This filmed version of the play is both enjoyable and annoying. The story is a tuneful, mostly cheerful telling of the highlights of Joseph's story from his coat of many colors to slavery to power, but those looking for a reverent Bible story will be disappointed in this mocking and sarcastic show. On the plus side, Donny Osmond is quite appealing as the innocent Joseph and he sings with ease and emotion; his scenes are the best.
My problems stem from the structure of the show. The action takes place on a school stage with the students often chiming in as a choir and it just doesn't gather any dramatic steam. The composers were only 19 and 21 when this was first conceived and they apparently let their youthful enthusiasm go unchecked; their music is catchy and the rhyming lyrics are clever, but there's no continuity or sense of serious theatre. One never suspends disbelief because we are constantly reminded it's a school play.
The songs range from sweet to kitschy in pop, calypso, disco, and cowboy-country style. The props are painted cardboard and the costumes range from period to techno to kid-unfriendly suggestive. The narrator (Maria Friedman) has the most screen time and she's an annoying know-it-all who continually grabs the spotlight away from the action.
Several of the songs are quite nice and will stick with you, especially "Any Dream Will Do" and "Close Every Door," and Pharoah's Elvis impersonation is funny, if weird. The show was originally aimed at children, but I think they might lose interest or be confused. The play lacks the substance of the composers' later "Jesus Christ Superstar" but is nice for Donny fans.
My problems stem from the structure of the show. The action takes place on a school stage with the students often chiming in as a choir and it just doesn't gather any dramatic steam. The composers were only 19 and 21 when this was first conceived and they apparently let their youthful enthusiasm go unchecked; their music is catchy and the rhyming lyrics are clever, but there's no continuity or sense of serious theatre. One never suspends disbelief because we are constantly reminded it's a school play.
The songs range from sweet to kitschy in pop, calypso, disco, and cowboy-country style. The props are painted cardboard and the costumes range from period to techno to kid-unfriendly suggestive. The narrator (Maria Friedman) has the most screen time and she's an annoying know-it-all who continually grabs the spotlight away from the action.
Several of the songs are quite nice and will stick with you, especially "Any Dream Will Do" and "Close Every Door," and Pharoah's Elvis impersonation is funny, if weird. The show was originally aimed at children, but I think they might lose interest or be confused. The play lacks the substance of the composers' later "Jesus Christ Superstar" but is nice for Donny fans.