A musical mind-blowing production at Théatre Lac-brome
Heading into its second week running, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat is blowing the minds of the audience. It’s worth the drive to Knowlton to catch it. Running from Thursday to Sunday, it’s not too late to reserve tickets.
Directed by Lucy Hoblyn, the family-friendly musical based on the story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis is bursting with colour blast after colour blast, constant motion, and emotion from every corner of the stage, songs you want to sing along with that the choir and narrators pull off in pitch-perfect style, and a massive intergenerational crew of 40 from 6 to 85 years old all interacting in energetic dance routines. Everyone who has seen it is dazzled and excited about the joyfulness that exudes from it. So many are incredulous with the professional calibre from amateur theatre coming from ‘small town’. Many are saying that the troupe should take it on the road. Locals are thrilled with the massive community effort that has been put into producing such a powerful production that is certain to brighten up anyone’s day during the dreary, dark days of November.
The Tony Award nominated musical written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber is not unfamiliar to the folks at Brome Lake because it was 23 years ago that Emma Stevens (Echo Art) and John Cameron brought it to Knowlton. Both have had their hands in the 2017 production and despite the nerve wracking, two-day power outage along with Halloween interfering with the final rehearsals leading to opening night, the show went off without a glitch. Cameron was concerned that he might not have time to fine-tune the sound before the big night.
It’s been since February that Hoblyn, supported by her husband Danny Mcauley, has been hard at work recruiting eager volunteers to act and sing, design costumes, build the set, man the lighting, choreograph, market, and everything else needed to make it happen. They have been moving around town at various venues, including the two Protestant churches and Knowlton Academy to practice. For some it has been a family affair, for others it has been a chance to relive the past, and for others it has opened the doors to more opportunities that theatre has to offer. Says Jessica Brown, who was one of the choreographers as
well as one of the narrators, “One of the things I love about being in Knowlton Players’ Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat is getting to perform with my kids. But I also love our cast. I think there are seven families performing together and the rest make up an extended family of players.”
Hoblyn, describes herself as a temperamental “b**ch.” “That’s what it takes to get things done. Somebody has to crack the whip.” Of course everyone adores her and loves her sense of humour and her unbridled talent.
This has been the Knowlton Players’ chance to celebrate community and Canada’s 150th anniversary by always adding a little local and Canadian flavour to the production. It was Mcauley who had the idea of throwing in some Canadian and local humorous elements. “One of my very first ideas was to have the “hairy Ishmaelites” be Toronto Maple Leafs fans (I mean what else could they be...isn't it obvious?) and I am so pleased that the idea stuck and actually made it to the stage.” He wants everybody to pay attention to the Canadianisms within.
Book your tickets now at gogojoseph@brownpapertickets.com.