-y of all the Pharaoh’s and gives us a cracking “Song of the King”.  Although it is now accepted as a female role, the Narrator was originally male and Leo Andrew proves that it can work with a heartfelt “Pharaoh’s Story”. Finally, a medley of songs by Conrad & Andrew (in truth part of the celebrated encores from the show) ends this 7 inch collection. The recording is produced by Bill Kenwright himself and is a welcome first foray into the recording studio by Joseph’s longest serving incarnation.

 

   

JOSEPH (1986)

Principal performers: Mike Holoway (Joseph), Carla McLaine (Narrator), Sean Simon (Pharaoh), Peter Lawrence (Jacob / Potiphar), Ashley Keech (Butler), Iain Rogerson (Baker) Running time:  51 minutes

Not quite the full show, this recording does though feature all the major musical passages and is produced by Jon Miller, a long time associate of Bill. Musical director David Steadman, who provides the arrangements for the show, leads a thirteen strong band on the recording.  This version is perhaps the show at its most rock ‘n’ roll.  Synths pound and electric guitars wail, perhaps expecting the arrival of Brian May at any moment.  It has the feel of a raw live album at times, and for this reason stands up as my favourite of all the Kenwright tour recordings. At its heart is Mike Holoway, who possesses a fine pop voice. Holoway came to the production as a cult star of the 1970s children’s sci-fi serial The Tomorrow People, and having had some success with his own band Flintlock. His charismatic performance, and vocally strong delivery, saw him emerge as one of the longest running Joseph’s in the production. He is matched by Carla McLaine’s clear and powerful singing as the Narrator. On this recording Benjamin (John Melvin) has a short refrain of “Close Every Door” prior to the start of “Benjamin Calypso”, one of the many touches that disappeared when ALW demanded changes.  Added to a thumping “Song Of The King” from Sean Simon,  there are many moments that stand out. 

 
JOSEPH (1998)

Principal Performers:  Richard Swerrun (Joseph), Julie Maguire (Narrator), Shane Cortese (Pharaoh), Peter Lawrence (Jacob / Potiphar), Joe Maddison (Butler), Gary J. Myers (Baker)  Running time:  67 minutes

When Kenwright was handed back the rights to produce Joseph in 1997,  it was very much his production that returned.  All the little touches that had made it such a huge success were back,  albeit with a new revamped set and costumes.  Once again David Steadman handled the arrangements, with the choir on this recording provided by Babette Langford’s Young Set as they had done on the previous recording. Eight musicians this time provide the musical settings. This is a much more polished affair, produced again by Jon Miller using David Steadman's arrangements. Whereas the previous recording could have passed as live, this time there is a sheen about it. Richard Swerrun’s vocal is equally polished, a very musical theatre ‘stage school’ delivery, technically excellent. The production has always been lucky with the quality of its Narrators over the years, and Julie Maguire proves no slouch on the vocal side either. Shane Cortese’s Pharaoh lends the necessary Elvis-isms to his big moment, complemented by some nice brass work.  In many ways this can be said to be the only complete recording of Kenwright’s original production, as we will see shortly. For the first, and only time to date, we get the "Joseph is it really you?" beginning and the hoe-down dance in the middle of "One More Angel" among the familiar touches.

JOSEPH (2009 Edition)

Principal Performers: Craig Chalmers (Joseph), Abigail Jaye (Narrator), Simon Bowman (Pharaoh), Henry Metcalfe (Jacob / Potiphar), Stephen McCarthy (Butler), Harry Morrison (Baker) Running time: 65 minutes

