Why I hated JOSEPH at the Palladium | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat West End Review 

Oh my this review has aged like fine wine! I’m currently working for the venue hosting the same production of Joseph in Toronto (Canada) and, while my coworkers and I agree that the majority the cast is very talented, most of us hate this production with a burning passion. This review still holds true a year later with the same production, even if it’s now playing on a different continent. Also Jac Yarrow is AMAZING and I cannot wait to see what he does next.

It annoys me too that Joseph doesn’t get the final bow!

I hated it, too, last time this production was on at the Palladium, the main reasons were bad audience behavior and a very, very painful to watch Sheridan Smith. Serious question: HOW is ALW a "huge advocate for his scores" when he destroys them himself all over the place, e.g. reducing the CATS score from 15 original musicians to 8 when it was last seen in the West End, EVITA from 24 musicians to 9 (!!!) last time it was around and PHANTOM from a 27-piece orchestra to a 14-people band...? Isn't he systematically destroying his own legacy?

I really respect your opinion and honest review of this version of Joseph, I saw it last Tuesday and to my surprise Linzi Hateley was on for the narrator due to a last minute reschedule. I have to say she really did have that twinkle and shine as the narrator as we would all expect, she also sang some of the high E flats at a lower octave, but she still had a strong vocal throughout the show. I thought Jac Yarrow was incredible, I also thought the brothers were amazing, especially in Canaan days, and I did like the change to ‘cancan days’. As you said I think it’s been catered for a family friendly-er audience but as a whole I had a great night. And I was disappointed that Jac didn’t get the last bow but that’s the pay scale I assume! 😅

It’s nice to see someone who is as passionate about Joseph as me. If I saw a performance where the Narrator had the keys and style changed, I would be gutted.

Thank you so much for this video! I've been a fan of Joseph all my life (21 now) and was super excited to see the show in Melbourne last month because I had only ever seen the movie version; we even specifically went the week Trevor Ashley was on to avoid Shane Crawford, who from reading reviews I gathered was a complete disaster. I was so so excited to be in the theatre, but I felt as if I had gone through 5 stages of grief by the time we reached "Go Go Joseph" and the narrator was speaking lines that were supposed to be sung. We left at the start of Act 2 after the Pharaoh had sung. It was like I was watching a version of the show dumbed down for children by people who hated musicals and not even well because it still retained so many adult elements, like why have a child play Potiphar alongside the narrator as Potiphar's wife tackling Joseph to the ground and making a sex joke after getting up that was never in the original production? It was so bizarre. I could have tolerated the children taking over lead roles if they could sing too, none of the kids they had during the production I saw did very well, they mostly just shouted through the songs off pitch. And the terrible 4th wall breaks where they stopped the show dead like the goat being played by a child who then complains that they told her all she had to do was wear a costume, she didn't sign up for being ripped apart like... They had sheep props, why did they do that????? The best parts of the show were the dance breaks where they took the kids off stage LOL. My mum, who was there with me and I felt like we were losing our minds seeing so many positive reviews, so I feel a bit vindicated by this. The production goes down in history for me as one of the worst shows I've ever witnessed with my own eyes, overtook my last bad live show I saw by a wide margin. Sorry for the wall of text, I'm still pretty wound up about this, but I definitely feel better knowing I'm not alone in hating this production.

I've always hated Joseph but I took a group of kids to see this production on a school trip and their reactions to it won me over. They absolutely loved it.

Great review - I completely agree with you. I still enjoyed it but it was SUCH a far cry from the epic Stephen Pimlott version. And absolutely the changes to the score for the Narrator were disappointing the first time round, and now that they have Narrators who could nail the score, it's criminal they've not restored it. Definitely - pop vocal Joseph, MT soaring Narrator vocal is what Joseph needs.

I saw the tour version with Yarrow/Burke/Donovan cast and I completely agree! I'm very nostalgic about Joseph and the whole thing felt a bit panto. Close Every Door was the highlight. One other bugbear I had was the Jacob and Joseph reunion at the end - there's just no emotional payoff to it when the same person is playing the Narrator! They've been on stage together the whole time!

Guess I’m old. I saw it over 25 years ago and saw it four times. Donny Osmond was Joseph and it was spectacular!!!! Even met him for autographs after the show. He was a very kind man. Two thumbs up from me.

Honestly, I avoided watching this before I saw the tour, as a huge Joseph fan I didn't want to go in ready to dislike it, but I loved it! We saw it in Glasgow with Linzi and she was phenomenal, really nailed all of the new acting and comedy for the narrator. I still think it's a strange choice but she pulled it off. I can imagine Alexandra not being gifted with that stuff (hence we bought tickets for Glasgow, not Edinburgh where we actually live!). It's a shame for her and for the many others that will step into this role in future that it's been turned into this. But everything else you mentioned must have got better as the tour progressed cause I thought the production was brilliant. I was skeptical about the kids at first, though they were stars. I agree it's a cheap choice though, the kids and the narrator playing so many parts - especially Jacob. And I felt for all the wonderful female ensemble members, that none of them got to be Mrs Potiphar! Kids as brothers and as smaller roles like Ishmaelites etc. works fine, but give proper actors the roles of Jacob, Mr & Mrs Potiphar, and the baker & butler.

I would really recommend going to see Linzi if you can! I saw her on Wednesday afternoon and she was fantastic! Completely different experience to what you had 😅 I do agree with you in regards to the children though!

