Review: Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Theatre Royal

IT seems like every musical that hits town these days is headlined by a graduate of reality TV, writes Andy Smart.

This time it is Craig Chalmers, who lost out to Lee Mead in Andrew Lloyd Webber's search for the West End lead in Joseph, but obviously showed producer Bill Kenwright enough to suggest he could hold together a major UK tour.

I can see where Kenwright was coming from. Golden boy Chalmers has real presence, a touch of star quality that could well give him a musical theatre shelf life long after Joseph has finished its current run.

For a start he looks the part, with his shiny blond hair and gleaming Bee Gees smile. You could almost hear the teenies swooning. And he sings well, too, with a nice balance of lightness and power when it was needed. Maybe his acting skills won't win him an Olivier just yet, but he has got age on his side.

Not that Joseph is all about one performer. Chalmers is joined by I'd Do Anything finalist Tara Bethan, who gives a winning performance as the Narrator, spinning the story of Jacob and his 12 sons while charging up and down stairs, singing and dancing without a break.

And fellow Any Dream Will Do contender Antony Hansen's hip-shaking Pharoah also went down well, although his diction could have been clearer on the song that holds the key to Joseph's revival from prisoner to prince.

Under Kenwright's sharp, witty direction, they lead an energetic ensemble who are clearly having the time of their lives, adding light and colour to all those catchy Webber/Rice tunes.

Joseph has been coming to Nottingham for years and every visit brings a fresh tweak and even more dazzling, tongue-in-cheek costumes and sets. It is just such a fun show – I love its irreverence, humour, eclectic musicality and sheer exuberance; it's the sort of show that gets people out of their seats and sends them home feeling happy.

Hey Joe, you are still the man.

ANDY SMART