Review: Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, at Birmingham Hippodrome
In a week when X Factor bosses came under fire for digitally tweaking vocals, a contestant from a rival TV singing competition proved he was the real deal.
There was no need to press the ‘auto-tune’ button when Keith Jack sang Close Every Door in this Bill Kenwright touring production of the feel-good Andrew Lloyd Webber / Tim Rice musical, based on the Bible story.
TV viewers voted baby-faced Keith runner-up to Lee Mead in the 2007 show Any Dream Will Do, the BBC’s search for a Joseph for a West End revival.
Three years on, the 22-year-old finally got his hands on the coat of many colours - and he wore it well.
Even so, he was outshone by the sweet-voiced Trina Hill as The Narrator and the rich tones of Henry Metcalfe (Jacob), who also choreographed the myriad musical styles.
Kudos, too, to the chorus of Joseph's 11 brothers, the Elvis-inspired Pharoah and the young choirs from the Stagecoach schools in Solihull and Sutton Coldfield who remain on stage throughout.
Oh, and the inflatable sheep as well!
* Joseph runs at the Hippodrome until September 12