I saw Vanessa Fisher play the narrator (Sheridan Smith’s understudy) and she blew me away - such a shame she isn’t playing the lead role right now

I remember seeing Cats a few years ago. My sisters and I were obsessed with the video when we were kids, the one with Elaine Paige as Grizabella and John partridge as the Rum Tum Tugger. When we were kids, there was always an argument over who was going to be the Rum Tum Tugger. Then I saw it a few years ago, and they made it into this god awful rap and I was heartbroken. There wasn't this Mick Jagger-esque swag. Instead, it this fake rap which sounded like a terrible vanilla ice. In conclusion hahaha it jarred me!

I do a bit of reviewing and was curious to have a look at this. Even without seeing the show I have to say that I very much liked the 'tone' of this review because the things MickeyJo focuses on would be important to me and, dare I say it, are exactly the things that prospective audience members should be looking out for.

Terrific Review! You are dead right regarding casting and curtain call. Well done!

I pretty much agree with most things you said. I saw it in 2019 as my first time seeing it in the west end 🎭 and as much as I still enjoyed it for what it was, I would’ve preferred the more traditional version of the show I think. But Jac is amazing tho, absolutely love him. 😍 He’s pretty cute as well 😉

I saw the original Broadway production back in 19 with Bill Hutton (who was not great) and the phenomenal Laurie Beecham (who was just that - phenomenal). I did see a revival in Los Angeles (where I live) but do not recall who my Joseph was (which probably says something, although I suspect it was some lower-tiered American Idol). That being all said, I truly appreciate your candor and hope you continue! (P.S. - I wish the word 'cross' was used here in the States - other than by the religious right - so perhaps I will try to revive this wonderful yet neglected word.). Ta! (Which I do use, dammit!)

You've hit the nail on the head there, Joseph is a campy show but it only really works if the people onstage are 100% invested in what's happening, but if the narrator keeps turning towards the audience and winking I'm thinking "well if WE know it's stupid and YOU know it's stupid why are we doing this?" One of the most egregious moments was One More Angel where Jacob's coming to terms with the loss of his son, in the filmed version Richard Attenborough broke my heart with just 2 sentences but here you have Alexandra Burke in a fake beard doing a deep voice and it just cheapens the whole thing. The whole thing is just shoving an Alexandra Burke-shaped peg into a Sheridan Smith-shaped hole and it doesn't work. AB shouldn't be awkwardly rolling around the floor and struggling to get up when she's Potiphar's wife, she's ALEXANDRA BURKE. X Factor winner, star of The Bodyguard, she's known for being suave and sexy, why am I seeing her flapping around like she couldn't nail a simple strut in her sleep?

i made a list of notes on my phone as to why i felt the palladium version was inferior and you have basically listed every single one (i was so disappointed when the coat didn't descend from the ceiling) i'm gutted that this is the version they've decided to tour,, i'm still going to go and see it because it would cause me physical pain to not see a production of joseph (especially at my local theatre) but i hope this isn't the production we're stuck with forevermore :(

This production genuinely looks as though a school won a competition to have stars of Joseph appear in their school show.

100% agree! Saw it with Sheridan and Alexandra, and love them both and unfortunately Sheridan didn’t do it any better, this production killed Joseph! 😩

Wow! This is my first video I’ve watched from you! You are FABULOUS! And I absolutely agreed with everything you said! Just love you!!!

In the earlier productions, Pharaoh didn't say "Joe"

