A couple of weeks ago I practically skipped with excitement to the Palladium here in London to see the hotly anticipated remake of Joseph and the Technicolour Dream Coat. And, there’re no staging spoilers here, but it really didn’t disappoint.
Of course this familiar story comes from the Bible and – to put it lightly – it’s an important one, as it bridges the ancestor’s stories that come before it to the Egypt experience and exodus, (think the Prince of Egypt film, for another musical hook!)
Joseph lives the most compelling and inspiring life – fine fodder for a theatrical showstopper. Out of a seemingly hopeless situation, he changes the course of history.
You’ll probably remember the big-dipper-esque plot; Joseph was the favourite of his father and his coat of many colours was essentially a debut illustration of today’s “why fit in when you were born to stand out” mantra. His overconfidence irked his brothers as he flashed his unattainable outfit-of-the-day, everyday and, crucially, his god-given gift for interpreting dreams - an ability that vitally reemerges later. To pick up the pace here, the brothers sell him to an Egyptian and he’s eventually imprisoned – yet he never loses faith and is soon able to use his dream-reading talent to hobnob with, and then massively help out, the Pharaoh.
There’s so much to take away from this Old Testament narrative. Whether that’s the power of dreams to communicate with both the divine and deeper parts of ourselves, or the presence of our destinies and how great glory can be born out of a dire situation. It’s also the perfect example of perseverance – Joseph affirms that where we are now is not always the final stop, you never know what awaits around the river-bend…
But what struck me most as I enjoyed the uplifting soundtrack that drove-home this epic tale, was the transformation of Joseph. Despite initial arrogance and his many trials faced, after traversing a bit of life he is able to forgive because his nature has done a 180: his feet have hardened and his heart has softened. And that, I think, is a U-turn worth weathering the storms for.