does anyone have the lyrics to the " King of my heart" sung by Dean Collinson (aka the Pharaoh). it's completely incomprehensible!HELP!Thanks! - Paul
06 Jul 10
i loved the show and all the songs and cant wait to see it on thursday 17 dec - freya
15 Dec 09
went to see the show wed was so dissapointed the worst i have ever seen. was more the local school produtions not a west end musical. there was no atmosphere set was lacking no narrators or acting just singing song after song.Also none of the usual merchindise programmes etc on sale before the show. To add to the disappointment lee meads did not apppear which was the reason for going after all the hype but we were not imformed when we bought the tickets a few hours before the show.
joseph was played by an unknown although he was ok the cast did not receive the usual encores.To add insult to injury the tickets were thirty five pounds alot of money for a poor show produced on a low budget. - Annette Turpin
07 Nov 08
went to see the show wed was so dissapointed the worst i have ever seen. was more the local school produtions not a west end musical. there was no atmosphere set was lacking no narrators or acting just singing song after song.Also none of the usual merchindise programmes etc on sale before the show. To add to the disappointment lee meads did not apppear which was the reason for going after all the hype but we were not imformed when we bought the tickets a few hours before the show.
joseph was played by an unknown although he was ok the cast did not receive the usual encores.To add insult to injury the tickets were thirty five pounds alot of money for a poor show produced on a low budget. - Annette Turpin
07 Nov 08
The show was ok although there wasn´t much of an atmosphere in the theatre. Lee Mead is good but I think he´s a bit tired after having played the same part for so long. The show was spoilt for us by a couple of staff members in red jackets coming in and out of the auditorium while speaking loudly, showing total disregard for the paying public. One of them, with Australian accent, was especially loud. Inexcusable behaviour. - Mel
16 Sep 08
Extremely disappointing this time around. Swa it a year ago and although it looked cheap it was still great fun. I went las week on Tuesday and it was a different story. The show looks tired, Jenna Lee James is an improvement over the awful Preeya Kalidas but her outfit looked awful. Why did they dress her up as a Pigalle hooker when she's supposed to be a teacher. Nobody was put in much effort, but then again the theatre was half empty. I guess this is the sadness of reality tv, this show is yesterday's news and lee mead is now officially a 'has been'. - Kate
05 Jul 08
This show is amazing. I'm shocked by some of the very poor comments on here. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion. Lee is fantastic, his voice is very rich and he is an amazing actor, who has come such a way in a year. The audience were very appreciative of the whole cast, who worker extremely hard. In my opinion, Lee is much more than an average performer and he does sing LIVE each show, as you can tell as some shows I have seen have sounded significantly different (in a good way). Dean Collinson is a fantastic actor as well and he works with Lee brilliantly. FANTASTIC show! If you're looking for a fun, simple show (and simple is not meant as a criticism, it's just not a heavy piece) then go to Joseph!!! - CeeCee
16 Jun 08
I wondered if I would have anything different to say about Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat when I sat down to write my second review of the show at the Adlephi theatre on the evening of Saturday the 24th May 2008.
On this occasion we had seats in the central front row which I know adds something special to a performance but as Joseph had been so magical the first time I wondered if I would enjoy it as I had first time round.
Boy did I. In our vantage point, many of the facial expressions and props that had been missed first time round were more obvious and added so much to the performance.
Lee Mead, still looking gorgeous in his loin cloth, having been in the lead for almost a year now, continues to put his heart and soul into every performance and his passion for the part is striking. As he sings, the veins in his neck stand out with the force he gives each note. As he performs the heart rendering “Close Every Door” I found myself breathing heavily as the song reached its final notes, such is the emotion Lee puts into an already emotional song.
The children were enchanting, the dancers and brothers vibrant and energetic and Jenna Lee James in the role of narrator stunned me with her voice and stage presence. She sounded phenomenal, oozing sex appeal, at least judging by the reactions of the man sitting next to me when she bared her long legs in a short, sparkly dress!
We voted Lee Mead as our Joseph and he hasn’t let us down. The dream lives on for both him and us as he gives the performance of his life every time he is on stage. Long may dream coats be in fashion!