Thanks for the great review. It resonated with some of the thoughts that had been vaguely in my head but that I hadn't been able to pinpoint. We recently saw the show when it came to Toronto with much of the same production as the Palladium version you saw. I come from a similar nostalgia background as you did. I saw the "original" revival in 1991 with Jason Donovan and again in Toronto with Donny Osmond, and listened to the Donovan soundtrack on cassette repeatedly for years. I noticed and was a bit thrown by many of the same elements you mentioned. Particularly the children playing primary roles. I initially chalked this up to some attempt to cut back the cast and trade on efficiency of fewer numbers, but then I looked in the programme and noticed that they had two /dedicated/ actors to play "tailor/guard". I didn't mind as much having the children playing the some of the "background" brothers - brothers can be of various ages - though the brother starting Benjamin's Calypso was a bit weirder. But why a child needed to play Potiphar other than perhaps trying to wring comedy out of a child bossing around an adult, I'm not sure. It was kind of odd to have Joseph being seduced by the adult narrator also playing the wife of the child Potiphar. And speaking of the Narrator, I thought Vanessa Fisher did a wonderful job in the role, and did hit those comedy moments you mentioned. I generally didn't mind their addition, I don't know if it's universal to all casts, but there was a cute addition where the baker (I think) was played by one of the girls, and the narrator sings a line - I think it was "One was a butler, the Jeeves of his time" but in this version, quickly corrects the "his" to "her". To me it played as a cute nod to those who know the show well, but I could understand those who might feel it a cheap joke. In retrospect, I wasn't paying enough attention to notice what she did with the preceding line "both /men/ were servants of pharaoh the king". But again, while I initially thought they had her playing Jacob as a cast/cost-cutting measure, in the end, I'm not exactly sure why they had her playing those roles. Even one of the brothers' wives could have played Potphar's wife, right? Perhaps having it be the narrator did make the advances at Joseph a bit more more farsical and family-friendly? But that doesn't really explain playing Jacob other than the roles traditionally being played by the same actor. As opposed to your thoughts of certain elements trying to be aimed more to children, I felt the multi-role narrator was much more likely to confuse children, particularly in the fast-paced environment of a musical. I hear your comments on the staging. My initial impression was that the staging seemed quite small and simple, but that perhaps is the nature of a tour. I also found some footage of the touring production from the early 90s and it similarly seemed much smaller than I remembered, so perhaps that was just a touring limitation. But other than the giant Sphinx head, I don't think the original production was actually terribly lavish in terms of staging. As I recall, the fixed staging of the first act was just a kind of trapezoidal box with some bits moved in and out on a turntable/conveyor belt. This actually seemed more dynamic and vibrant in terms of the lighting and sets, even if seeming a bit simple by today's standards. The lack of the Sphinx head being replaced by the mechanical statutes and the Vegas sign was reasonably comparable, I think. Though I can speak to whether any more lavish productions have been staged between the early 90s and 2021 that this didn't live up to. I didn't mind the bicycle camel, which I thought was a bit of a funny way to implement the moving camel, but the bicycle chariot just felt a bit cheap considering the grandeur of the song proclaiming the "chariot of gold!" I took a look at video of the Palladium production and I see what you mean by the circular tiered rising podium at centre stage. I noted that our stage seemed to have a singular circular cutout at the centre (Rather than rings) and initially thought it might be a turntable but it didn't seem to do anything in the actual show. It did not rise like in London. I certainly did reminisce back to the 90s production in the 2nd act when Pharaoh and Joseph had those Sphinx stairs to climb and add a some vertical dynamics to the staging, which was a nice visual representation of the power imbalance in those scenes. It made the Pharaoh and later Joseph seem far more superior and authoritative than the new production really conveyed. I did see clips of Donovan playing Pharaoh, and with the greatest respect to him, I don't think the role really fit him. Tosh Wanogho-Maud really did a great job in the role here. I thought Jac Yarrow did a great job in the role of Joseph as well. I wasn't bothered by his more-theatrical style, but I can see where you are coming from. Having grown up on the Donovan soundtrack, I felt that Yarrow's British accent came through the role much more, but that also didn't bother me. It quickly became clear this was a mostly-British touring cast. Despite listening mostly to the Donovan soundtrack as a kid, Yarrow's version was the first time it really hit me that the rhyme of "farmer's" and "pyjamas" was probably written as a far more "perfect" rhyme in Rice/Webber's British accents, than the near-rhyme it has always seemed to me in Canada. It was notable to me that Fisher's accept immediately seemed far less of an "upper class"/"aristocratic" British accent (forgive me, I'm no expert on various British accents) than the narrators I was used to from the 90s. But as the various subtle changes to the part and the play overall continued to arise, the accent inconsistency quickly left my mind. In fact, it may have played better into the more casual, comedic version of the narrator in this production. I did notice the key changes you mentioned - especially the "Potiphar" one, but otherwise, Fisher felt like she had excellent vocal power and range and it wouldn't surprise me if she could have sung those sections higher (maybe not in the original key, but close to it) but the production was already set at this lower key for the actors that came before her. \ Of note, Yarrow got the second-last bow in our version, after Wagogho-Maud (Pharaoh). Presumably Donovan's fame (or perhaps his contract) elevated him in your production. It didn't specifically bother me that Yarrow came ahead of Fisher, given that in my mind, the Narrator has almost as much or more of a role in the play than Joseph, and in this production, she drives it even more with the comedy/personality and the multiple roles, but I can absolutely understand your feeling as well, as he IS the title character and he was great. Oh, and one late bit - as to your comment about "who this man could be, I just don't know", I don't think they did the "Jo!", but what they did do at least at my performance, was while singing the last repeat of that line, Yarrow not-so-subtly, in Pharaoh's face, was pointing at himself with each beat of the line, which I think effectively conveyed that Pharaoh would have got the message. I also noticed things like you did with the "Jacob [pause] Jacob and Sons" (in our version, that song seemed far too slow, and lost energy for me). That said, /more or less/ they didn't mess with the score and melodies and harmonies terribly much in the 30(!) years since I saw it, and for the most part, the production was enjoyable even if I did have to consciously have to calm my nostalgia-hat just a bit. PPS: I was also of a mixed bag on the additions of various dance breaks to the production. At least in our version, there was what I thought was a very impressive tap dance in Joseph's Coat - to have performers who can both sing that well, and then also do a very capable tap number is impressive. I thought the "can can" break in "Those Canaan Days" on the other hand felt a bit out of place in the song. Yes, it's French, and they did try to wriggle it in at the end with the joke about "Canaan, not Can-can", but yeah... no. But overall, the added dance breaks added good energy and entertainment that made up a bit for the perhaps less flashy sets and props. I even liked a few of the vocal changes. At the end of Those Canaan Days, with the long-held note where they take a breath and then resume the "diiiid-", in this version, one brother keeps holding the note while the others stop, and then gives an angry gesture to the others for stopping, before they rejoin him, with that first brother holding the note the whole way through. I thought it played well. And while I'm all for productions like Rent changing absolutely nothing over 25 years and still being exactly as they originally were, I don't mind a little modernisation and evolution of shows like Joseph either. Just look at the 1960s/70s soundtracks or even the Broadway cast of Joseph and see how far it came in the 30 years leading up to the 90s!

I’ve loved Joseph since I saw it when I was about 4, and I played Narrator in a school production. I’ve seen it a number of times over the past few decades (Jaymi Hensley was fantastic). However, I’ve been really unsure about wanting to see this version…I think your review confines that I wouldn’t like it! I think that messing around with the keys would annoy we way too much and I fear I’d have the same reaction as you!!

