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In a summer of sweltering days and warm nights, Burleson Community Theater’s most recent production — “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” — feels like a gift from above.
The colorful musical, penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, is a hilarious stage adaptation of the “Coat of Many Colors” story of Joseph from the Bible. It will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at Burleson High School’s auditorium. A 2 p.m. showing will end the musical’s run July 13.
The Burleson Community Theater’s take on the play was especially heart-warming as cast members of all ages shattered generation barriers to form a team working toward a single goal: to bring an ancient story to life — and make the audience laugh while doing it.
The play features no spoken dialogue. Even the narration, which is split between six cast members, is delivered in song. Those not familiar with the biblical story may have a bit of difficulty keeping up with the fast-paced humor, but the simple premise promises not to leave anyone behind.
The action unfolds when Jacob, former Burleson Mayor Rick Roper, favors one of his 12 sons above the rest and gives him a beautifully colored coat. Joseph, Joey Hensley, the favored son, can read dreams, and his brothers become worried when Joseph’s dreams forecast he is destined to rule over them.
The brothers sell Joseph to a band of passing travelers and tell their father his beloved son has been killed.
Joseph is wrongly jailed after working as a slave in Egypt, but while behind bars he shares with his cell mates his gift of dream interpretation.
The pharaoh, Dan McClendon, hears about Joseph’s special talent and asks him to interpret a puzzling dream. Joseph’s dream-reading skills allow him to scale the class ranks, and he becomes second in power to the pharaoh.
I won’t give away the ending, but those familiar with the Book of Genesis — or even just theater — know exactly where the plot line is going.
The whole cast delivers humor, but Joseph’s brothers shine brightly as an especially funny crew. A slow-motion victory jig they do after ridding themselves of Joseph is one of the funniest parts of the musical.
McClendon, who seems at home on stage in his portrayal of the pharaoh, drawing connections between the cocksure king of rock and the ruler of Egypt, also stood out.
The choir, composed of 50 Burleson area children, was another special addition, and their angelic-sounding contribution was impressive.
Gillian Duck, one of the musical’s six narrators, said audiences will be shocked by the abundance of talent in the Burleson community when they view the play, and after seeing a dress rehearsal, I find myself in agreement.
Having been a near-stranger to community theater before seeing this musical, I believe I can now understand the magic inside it. Watching neighbors and friends put so much of themselves into a play was amazing.
Because I just saw a dress rehearsal and all the kinks had not yet been ironed out, I look forward to seeing the finished product soon.
Fans of all ages will enjoy this family show, directed by Debbie Pesnell with technical direction by Steven Van Buren.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children and will be sold at the door. They can also be purchased from cast members and the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce.
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