- Melissa Roberts
10 Jun 08
some of these poor reviews amaze me! this show is fantastic. Lee is superb - you thought he was good on tv? You havent seen anything unless you see him for real. Dean collinson is just amazing - his humour is the best part of the show. Fiona is the best narrator that ive seen in this role, maybe they should have given her the role instead of jenna, who i feel overpowers the songs and makes it more about her than the show! Kids love it and so do the mums - the noise the audience make is a well deserved reaction to the cast. But please everyone, join in with the megamix at the end - it makes such a difference to the atmosphere and the total experience - taloolabelle
03 Jun 08
some of these poor reviews amaze me! this show is fantastic. Lee is superb - you thought he was good on tv? You havent seen anything unless you see him for real. Dean collinson is just amazing - his humour is the best part of the show. Fiona is the best narrator that ive seen in this role, maybe they should have given her the role instead of jenna, who i feel overpowers the songs and makes it more about her than the show! Kids love it and so do the mums - the noise the audience make is a well deserved reaction to the cast. But please everyone, join in with the megamix at the end - it makes such a difference to the atmosphere and the total experience - taloola belle
03 Jun 08
Disappointing!! cheap!! I went to see the show April 12th and I thought the production values were sloppy, tacky and cheap. Dancing was quite sloppy, enjoyed a lot of the songs but there is TOO MUCH MUSIC!! The whole show is sung!..what about having real drama and acting not just music! There were sloppy mistakes in the set/props, it was shallow/lacks substance, poor quality and not value for money!..esp as it lasted only 2 hrs including the interval - so glad I didn't buy expensive seats. Lee is v good, the narrator is v talented but her singing was sometimes badly pitched/annoying. Eek! This show is well over-hyped and Lloyd Webber now needs the BBC talent shows to give his productions publicity - on their own they would be closing much earlier I'm sure! People, please demand class and value for money from West End shows - you pay a lot for the tickets! - Gillian Morris
21 Apr 08
I saw the show on Saturday night and I thought it was fantastic!! I thought the new narrator Jenna was great, she could really belt out a tune. Of course, the star of the show is Lee Mead and he was perfect as Joseph. His voice was beautiful - rich and strong. His acting was also really good and he looks mighty fine in a loincloth!! It was a fantastic evening and I thoroughly recommend this show!! - Alison,
25 Mar 08
I was very very disappointed with this show. It was just like a 6th form college performance not the standard I have been used to in the West End Theatres. The set was poor and budget like and I can't believe it after all the hype and publicity this show has had and using TV licence payers money for the reality show. - Claire
19 Mar 08
I thought this show was very dated. The songs are ok, and the suporting cast was fine. Lee Mead was no more than average in his singing and with a very limited acting range. The production screams 'cheap'. Staff at the Adelphi are all quite rude. - Kate Turner
19 Mar 08
wENT TO SEE LEWIS BRADLEY AS JOSEPH FOR THE SECOND TIME YESTERDAY. EVEN MORE ENJOYABLE THAN IN JANUARY. LEWIS IS A NATURAL TALENT AND OBVIOUSLY ENJOYS PERFORMING - THIS COMES OVER CLEARLY TO THE AUDIENCE. DEAN COLLINSON ALSO EXCELLENT AS PHARAOH AND KATE TYDMAN AS THE NARRATOR. ALSO FULL MARKS TO ALL THE CHILDREN.
I SHALL COME AGAIN IN MAY WHEN LEWIS IS TAKING THE LEAD. HE WAS MY CHOICE FOR JOSEPH ON ADWD LAST YEAR. - JOSIE
13 Mar 08
The show is very amateurish. Lee Mead is average. Typical Bill Kenwright cheap and tacky set - when will he ever learn? - Sam
02 Mar 08
I went Sat 23rd Feb, saw the new narrator Jenna Lee-James. She has a lovely voice and really interacts with the children. Lee Mead as Joseph was full of bounce with an amazing voice. It was a treat to see, a really uplifting show. - Jo4
25 Feb 08
Saw the show Wednesday 20th having booked months in advance. I was disappointed as it´s a very low budget production, looks very cheap, not what you expect of a major WEst End production. I noticed that many of the songs, or at least part of them were mimed, the final megamix being the clearest example. Also Reuben´s wife was clearly miming during One More Angel In Heaven. Lee Mead was ok but a bit bland. But the good news is that my 6 year old daughter had a very good time. - Jill
25 Feb 08
I went to see the show last week and thought it was very dated. The songs are still good fun, and the whole cast were good. Lee Mead was a tad dull as Joseph, not very good in the comedy parts. Its a very cheesy and cheap production. Front of house staff were very unhelpful, some people were seating in the wrong seats, but they did nothing about it, leving customers to sort it out themselves. - Jane
23 Feb 08
I finally saw the show last week. Lee Mead was just ok as Joseph in a very mediocre revival of the 1991 version; the performance I went to seemed to be full of loud women who thought they were in a strip club and that Mr Mead was there to give them the full monty. The show is entertaining although very dated and it has a decent and energetic cast. But I wished I hadn't bother with it as the whole experience was disappointing. I mean after all the publicity for the show they should have employed staff less miserable and more helpful with customers. Most of the ushers were very young and were more interested in chatting and giggling between them, even during the performance, than in helping customers. - Jane
10 Feb 08
For some any dream will do. But not for the winner of the recent BBC talent show of the same name.
For actor, Lee Mead there was only one dream and that was to be the lead in Joseph & his Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat.