Oh my gosh. So this production just opened in Melbourne Australia - and it has every single pitfall you covered, and my thoughts couldn't align with you more. I feel so weirdly gratified because everyone else seems so happy about it and I wondered if I was just an old Joseph-obsessed grouch! Paulini is the narrator - exact same thing, she's a very pop trained singer and the keys are still lowered for that, and I agree it loses all the wow that the score really needs. She sold the comedy beautifully but I really missed having an actual Jacob and such, because I think his connection with joseph should be very sweet and not just haha lady in beard with funny accent. Euan Doidge is Joseph - exactly as you say here, he's a very well trained singer with stunning vibrato who has previously played Marius 😂. He sold it for me with his acting and singing but, yes, he does feel almost too good, especially next to some of the rest of the cast... And... Shane Crawford is the Pharaoh. An ex-footballer. This casting has been controversial and boy. He is trash. He is so bad. It hurt to watch him. At least other reviews here have torn him to shreds because my god. I can't believe they did this, as if this stunt cast is going to attract football fans to come see JOSEPH (spoiler; they don't care!!). And yes, he didn't do the 'Joe!' Either. I think I clutched my pearls in disgust at that, lol. Anyway...yeah. the Regent Theatre is magnificent and while the staging seemed fine to me... yeah. It could be so much more. The dancing is fun. The costumes are fun. It was just... good. Potiphar being a child with a full grown wife and whatever the heck she does to Joseph felt extremely uncomfortable. The butler was also played by a girl and they made a deal of changing the pronouns like it was woke or something... "sorry, SHE,," I love this show and it certainly saddened me to see it like this, i won't be going back. But you're right when you say plenty of people will go and harmlessly enjoy it, I'm sure that will also be the case here. Rant over. Thanks for the review!!!

Favorite Joseph cast album? I’ve been enjoying the recording with Linzi Hateley as well as the most recent tour album with Jaymi Hensley.

I totally agree with everything you said, Joseph itself was a massive part of my childhood I grew up with the donny osmond movie, I saw it with lee mead, I was in an amateur production of it when I was 10, although I didn’t see the most latest production of Joseph I did see it with Sheridan smith and something about it just didn’t hit me like it did before, but I think you answered the reason for me 😅

I just found your site on You Tube so informative and entertaining yet honest > ), Your comments are so articulate , and your detailed insight into the changes in this production I loved : > ) Look forward to your future posts

Thank you for this. So much of what you say resonates - even though I haven't seen the London revival shows. I'm an old school Joseph tour fan (from the 1980s with Jess Conrad) so a bit of a purist (guilty pleasure with the Donny Osmond film version - don't hate me). I'm definitely not a fan of having a celeb or two in a main character position just to sell tickets but I do understand that it brings a new audience to the theatre which can only be a good thing.

I know nothing about theatre but I love your videos and have been binging them 🫣 you remind me of Mike’s Mic! I mean that as a compliment; he’s the best

A couple of the comments you made happened on the 1972 Granada production, too. Jacob was sung as 'Jacob!' on Jacob and Sons, maybe because the Narrator was a man, and Pharaoh doesn't shout Joe, but rather look tired and hazy as Elvis might have in the early 70s, and the music for Stone the Crows came on after 'I just don't know'. Don't be surprised, I did some research on the Granada production to figure out how to showcase my play, if I was only given a half hour. Anyway, I'm figuring out on if I want to see this production anyway, as I might have a family holiday or weekend in late August, and if I do, it looks like I'd like to see it with Linzi now. Before, as well as seeing the VHS many times, I did Joseph, before my stage fright and stammer began, as a choir member at my high school, and seen it twice in Preston and Blackpool, once with Keith Jack as Narrator and met someone from the Grease ITV show, who had connections to my mum's friend, and the other time, which was the tour version, had the new Elvis song you mentioned.

Before i begin i would like to apologise for the length of this rant. I agree. Joseph has sentimental value to me because i saw it as my first ever musical when i was about 3 and i’ve now seen it 5 or 6 times. I saw Alexandra Burke in chess a few years ago and she disappointed then as well (i just thought that it was because she was between Micheal Ball and Cassidy Janson) so i really wanted to see her be amazing in this but sadly it was not the case. Jac Yarrow should definitely have the final bow because he ,as you say, JOSEPH!! it makes no sense for him to not bow last. although when i saw it Jason Donovan bowed before him. My experience was also ruined by a very drunk lady who had to be escorted out in the middle of the second act. she was drunk before she even sat down and then got asked to leave because she was causing a disturbance. I also thought that benjamin being played by a child was strange when he was arrested because it can across quite menacing and potifer (sorry if i spelt it wrong) was cringey after his wife sleeps with joseph. i did enjoy the show however and would see it again but only if Linzi Hately was the narrator because i think she could massively improve it. Sorry that was long.

I saw the touring production in Toronto last year, and listening to this review now helped me understand several of my reactions. I remember loving that cd so much, and I know I saw the production as a kid but my recollection of it is light at best (e.g. I don't know if I saw Donny Osmond or someone else). Your comments about 'Close Every Door' reminded me that one of the challenges for the production was that it really felt unearned. It was sung well, but the rest of the tone of the piece was so broadly comedic (if not actually funny to me given many of the topics), it just comes out of nowhere and then disappears again. However it seemed like much of the rest of the audience enjoyed it, so I guess they knew their target.

Just discovered you and your channel and i have immediately subscribed! We have the exact same opinions ahaha, thank you for this video! 🤍

Really appreciate your honesty with this vid. I always liked Joseph as a show pre celebrity status. Mike Holloway was a fabulous Joseph. Not a fan of Jason or Sheridan tbh although I see their appeal. This production hasn’t appealed from day one until Linzi was cast. It’s interesting how she is now doing far more performances than originally planned. You really make me laugh - Maria Friedman perfection!