Some 11 years after the last recording, we find ourselves in reality TV land. The 2007 television talent show Any Dream Will Do had a showdown of potential Joseph’s with Lee Mead a clear popular winner.  He was rewarded with a season in ALW’s production at the Adelphi Theatre. However, all was not lost for the runners up as the wily Mr. Kenwright signed them up for his touring version. With this recording, the influence of the 1991 London Palladium production (and 2007 revival) is heard in full. The arrangements are heavily based on those for that version, making it less the Kenwright show and more of a hybrid of the two. The recording is well produced by Chris Winter and David Steadman. One of the problems of replicating arrangements that have already been heard on cast albums from many productions around the world, is that you are in danger of being just another ‘generic’ Joseph album. Indistinguishable from the many that have gone before. We do have the inclusion of Pharaoh’s number “King Of My Heart” which was written for the 2007 West End revival, but is in effect just a mediocre song which gives Simon Bowman (the original ‘Chris’ in Miss Saigon no less) another chance to shine as Pharaoh but is neither necessary to the plot or particularly impressive as an addition to the otherwise brilliant score.  Even 40 years after the show was written,  that master wordsmith Sir Tim Rice is tinkering with the familiar lyrics.  “So Jacob bought his son a coat, a multi-colored coat to wear” is now “So he designed, with Jo in mind, a multi-colored coat to wear”.  When you are singing along at home after being a visitor to the show for over thirty five years, it takes you by surprise!

Craig Chalmers provides the Joseph on this version, and he sings the score nicely, if a little blandly.  Abigail Jaye gives us a lovely “Pharaoh Story”, one of the highlights of the score in my opinion.  It’s a good solid, version of the show even if some of the Kenwright-ness is missing.

JOSEPH (2017 Edition)

Principal Performers: Joe McElderry (Joseph), Abigail Jaye (Narrator), Simon Bowman (Pharaoh), Henry Metcalfe (Jacob / Potiphar), Stephen McCarthy (Butler), Harry Morrison (Baker) Running time: 66 minutes

JOE McELDERRY IS JOSEPH screams the cover! This young winner of The X-Factor has been imported into one of the most coveted roles for a young performer in theatre land. Quite craftily, Bill Kenwright (and it is released by BK Records) has taken the 2009 recording and overlaid McElderry’s vocals onto it. I’ve not yet seen Mr. McElderry perform the role but have read several reviews which state that he may well be the best sung Joseph of them all.  I’m not sure this is necessarily true of the recording, however his delivery of “Close Every Door” gives an impression of how powerful his voice might be in a live setting. He certainly doesn’t disgrace himself, and had I not owned the 2009 recording would not have been aware that his Joseph was dubbed onto it. Of the two, it is McElderry’s version that is perhaps the better in fact. His charisma shines through.

**UPDATE**
JOSEPH (2019 Edition) 
Principal Performers: Jaymi Hensley (Joseph), Abigail Jaye (Narrator), Simon Bowman (Pharaoh), Henry Metcalfe (Jacob / Potiphar), Stephen McCarthy (Butler), Harry Morrison (Baker) Running time: 66 minutes

Like a chameleon changing it's colours, this is the second re-release for the 2009 recording, this time with Union J's Jaymi Hensley having replaced Chalmers and McElderry on the lead vocal.  A full review of the tour with Jaymi at the helm can be found HERE.

As I write,  there is no sign of the ‘juggernaut of joy’ stopping as it heads towards its 40^th anniversary. Bill Kenwright’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has always been an important show.  It has taken high quality theatre on the road to the people,  and apart from pantomime, is probably the first introduction many youngsters have had of musical theatre. There is a reason why audiences are on their feet nightly and keep coming back for more.  In short, you walk out of the theatre happier than you went in.  It’s a tonic for modern life,  good triumphing over bad.  Doubtless many of us wish the world outside the theatre were as predictable. I have always thought that whilst the Really Useful Group’s 1991 version had the budget and grandeur,  it lacked the heart of Kenwright’s production.  I’m glad it continues in some form to delight audiences all over the UK.  With an animated movie of Joseph now in production by Elton John's Rocket Pictures, the timeless march of this theatre classic shows no sign of slowing down.  

YOU CAN FIND TOUR DATES AND BOOK TICKETS FOR THE ONGOING UK TOUR OF JOSEPH VIA THE BILL KENWRIGHT PRODUCTIONS WEBSITE