On 6th July he got his dream when the musical opened at the Adelphi Theatre in the Strand. As Lee took to the stage in his first lead role in the West End, the question begging to be asked is did the audience get their dream too?
In his coat of many colours Lee was amazing. Bare chested, dripping with sweat, he was fantastic; women throughout the theatre cheering as he was stripped to his loin cloth, all of them wishing they could get closer to the deliciously good looking Essex actor.
The show opened with the familiar ‘Any Dream…’ song to an enthralled audience. Preeya Kalidas (East is East, Bombay Dreams, Bend it Like Beckham) as the narrator guided the show skilfully through each splendid musical number along with the children’s choir.
All the main parts were superbly cast, among them Dean Collinson (Whistle Down the Wind, Notre Dame de Paris) as Pharoah, Stephen Tate (Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line, Cats) as Jacob and John Alastair (Mamma Mia) as Reuben, and all the supporting actors and actresses who were enthusiastic and full of energy and keen to show the audience what they could do.
And show us they did. The show was a lively mix of humour, familiar songs and comic timing and yes, Lee Mead was everything we had hoped he would be. For me this was a better show than the Jason Donovan, Donny Osmond, Phillip Schofield era and with Lee in the role, Joseph has been reborn. You’d be foolish to miss it.
- Melissa Roberts
28 Jan 08
Saw the show last week. I was in the front row of the Upper Circle. The view was fine, but the show was disappointing, my children enjoyed because they knew all the songs, so I'm glad we managed to go before Lee's holiday. It was quite hot and when a guy told an usher he didn't seem interested and did nothing to try to help. I tried to buy water and sweets during the interval, but the rude American in the kiosk said he was only serving people who had the right change!!! He was sending everybody else to bar to buy drinks. The bar was pretty busy so I went back inside with nothing to my children's disappointment. Lee and the cast were all right but the show is very dated and the set looks really cheap. The overall experience left me cold. - Anna
19 Jan 08
I went to see the show last week and didn't really like it. Some songs are fun, but the whole experience leaves a lot to be desired. Lee Mead was just so dull, his voice nothing special and he's clearly not a natural for comedy. The rest of the cast were fine except Preyya Kalidas, who was terrible as the narrator and sounded flat most of the time. - Pearl
11 Jan 08
I went to see the show last Friday and had a fantastic time!! The show is good fun, and the whole cast were really good. Lee Mead was brilliant as Joseph - sexy, cute, funny and his voice was strong and powerful. He was ACE! The show has been running for nearly forty years so surely people know what its about and what to expect when they go to see it!! Its a cheesy, good fun show that had me grinning for days afterwards (especially as I saw Lee after the show and got his autograph!!)I do agree that the theatre needs refurbishment but its hardly the fault of the show!! - Alison, Twickenham
02 Jan 08
I went to see Joseph with some friends 5 months after booking it. I have never been so disappointed with any show in my life. Lee Mead was ill and was replaced by a one dimensional, cheesy Lewis Bradley who is too thin and didn't win the show for a reason.
The production itself is very amateur - the theatre needs refurbishment and the seats were uncomfortable.
At half time we had all had enough and didn't go back. Total waste of money -go and see Billy Elliott or Lion King instead. They don't rely on the popularity of reality TV shows for their success. - abi cox
01 Jan 08
Saw the show on the 27th December. I had seen it once before in the very back row of the very top- wasn't a very good view, but still enjoyed it!
I was in row X of the stalls for the first half (my friend had managed to get the seat as a return.) The view was fine, and I was next to a very sweet girl in a wheelchair, the staff did everything to make sure she was ok. In the second half I switches seats with my friend to be in row U (we'd got 2 returns but they weren't next to each other) The show was amazing, having spoken to members of the cast before the show, I knew they were tired, but it didn't show!! Dean Collinson (Pharoah) was absolutely amazing, and was Lee and the rest of the cast- the one thing that let down the show was Preeya (the narrator) She really wasn't good, but the energy the rest of the cast had made up for it! The people around me seemed determined to not have a good time, which is a shame because it is SO good, if you want something serious, Joseph isn't for you! The staff were lovely, we'd checked beforehand if it was ok for me to zip round before the megamix to stand by my friend and dance. The megamix came and it was spectacular! The cast really looked like they were enjoying themselves.
I must mention:
The comedy that Nathaniel Morrison (Napthali) and Neil Wright (Judah) got out of their performances was splendid and all the brothers were particularly great! Russell Walker (Gad/Butler) sang Canaan Days and I was blown away. Each one of the brothers were hilarious to watch, and thoroughly entertaining, as were the rest of the cast!