I haven't seen this specific production but I'm loving seeing someone who has the same nostalgic attachment to Joseph that I do. It was the first musical I ever became truly obsessed with at the tender age of 10, and that's why I'm still a musical theatre nerd today, at 34. I recently decided to listen to the Joseph cast recording again (the German one because that's where I am and first saw it) and the level of nostalgia was off the charts. I didn't listen to it for at least 15-20 years and I could still sing almost the whole thing by heart (and realized, having now had some actual singing training, how hard the narrator is to sing. Did I realize this as a 10 year old? Lol, absolutely not, I just yelled it out 😂)

I’m so glad you have said this. I saw Joseph in 2019 with Sheridan Smith and have to say she was very good with the comedy and Jac Yarrow blew me away. When I saw it again yesterday and was a bit annoyed they haven’t changed anything and although I enjoyed Alexandra Burke, it just wasn’t as good. Also completely agree on the masks in the audience thing and also seemed like most of the stalls was filled with Jason Donovan fans that screamed most of the way through his scenes. I also agree Jac Yarrow should have the last bow. He’s an outstanding talent!

totally with you. I saw a preview with Sheridan, apart from the fact the sound desk broke down mid show and we sat waiting for 20 mins, I still didn't like it. I'm such a fan of the original, and Maria Friedman is my all time favourite narrator. It felt like they blew all the budget on Sheridan so she played so many different roles which just didn't suit her, and as you say she just doesn't have the vocal range to sing the songs how they were intended. To be honest this is also one of the first shows I was ever taken to as a child, and I used to watch the VHS of the Donny version with my grandma, so it will always have a special place in my heart. My best memory of this show was when it was at the Adelphi, when that lighting rig came down for the final curtain call always made me so happy and made me think of my grandma.

This was my first time seeing Joseph (not knowing too much about the show apart from the plot prior to going in) and I share many of the same thoughts as you. I could enjoy the show purely from an entertainment standpoint, but it does definitely cater towards families and less avid theatre goers, to a point where you don’t feel wowed or inspired by the whole production. But the point about Jack Yarrow as Marius!?! Yes yes yes, Mackintosh needs to make that happen.

I saw Jake's video of the mega mix with Linzi and I love her so much (greetings from across the pond). When it came to Pharoahs Story in the mix, instead of going up higher, she went an octave lower on "a man who can interpret".....I'm guessing that was in Ms. Smith's key. I was crushed because she still has a powerful voice. Also, the fact you mentioned the Narrator doing the robot and a conga during the actual performance of the song, I was like, wtf...it sounds like it would ruin a gorgeous song. Anyway, I've only seen videos here on YT....it does sound like the show was basically recreated/revised to showcase Sheridan Smith.

I saw the show back in 2019 with all the main actors mentioned above. And i remember feeling almost cheated because there wasnt a full adult chorus. The way they did the narrator role wasnt good, I was disappointed that she took the whole show and the side characters got no stage time

Oh my God THANK YOU for this review! I only wish I had seen it before I bought the tickets to see it last night in the Bord Gais in Dublin. I actually was thinking something was wrong, that they just sent some ridiculous C team over to us, but no, this is the actual production!! Joseph with Phillip Schofield and Linzi Hateley was the first professional musical I ever saw when I was about 6 and I loved it so much I had never gone back to see it again for fear it would not measure up. We had the cassette tape in the car until cars no longer had tape players; myself and my sister could sing every word off by heart. Linzi Hatelely coming back as narrator was a big factor in me going to see it again, and while it won't tarnish my memory of the first time around, this version did not do the show justice. Cheap production, lazy casting, an insult to the show and the audience of the original / 90s version. It was like being at schools production, but unexpectedly and having paid for a professional show. Nobody cast as Jacob - "the founder of a whole new nation" but not even deserving of his own actor?! 😰 It belittled the story because that whole father-favourite son relationship was lost! The child playing Potiphar was a horrifyingly inappropriate decision. "Letting out a mighty roar"? Well no because actually his voice hasn't broken....🤬 And Potiphar's wife, again, a small but very pivotal role as she essentially lands Joseph in jail - she deserved someone to actually be cast in the role!!! The mind boggles because any one of the brothers' wives could have played her. They had all of London's actors to cast - don't insult us and the show by putting children into unsuitable roles that make no sense! I have never before left a show feeling disappointed and deflated. I cannot believe that ALW allowed this. What's next, a flashlight instead of the chandelier in Phantom? A child playing Judas in Superstar?!! 😰🥺😡😤😭 So thank you for your review. 😊

100% agree with all that you said but rest assured, you missed nothing by not seeing Sheridan Smith. I normally adore her but in this abysmal production she was sorely miscast. Full disclosure: we only saw roughly half of the show. It was so god-awful and the audience so annoying that we sort of bolted at the interval. I say "sort of" because we stood at the back to at least see Jason's Pharoah.....but after the first verse we were done and gone. I get what you mean by the nostalgic attachment to the show perhaps getting in the way - I did a professional summer production in the US (at least 2 decades ago) which was sensational and had the joy of seeing the original Palladium JOSEPH a few times between 1991 - 1994 with Jason Donovan, Linzi Hately and eventually Philip Scofield. It was sublime. That production was everything that this production was not although they are using the same logo. What I truly loathed this time 'round was the horredous direction. One example: SPOILER ALERT: What makes JOSEPH emotionally rich is when his prized and beloved coat is taken from him and given to his father as a lasting momento of grief that Joseph is "gone". Normally we don't see the coat again until end when they are reunited and Jacob gives the coat back his son. Lump in the throat and perhaps a wee tear or two. In this insipid production, the coat suddenly appears on Joseph again during the end of Act One while he is in jail. Makes no sense whatsoever. Even Butlins could have done this better. Great review!

Just found your channel, love your content! 😁

I have a similar view on Joseph as you, it's very close to my heart! I was really lucky to be in the choir twice in Cardiff when Craig Chalmers and Keith Jack were in it and then 2 years later where they brought back Craig and had an INCREDIBLE female narrator (I've forgotten her name but I know Maria Coyne was her understudy) and my god the way she sung a pharaoh story to all of us standing in a horse shoe around her was outstanding!!! (She used to option up the last note on STAR every.single.NIGHT) To know they've kept it lower when Alexandra Burke is more than capable of giving that performance is sad, especially if her comic timing isn't as tight as Sheridans!! I'm probably not going to see it because I don't want to leave a theatre annoyed 😂 so thank you for putting this up as it has actually helped me deciding whether to see it or not! Gonna preserve my memory of it instead :)

It is a shame you didn't enjoy it but don't worry I won't try to change your mind. I loved it . I have seen three different productions of Joesph all local to me in Birmingham. I did see this version on tour in Birmingham with Jac Jarrow, Alexandra Burke and Jason Donovan. I have loved the show from the London Jason Donovan era (didn't get to see it but fell in love with the London cast soundtrack) my sister went to see it when Philip Schofield took over which she was very happy about as she loves Philip. So I do have an emotional, nostalgic connection via the original soundtrack. I have loved all 3 productions of the show I have seen and loved the kids involment and didn't feel it cheapened the show at all. I am not a massive fan of Alexandra Burke but thought she did a great job playing all the different characters and interacting with the kids. Even more impressive because she was noticeably pregnant at the time. The sets may have been a little stipped back because it was going on tour but that was all fine by me. My sister didn't enjoy the previous production of Joseph but enjoyed this one much more but her favourite is still the one she saw in London all those years ago. I do like kids and found them endearing, funny and sweet in this production so maybe that is just dependent on how you feel about kids. Honestly can't remember the order of the bows but felt Jac and others got all the cheers and recognition they deserved. They all appeared happy and appreciative of the reaction they got. Many giving them a standing ovation so not just me that enjoyed it. Something I noticed on screen that was covering stage to begin with was Colour was spelt the American way without the U. Never noticed that before has it always been spelt that way?

The 1991 West End production is the archetype. Linzi Hateley deserved the final bow but without her in performance, they should have reorganised the bows. They should have reverted to that production with minor changes if need be. I was horrified by the set, too many children, the overall reimagining of it. Most of what you have said is accurate. Also, what the hell happened to the tempo of ‘Jacob & Sons’. It was depressingly slow. However, a plus, the orchestration of ‘Go, Go, Go, Joesph’ was nicely turned up. In summation, use the scenery, orchestrations, costumes, volume of children etc etc from the 1991 production because that was MAGNIFICENT.

We have the same Joseph experience, one of the first shows I saw, seen it far more times than I admit to and played the Narrator in our production at school. I am 100% with you on all of these points! In fact, I'd add that I really disliked the new Canaan days and thought it made me uncomfortable watching a child being Potiphar. To skim over- the missing giant coat, the one line 'you only said it was dressing up', the misgendering of girl playing butler and jokes around it, the key changes, Jason donavon, the hip hop go go jo, the new megamix....not for me. I even heard children asking what was going on because the narrator kept switching characters! The actors did amazing with what they were given and directed toward but the production as a whole didn't do it for me which made me really sad. A lovely night out as a young girl near me was experiencing theatre for the first time and absolutely adored it and loved it.

On my August London trip I considered seeing this, but passed. Now I'm very glad I did! Thanks for the detailed rundown of what went wrong.

I saw this version of Joseph last night at Blackpool and I loved it. I thought it was a refreshing change from the previous productions I've seen. Loved Linzi Hateley.....she totally stole the show for me. Would go again in a heartbeat.

I have seen it with Jason Donovan, Lee Mead and Craig Chalmers with Keith Jack as the Narrator. When I first heard about a revival I was excited but then read about the Narrator and children playing multiple roles and was like nope, not for me! Celebrity casting i can understand to some degree but not at the expense of the whole show.

Very accurate and classy review 💪👍

Hmm, that is a strange direction for Alexandra as the Narrator I can see why you were angry especially when you know the performers capabilities.

100% agree. I didn't see Sheridan, but I saw Alexandra Burke and was incredibly disappointed, although jac yarrow and Jason Donovan were knockouts

Well as a massive fan of Joseph and like yourself I know it by heart ,I was always a lover of the touring production owned by Bill kenwright....but now Kenwright has lost the rights to the tour I went to see the Palladium production and I loved it ,although I appreciate your honest review!! I do agree with your views though!! Using kids ,no loincloth ,Jac doesn't take last bow ,I absolutely agree with all those!!but I absolutely loved Alexandra Burke tbh ,she had a brilliant night and sang Pharoah story perfectly..maybe she had an off night??sadly Linzi was poorly so I also got to see Rochelle as narrator (linzis understudy)who was fantastic , I was lucky to see two narrators in two days,just absolutely gutted we missed Linzi but never mind .Yes Jac yarrow is sensational ,he has great things ahead of him and I'd love to see him play Marius and in future Jean valjean...but greatly appreciated your review ...I only disagree on the Alexandra Burke but, but we all have different opinions !!!I thought she was amazing !!

The staging for King and I at the Palladium was amazing.

Holy... I just noticed the cushions 😱 where are they from?!