The people who go determined not to enjoy it, and try to spot when things go wrong (they rarely do) should just relax and enjoy it- it's a fabulous production! - Jessie
28 Dec 07
I've always avoided Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals in general but I wanted to see this one as I remember gladly the Palladium version I friend took me to see years ago. I like the music, it's the only Lloyd Webber I can tolerate but this is a very poor production, a poor man's copy of its predecesor. Lee Mead was just ok, the ensemble are enthusastic, but it's just very poorly directed. Also the theatre seemed quite short of staff for a Saturday night and most of them were quite unhelpful, some of them even rude, like the very obnoxious guy in the Grand Circle kiosk, who needs customer service training with immediate effect. Overall a very disappointing night. - Dale
20 Dec 07
Quite poor. Really tired production. This is a miss. Lee Mead was off on Saturday, Lewis Bradley did a decent enough job but Preeya Kalidas was so bad. The sound was overamplified and they use too many pre-recorded click tracks. - Anna
11 Dec 07
This show was mediocre. A very wek production. Lee Mead was no more than OK. I wish I had gone to see Hairspray instead, that's a great musical that ticks all the right boxes. I'm afraid Joseph ain't. - Tanya
01 Dec 07
This show was amazing. A excellent night out. Lee Mead was amazing as joseph and Preeya was brilliant as the narrator. Anyone who wants to see a serious show see something else. This is funny, entertaining and very moving in places. - Charlotte
24 Nov 07
I've always avoided Joseph like a plague of locusts, apart from once at my daughter's primary school, but having voted for Lee Mead it seemed only fair to see our local boy in action. At first my worst fears seemed well founded as this revival of Steven Pimlott's 1991 production looks like a school play (as it was originally) with the suspicion that it was all a huge send-up. Given that we are acquainted with members of his family it would be disloyal to criticise Lee but truthfully he is clearly an experienced pro with genuine charisma and a great voice, particularly on 'Close Every Door'. Dean Collinson's Pharoah is prety poor (his lyrics are incomprehensible) but Fiona Reyes was a brilliant stand-in as the Narrator. Go with a bunch of seven year olds or get in touch with your inner child and surrender to the exuberant daftness of Joseph (and you won't get those damned songs out of your head for days). - David Baxter
22 Nov 07
Saw the show on 7th November and had a fantastic time. The cast clearly have a great time throughout the show, and it is infectious. You can't help but to clap along, and I haven't laughed that much in ages. Fiona Reyes was the narator and she did a great job, and Lee Mead singing Close Every Door is worth the ticket price alone. A fun, enjoyable night out .... highly recommended! - Kaz
12 Nov 07
Congratulations to Lee for becoming Joseph and living his dream. He got there on his merits and through hard work, determination and dedication. He is fabulous as Joseph and had me laughing, crying, screaming, clapping and cheering until I was hoarse. And he looks gorgeous in a loincloth and sings like an angel. Yes I'm a huge Lee fan, but the whole cast have to take credit too. Dean Collinson is mega as Pharoah!!! He gets a fair few screams and cheers from me too! The brothers are amazing, the dancers are great and the kids chior are really sweet. Then of course the story and the lyrics are wonderfully clever and witty. It all adds up to a hugely enjoyable, fun, family show. I've seen it 4 times so far and will most certainly be seeing it a few times more before the end of it's run. - Karen D
10 Nov 07
Very average, Lee is ok, bit cheesy. A weak show, and allowing people to eat popcorn in a theatre is just disgraceful. - Neil
10 Nov 07
Fantastic show, the whole cast are suberb.
Joseph has long been one of the most popular musicals and rightly so, Over the years have seen it a few times with various "Josephs" and have enjoyed it every time.
Listening to others in the theatre during and after the show, I heard comments from plenty of people, young and old, male and female and I didn't hear one bad thing - ooh, sorry, yes there was one recurring complaint - the show was too short! - LR
07 Nov 07
The ultimate feel good night out!! Just so much fun!!! The cast are superb, and really give a lot to this high energy, hugely entertaining and engaging show.
Lee Mead wears Joseph’s coat perfectly, and astonishingly just gets better and better each time I see the show.
Preeya Kalidas as the Narrator, is warm and sparkly, has great stage presence and a lovely voice. Also, Fiona Reyes has an amazing voice that fits the Narrator role perfectly.
Stephen Tate plays Jacob, Potiphar and the Guru to brilliant perfection!
The supporting cast members are extremely talented and do an outstanding job of singing, dancing and acting their socks off.
The highlight for me is Dean Collinson as the Pharaoh. He knocks my socks of every time!! What can I say; he’s hilarious, sexy, has an awesome voice, and his charisma just floods the stage. The extra song King of My Heart is most welcome and further shows off Dean's superb talent.
I've seen this show four times and have thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of every show. I have more tickets booked. Musical theatre does not get more fun than this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Suzy
06 Nov 07
I loved this show! I thought the cast were great, they have so much energy. I saw Fiona as the Narrator and thought she was fab. Lee Mead is very talented with a lovely voice much better than on tv. I loved the show so much I have booked again.
Thanks for a wonderful night!