I really don’t like how they changed it! I was a part of the kids choir, like when the kids were sat on stairs on stage the whole time, back in the day while the show was on tour. I loved the format and style of the show. I cannot stand this revamp it’s not the show a lot of us grew up with!!!

Just in defense of performers being cast in musicals on the back of The X Factor - many of said performers started their performance careers as child actors and/or drama schools and went on The X Factor to gain the exposure a show like that can actually supply (more like sent by their agencies as we know exactly how these "unknowns" get cast on reality talent competitions.

This production you reviewed in this video just opened in Toronto with Jac Yarrow. You're 100% spot on with all your comments re: cheap production, cheap sets, use of children, etc. You nailed it. This was a cheap version of such a solid show.

I’d love to see Carrie Hope Fletcher as the narrator i think she’d do amazing!

I didn't hate it as much as you did, but it isn't a patch on the 1991 production, which i saw way too many times to mention and was, IMO, perfection. I saw it in 2019 and thought the whole thing felt a bit like a panto or cheap end of pier show. Having kids in various roles is just a way to keep costs down, they didn't want to hire an older actor for Jacob! Making the Narrator into a comedy role and lowering the keys to basically a baritone, is not the Joseph i want to see. Sheridan Smith mugging her way through it was like nails on a chalkboard. When Linzi was announced I was over the moon to have her back in the role. Whilst i wasn't expecting her to belt it all like she did 30 years ago, It was a bit disappointing that they have simply copied the entire production from 2019. If they could work a production around Sheridan's lack of vocal chops, oops, i meant around her comedic skills, why not make some change when you have amazing vocalists? This production has no heart and Joseph fades into the background and a bike isn't a chariot of gold... As for Jason Donovan, he's only there as a name and for nostalgic reasons, I didnt understand a word he sung, and I know all the words! But it is worth seeing when Linzi is in it, because she is wonderful in the role and somehow makes the 'meant to be funny' bits work.

Finally found someone else who agrees with me! I agree with every point you made ahaha!

Watching this when I'm actually in rehearsals for a production I am in of Joseph,I'm a ishamaelite and we perform in June!

I saw it on tour recently and i too think joseph should get the final bow. I enjoyed the show, the last i saw it i was very little so i don’t have much nostalgia for it. I didn’t particularly like Jason Donovan as Pharaoh as i could not figure out what he was saying, he was a bit too elvis-esque for me that the lyrics got lost. Linzi Hately was incredible and i thoroughly enjoyed her performance. Her vocals were great and her ability to charm a crowd was great too. The kids in it were good but i thought it was interesting having them in some of the roles. I liked the staging but it was very simple but i guess for tour it can’t be too extravagant as it has to work in all locations. I enjoyed the show but it’s not something i’m rushing back to see, will just listen to the soundtrack i think :))

Thank you for another video here is an algorithm boost! ❤️

I watched this show today (Saturday) Matinee. I watched the movie lots of times, I am also religious and I am also from the Middle East (not Egypt). Joseph was played by Danny Nattrass - not Jac. I was looking forward to seeing an old guy playing Jacob. I don't know how I feel about the kids playing some of the characters. I did get annoyed when Pharoh didn't say, Joe! There were so many kids in the audience, the section with Potiphar's wife and Joseph is not kid-friendly! I forgot Jason Donovan played Pharoh so I was like ??? when everyone cheered. I loved Alexandra Burke as the Narrator

WAIT A MINUTE!!!! SEVEN FAT COWS WAS CUT?????? IM SPEECHLESS OMG WTH

Have to say, when I went to see what it with Linzi Hately, I left slightly meh. Linzi was excellent considering she was still recovering from being poorly. The scene with Mrs Potiphar made me think, are you sure this is a family show? (The scene with the tiger rug...)

Agree with you about the masks! Went to Hairspray and Joseph on the same day and it was a mess- even with all the announcements asking people to keep them on at least two thirds of the audience did not. Not much thought about keeping the theatre industry going. I really enjoyed this when I saw it with Sheridan, but I totally agree with you about the vocals- when most people in the audience have grown up with the distinctive tempo and sound of the vocals on the soundtrack and then they change it its so weird! Also I did think we don't really see Joseph much! It also seems to take a while to get going, but maybe thats cus I'm just waiting for the megamix hahaha

💯 agree and hadn’t seen either of the palladium productions only RU-vid clips and I was relived I never went to see it to be honest

I have seen this show more times than I care to admit. Lets just say I have seen about 5 or 6 different lead actors. I love the show and loved singing along to the cassette tape in my parent's car (showing my age there) on long road trips, but it has lost it's novelty for me. I have seen so many different versions that I am not surprised by anything. I saw the current production when Sheridan Smith was cast as Narrator and the comedy she brought to the show was spot on, but i can see how someone else might not be able to pull it off. I agree with some things that were said and disagree with other things. One thing I disagree with is the kids. In the original production (Jason Donovan &Philip Schofield) the kids were actually on the stage. It was only the later shows (Stephen Gately and Ian Watkins/ H from Steps) that the children were sitting on the side of the stage. There were actually more children in the original production and they were all wearing one of the colours from the coat. I was disappointed however thst they had kids playing some of the pivotal roles and that the Narrator played so many roles. I think overall the show is good, but my favourite production has to be the original (even though I only saw half the show as i was in the front row off to the side. I just remember one of the brothers winking at me.)

I watched it when the guy from steps was Joseph (2013) and it was amazing glad I didn’t go see it in London now haha

This is why I waited to see the tour in Liverpool rather than Manchester which is closer to me; because Linzi was performing XD

I came across your video as I’m a massive Joseph fan and wanted to see what you hated. I liked your review but sadly don’t live in the UK so won’t see that production. We are getting a show next year and we’re going but I’m not “holding my breath” whilst still trying to keep an open mind. Joseph has been my absolute favourite musical since I first saw it as a child. Our Australian production had a very young Mark Holden and he was marvellous. My favourite’s are still Gary Bond as Joseph and Peter Reeve as the Narrator from the 1972 production.