- Hannahch
06 Nov 07
An absolutely fantastically enjoyable show. Lee Mead lives up completely to sll the hype, performing with a warmth and charm that is so endearing. Saw Joseph years ago and this version is funnier, brighter, full of energy- have booked to go again and cannot wait. - Toni
05 Nov 07
I have seen Joseph twice before as a touring production; the first time in the West End was on 6 October. It is meant to be light hearted and fun and anyone who wants a serious production should give it a miss. Phantom and Les Mis are still there after all.
Joseph is now one of my favourites along with more serious ones like Phantom and Les Mis.
Lee Mead is excellent. I waited until he had won ADWD before I booked as I only intended to go if he won - head and shoulders above the rest. Hence the wait for tickets.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions but you have to go to this show just for the fun of it. Dean Collinson also stands out for me. All the cast performed extremely well. The songs are great. I just wish they would put out a new cast CD of it.
I would love to go again if only I can get tickets. My husband agreed to go for my benefit so that I did not spend the weekend in London alone. However, he loved it as well and also shared my opinion on Lee and the rest of the cast.
I share the opinion that Lee needs to go on to something new. I will certainly be following him in the years to come.
- marilyn
05 Nov 07
I saw the show last week and I thought it was very bad indeed. The songs are ok, good supporting cast but it looks very cheap, like they have spent no more than a few quid to stage it. Lee Mead wassn´t that great, can´t see what all the fuss is about. Preeya Kalidas was awful as the Narrator. This show is really cheap. - Anne
01 Nov 07
i saw this in august and had booked to see the show back in may so i waited anxiously hoping lee mead won as he was my favourite, thankfully he did and i was so excited to see the show as i'd never seen joseph before. Well the show lived up to my expectations and i LOVED every bit of it. The cast were amazing and so was lee to my delight and he's even better looking than on the television lol and was an excellent joseph especially singing close every door. a thoroughly enjoyable evening, i would definetly go again if i had the chance. - hannah
23 Oct 07
Just got back from the Adelphi, watching the "amazing" dreamcoat show, ridiculous, its a cheap tacky childrens show. Unconvincing production and just not at all engaging. Lee mead done well but is better on tv. I thought the narrator was ok but nothing special (Preya)the rest of the cast over acted and made the whole thing silly. Left at the interval. - Dan
17 Oct 07
I saw the show on Monday and I thought it was very weak. Nice songs, competent cast but it looks cheap, like they have spent no money at all. Lee Mead was ok, no great. Preeya Kalidas was of course off - does she ever bother to perform? -, Fiona Reyes was the Narrator, great voice and acting, but they make her wear the most horrid outfit in the second half, those black trousers are just awful, they are not even her size. Cheap, cheap, cheap. - Alan
11 Oct 07
I saw the show last night and I thought it was fantastic!! Great tunes, lively and talented cast – especially Fiona Reyes who was great as the narrator. Lee Mead was brilliant! The perfect Joseph – funny, sexy, charming, charismatic and his voice was rich, strong and note perfect. I loved the show – don’t read the negative reviews they are just miserable so and so’s – I was grinning from start to finish – it was great! - Alison
10 Oct 07
This is just cheap entertainment. The cast is good except for the awful Preya Kalidas. Lee Mead tries hard but sounded tired. He doesn't have great voice really voice. This show would have been a total flop if it wasn't for the free publicity the BBC gave it with that travestry of a program. - Sara
07 Oct 07
I too cannot believe how some people slate this show!!! Ok everyone is entitled to an opinion but Joseph is just 100% pure entertainment!! It is never going to be a masterpiece but the current cast give it their all and make it a fanastic entertaining show!!! You smile from beginning to end!!! Lee loves every minute of it and is certainly a valid winner! And though not the best voice in the world I personally loved Preeya as the narrator. Fine she is no Linzi Hateley but who would have been!! By no means does she deserve some of the criticism that she has been getting!! Everyone around us was loving it and the atmosphere at the end was electric!! If you looking for clean family entertainment then Joseph is the show to see!!!If you can get a ticket that is!! - Steve
29 Sep 07
Along with several other reviewers I cannot understand why this show gets anything other than rave reviews. Do they not realise that it's meant to be fun, light hearted and pure entertainment and that is what you get in abundance! I defy anyone to leave the Adelphi without a smile on their face. Every single performer gave 100% and Lee, Preeya and Dean were on top form. The dancing was outstanding and I particularly liked the added humour in the background of several scenes. It's a real feel good evening and the performance I saw was crackling with energy - no sign of boredom at all! - Ann
28 Sep 07
My favourite didn't win ADWD and on seeing this I'm glad he didn't. A complete rehash of the old Palladium show - it looked tired and dated. Lee was good, although I felt his voice sounded tired at times, and I was lucky enough to have Fiona Reyes as the narrator, and whilst not in the league of Linzi Hateley was very good. Thought the new Pharoah song was pointless and interrupted the flow of the show.