Does anyone have the Joseph Cast Album starring Jaymi Hensley from the UK tour???

I also love Joseph and have seen it lots of times but I completely with you agree with you. It did feel cheaper .

Still to this day, no production of Joseph comes close to the cast with Maria Friedman, Donny Osmond and Robert Torti as Pharoah!! The BEST!! And Joseph should definitely get last or second last bow! I loved how he shared it with Maria!

I was actually in Joseph in the West End when H from Steps was Joseph. Had a whole lot of fun but when I went to see the newer version a few years later, I hated it mainly because of the way the children were used in the show, compared to when I was in it. I know that sounds silly reasoning, but you can’t help how you feel 🤷🏻‍♀️ either way, having listened to this review, I’m really glad I decided against going to see the revival last year

So many times I think “Sing it as written!”. A musical isn’t a top ten pop song where ad-lib warbling is so common.

Wow 😮 I didn’t see it but I have seen other varieties of Joseph I think I would have also been frustrated by this

This was the first musical I ever got into, when I was aboit 7 or 8. I was suprised when I finally listened to it again a little while ago because it's really not my prefered style of musical at all, I wouldn't have got into it now if I was listening for the first time. That be said, some serious nostalgia.

I saw the tour version recently with Linzi Hateley and I found the exact same as you. I also thought that they had slowed down the songs a bit.

Are we sure it was lowered for Sheridan and not lowered later on for Alexandra? Purely because I saw Bodyguard before and after Alexandra went in it and it was lowered when she joined. And the curve Sister Act production was lowered for her too. I’d put my money on Sheridan being able to belt higher but that’s just my thoughts.

i noticed sheridan do the chopped “jacob” on jacob & sons when they performed on britain’s got talent… i was hoping it was just for her!

I’m going to see Linzi, Jason and Jac in this play in Newcastle and appreciate your review

Completely agree. Hated the fact that there were lots of children taking lead parts. Aren’t there any adults available? Found the set disappointing. Also missed the usual ending where they take the coloured scarves from his coat, one of my favourite bits. Jac Yarrow was phenomenal and the narrator was Linzi Hateley who was so good and handled the comic parts very well. I’ve seen it five times before over the years and this version was my least favourite

Hi Mike Jo, followed u for ages, I might have missed it,but what is your opinion on sunset Blvd?

I saw it with both Linzi Hately in Glasgow and Alexandra Burke in Edinburgh and both times I absolutely loved it! For me, Linzi was absolutely flawless, she was just born for this role. Jack Yarrow has one of the best voices I’ve heard in a long time too. But I think it was really the chorus of the brothers and their wives that made the show - the dance numbers and the comedy in these roles made it such an enjoyable watch.

What surprised me was how much the audience were screaming and cheering at the show as if it was the greatest thing ever to exist! I liked the show and it was ok. I’m glad I’ve seen Joseph but I don’t need to see it again but there were people screaming/cheering all the way throughout at the absolute top of their lungs! X for lots of people I think there’s the nostalgia aspect which I personally don’t have xx Totally respect your views tho x that’s what fab about theatre x everyone can interpret it how they want to. I got really confused as well at the kids playing adults and Alexandra as the narrator also playing potiphar’s wife and Jacob. They had so many awesome adult ensemble that they could have used for those bits.

I hadn't considered how under utilised and disappointing this show was until watching this video. I agree with everything that you said as you were saying it, and on the note of Jason Donovan, his singing, in my opinion, was dreadful, so I'm glad he had such a small role in this performance. The real victim of this show was Jac Yarrow, and while I didn't see the show with Jac, I saw his understudy (who was incredible), it's such a crime for the actor playing Joseph to not be given the respect they deserve when the show is named after their character!!!

jac yarrow is perfect

Well said and completely agree with all you said. It felt like a cheapened version. You missed a treat with Linzi Hateley. She was amazing but hated that she had to play these other roles.

Yeah solid review. Def agreed with a lot of your points.

I saw it with Sheridan Smith and it was fantastic! Makes me sad that it’s not as good anymore

Taking my daughter to see this in Edinburgh later in the year. Last time I saw it was when Jason donavon was Joseph

As an absolutely massive Joseph fan, this really wasn't it for me either. Being a kid who has sat and sang side of stage on the tour, I really loved the fact that they included the kids more. However, I believe it was too much. I found a child playing Potiphar quite uncomfortable, and they really could've given the ensemble more by having 2 of them play the baker and the butler, and yes a child singing the start of Benjamin calypso and then a brother taking over is quite odd, and I was a little confused when it happened. I also hated the go go Joseph costumes, in the tour and in this show. In the tour the ensemble came out in graduation caps and gowns, which I expected them to rip off to reveal some amazing colourful costume, but they never did. In 2019, this production wore very tacky galaxy leggings and jumpers, which was very underwhelming, and the 60s costumes they use in the movie just fit it perfectly. However, I saw Sheridan Smith's understudy as the narrator, Vanessa Fisher. I thought it was odd how she played both Jacob and Potiphar's wife as well, as they could've easily brought in other actors to play these characters. But I have to say Vanessa was amazing. Overall, I believe they could've done so much more with this revival and Jac definitely doesn't deserve the 3rd to last bow.

Hi where did you get the auditorium (I think) pictures that are behind you?