It's still an entertaining show, very colourful and energetic, but I felt cheated that they had regurgitated the old show and made no effort to update it in any way.
Those who are going to the theatre for the first time having seen ADWD will no doubt love it - I hope they move onto better shows after this and continue to enjoy what the West End Musical Theatre has to offer. - Kay
25 Sep 07
Could only give this a 4 because of the truely awful narrator. This lady (Preeya Kalidas) is just not up to the part and should be replaced, On a positive note, Lee Mead was just great as were the rest of the cast. With a narrator who can sing it's a 5 star show. - Rosie
24 Sep 07
Saw Fiona Reyes as the narrator, Priya kalidas seems to be off all the time. Fiona Reyes was fine. It's the show I have a problem with, this production is very amateurish, ther's no way it would have been succesful without the tv show. - Nathalie
19 Sep 07
Once again, Fiona Reyes was the narrator, with an unexplained absence from Priya - not a problem tho, as Reyes coped admirably with the part.
If the show is taken in its truest form, ie a production for schools, then I fail to see how anyone could criticise the exuberant cast. Not on a par with Les Mis, but never intended to be! A great family night out.
- Nic
18 Sep 07
I agree with Fiona Reyes being a great Narrator, but wasn't impress with the show. Went on Mon 10th and Preeya was off, I ask one of the ushers if she was on holidays but he told me that she's hardly ever in the show because she keeps pulling in sickies. I'm not complaining because Fiona Reyes did a great job, but the show is far from fantastic. 2 hours of the cheapest and tackiest entertainment. The new Pharoah song adds nothing to the plot or the character. Lee Mead was fine, but his voice wasn't strong enough and struggled a couple of times. Not a natural comedian, the funny bits lacked spark. Maybe I should have seen it earlier in the run, I think he's a bit bored now. - Sam
16 Sep 07
I agree Andy, I can't understand all this negativity. Were these 'critics' watching the same show as I was because I thought it was fantastic. 2 hours of great entertainment! I went to the Wednesday matinee so didn't see Preeya - Fiona Reyes was really good though. I loved the new Pharoah song and Dean Collinson played the role brilliantly. Loved the kids - they looked so happy and enthusiastic. All the brothers - just great! But the star of the show is undoubtedly Lee - Just a brilliant performance from him, voice was strong all the way through and loved the comedy bits with the snake etc. You can tell he absolutely loves it up on that stage and really appreciates and deserves all the cheers, screams and applause he got from the capacity audience!
I'll definately be going to see the show again...... - Sue
16 Sep 07
What on earth is everyone so scathing about? Dragged to the Adelphi by my wife I was there to support only. But as a musician myself I was impressed by the sound, orchestration and the spot-on timing and tuning of all involved. Lee is getting better allthe time, Priya Kalidas is good too and Dean Collinson as Pharaoah hams it up in just the way it is meant to be. Good fun,family show, feel-good evening. Stop being so fussy all you "critics"!!!! - Andy Hale
15 Sep 07
It was disappointing after all the hype. Saw it last Saturday 1st Sept. Lee was ok, nothing special, but Preeya Kalidas was just dreadful. Luckily, after the interval it was announced that she was feeling unwell and Fiona Reyes would be the narrator. She was great! What a difference a good performer with a great voice can do to the show. I wish i had seen the whole show with her. - Pearl
09 Sep 07
It was awful all round specially Dean Conlinson. Kalidas wasn't good either. Cheap and tacky. - Ella
30 Aug 07
It was excellent all round with the notable exception of Preeya Kalidas. She sang marginally "under" pitch throughout, and her relative pitch was unreliable as well.
Pretty is not enough in the role of the narrator. I sorely missed Linzi Hateley. Kalidas did not have the authority, warmth, or technique for this role.
There's alot of talent about - couldn't they have found someone better?
Otherwise - excellent.
- Elizabeth
28 Aug 07
The show is not enjoyable at all. I was so disappointed. Lee is no more than average. It looks really cheap. They should have tried much harder. - Jennifer
25 Aug 07
The show is ok but not very exciting. Children have fun but it looks quite cheap and the man who plays the Pharaoh is truly awful. This could have been good, they just didn't try hard enough as they knew people would buy tickets anyway. The power of reality tv, I guess. - Jennifer
21 Aug 07
terrific! - marky
20 Aug 07
The atmosphere was good and people were really there for Lee Mead, not for the show. The show is a very dated. Lee was ok, his voice a bit tired, but I wasn't impressed with the Narrator or the Pharaoh, very weak indeed. The new Pharaoh song doesn't really work. There was some energy on stage with the ensemble doing a good job, although they mimed the remix quite badly. At the end of the show we were told by an usher that Lee would be signing autographs in the main foyer but it was really packed so we decided to go home. - Elliot
14 Aug 07
I am baffled by many of the bad reviews below. I saw Joseph last week and absolutely loved it!
I have seen numerous productions of Joseph in my time, and this was by far my favourite. Granted, the Adelphi is not the greatest venue and venue-wise the Palladium have been much better. However, I thought that Lee was fantastic - it was nice to see him enjoying his role, and the audience appreciation, so much. I thought that his voice was strong and consistent throughout the performance.
In contrast to the reviewers below who found the London Eye, talking camel etc all a bit OTT and disappointing, I felt that they helped to make this a light hearted and thouroughly enjoyable production.
- Rachel
12 Aug 07
Saw it tonight after being quite worried by some of the reviews here. I thought it was great fun and had a great time. Admittedly, Priya wasn't particuarly strong as narrator but she just about held onto the part. Lee Meade was very good, although his voice sounds slightly tired. I agree that the new song was a bit pointless. However, the audience were in great spirits and the cast gave lots of energy and lots of laughs. I had a ball. - Kat
11 Aug 07
This should have been better. I knew something was going to be really wrong the moment I read Mr Coveney's review. He's a personal friend of Lloyd Webber and in the past has always given 5 star reviews to any of his productions, even the most mediocre ones. Mr Coveney has given Joseph only 4 stars, his way of telling us that the show is really crap. Can't wait to read his review of Grease, which is not the most fantastic show but is far better than Joseph. I'm sure Coveney won't give it more than one star, just because it's produced by David Ian and Lloyd Webber hates him. back to Joseph, it has good tunes but looks very dated. Lee Mead is quite average but audiences love him because he's been on tv. Priya Kalidas can't sing the Narrator's songs. The Pharaoh is truly awful. - Pippa
07 Aug 07
This production is quite poor. Lee Mead does an ok job but sounded a bit flat at times. Priya Kalidas is totally miscast as the narrator, who needs a stronger singer. But Dean Conlinson was the worst, his Pharaoh is just not funny at all. The choreography was really messy and it's badly directed. - Lori
29 Jul 07
I liked this production a lot. Is it great Art-NO, Is it Good Fun-YES.Lee was very charming and in good voice the afternoon that I went. Best of all were the brothers who had to dance sing and act in a variety of styles and play various other characters. I saw an understudy Narrator and she was in good voice and did a swell job. Overall it wa more fun than I expected and I had a great time. - Robert
28 Jul 07
After seeing the brilliant Wicked, Joseph was a bit of a let down. It was a very low-cost Joseph and it shows. Didn't find it as funny as it was at the Palladium. Did we really need a model of the London Eye in Egypt? Lee was average to good with several flat notes in between. Priya as the Narrator is abysmal, awful dancing and those awful screeching notes. Obviously they didn’t want to cast someone who could outshine Lee, someone like Linzi Hately would have had him for breakfast. The brothers were funny in some parts. Unless you’re a reality tv fan, stay away or you'll be hugely disappointed. - Charley
26 Jul 07
I went today, and was very pleased, I read the bad reviews about the narrator and luckily she was understudied and the narrator was fantastic. Lee got really into the part and looked like a Joseph too. I was pleased that the children were more involved with the show and seemed to enjoy it more than they used to in the old show. I wasn't fond of the Pharoah's new song and didn't see much point in it but it filled in a bit of time. Overall was really pleased, would definately go and see it again!! - Charlotte
25 Jul 07
This show is pure, mindless, unadulterated fun – if you are looking for anything with depth and meaning, then go to see Phantom or Les Miserables.
I thoroughly enjoyed it as a fun and entertaining evening out. From the riot of colours and costumes on stage to the tacky sheep, the miniature London Eye, and huge Pharaoh head complete with rolling eyes and neon lights it was camper than a caravan show and much more enjoyable. Of course, the majority of the audience was there to see Lee Mead as was evidenced by the huge cheers and screams from his first appearance before he even opened his mouth to sing. He makes a convincing Joseph with some good humorous touches and sings the role nicely – his acting is a little wooden but the role does not really require much strength of character and he has a good enough body to keep us shallow females happy without the need to put across an Oscar winning performance.
Having seen Linzi Hatley perform the role of the narrator so brilliantly at the Palladium, I knew that would be a hard act to follow and unfortunately, Preeya Kalidas cannot hold a candle to Linzi. As the pivotal character needed to hold this show together, the narrator requires excellent vocal ability and superb stage presence – Preeya has little of either. While very pretty, she lacks the ability to hold the stage and her vocal range appeared limited. I’m sure that Preeya is a good singer and actress in the correct role but she is miscast here and I was disappointed in her performance.
Camping it up for all he was worth, Dean Collinson gave us a Pharaoh who was clearly enjoying himself as “The King”. The new song “King of my Heart” seemed to fit quite badly into the show and does not serve any purpose in moving the story along – it occurs to me, that adding a new song was simply another gimmick for publicity rather than a useful addition to the show.
The main stars of the show were the brothers who all worked together very well and produced a bunch of misfits whose hatred of the spoilt brat Joseph you could fully appreciate. Their comic timing was great and they provided some of the best laughs of the show.
A few minor quibbles with some fluffed lines and a lot of the choreography looks untidy and needs more work. I think the show would have benefited from another week of rehearsals - however, this will improve given time and practice. Throughout the show, the sound quality was mediocre with the lyrics being almost inaudible at some points and the Megamix at the end needing work – the bass was far too loud and drowned out everything else. I wonder if the sound operator had gone home early?!
Down to the very last turn of the head and dance step, this is a complete copy of the original 90’s Palladium show and although I loved this production, I do think it is a shame that the producers did not have the confidence to ride on the popularity of the TV program and provide a new show. They were guaranteed bums on seats so there was no financial risk but instead of taking the opportunity to give theatregoers a completely new staging and interpretation they have opted for the “safe” alternative of dusting off and re-using a 15 year old touring set and a carbon copy of the original show. In the end, when the audience are paying upwards of £50 per ticket, this is simply an insult to the paying public and lazy theatre production.
- Lem
25 Jul 07
Front row seats - superb felt like we were part of the action. This is the best Joseph I have seen (and trust me I have seen a fair few). Admittedly getting into the Adelphi was a bit chaotic (but a lot of other theatres have the same problem!) but the show made more than up for it. Lee was outstanding. I had my reservations, but his voice is fabulous, his acting great, he is charming and he owned that stage. The best thing was seeing what a buzz he got out of it and his beaming smile at the end. The kids were adorable. This is great revival of a classic. - Kirsten
24 Jul 07
Everything was chaos and quite badly organized last Saturday at the Adelphi. Patrons were confused, didn't know where to go and no staff available. The show bored me to tears, so cheap and tacky. The audience were mainly fans of the tv show who just want to see Lee Mead, he was ok but his voice sounded strained at times. Priya Kalidas' voice wasn't strong enough and her acting was very bad. The whole thing was rubbish really, waste of time and money. - Fiona
24 Jul 07
Really enjoyed the show, which I was not expecting after reading the reviews on this site.
Singing was great, dancing was great and it was a hugely enjoyable evening.
The set was not very sophisticated, but that was part of the show's charm.
- Sarah
23 Jul 07
Went to the opening night. There were technical difficulties with the set which meant that the show stopped for 10 minutes and they cut the bit when Joseph is taken to Egypt as a slave, so I didn't get to see the London Eye in the middle of Egypt. Lee Mead was ok but his voice sounded strained by the end. The narrator's voice was terrible and she souded as flat as a pancake. The brothers had a couple of funny moments. Many of the audience were very rude, just walking around stalls with drinks and chatting after the second half had started, Tim Rice and friends were some of them, I think the kids on stage were hugely disappointed as nobody was paying attention to them. - Jared
20 Jul 07
Going to see the show on Saturday, so will reserve judgement. One thing puzzles me - how do certain reviewers know the audiences have been 'non regular theatre goers'? Do regulars have a special, smug look?! - Phil
19 Jul 07
Loved it so much. Yes it brought in an audience that dont go to the theatre which is good and bad but like bob says in drowsy it took me somewhere. it took me on a journey and i was very happy at the end. - Jake
19 Jul 07
It has nice songs but the music sounded terrible. The show looks cheap and very dated. The director has done a dreadful job. Lee Mead is quite average but the audiences love him because he's been on tv. Priya Kalidas is so bad, can't sing at all, she sounded off key most of the time and very screechy, her acting is nearly as bad as her singing. The Pharaoh's new song is actually quite nice but adds nothing to the narrative. I was very disappointed as I quite like this show. The megamix is just an excuse to make people stand so they can get a standing ovation. The majority of the audience are not regular theatregoers but fans of reality shows who just want to see Lee Mead. He also signs autographs in the foyer at the end of the show to keep fans happy. - Pet
19 Jul 07
Lee Mead, the guy who won Andrew Lloyd Webber's reality TV show to star in the musical wasn't my first choice of Joseph. The very concept of the television audition show was to find someone fresh and new. Someone who wouldn't normally ever be considered for a musical production - let alone one in the West End. Lee's done plenty of professional theatre before and in that respect shouldn't have even been considered. Never the less, the public found his weak lispy voice and 1970s perm something of an endearing feature and voted for him in their droves. Rather annoyingly, Andrew Lloyd Webber hasn't moved the show on much either. It's still very much stuck in the 1960s which was a shame.
Overall everyone did a good job. The band were top notch and nice and loud. The little kids were fantastic, and Tom Gillies, the actor who plays brother Benjamin is a bit of a hottie (in a geeky kind of way). But it's Lee Mead as Joseph who gets the most wolf whistles and wooops from the girls as he struts around the stage in just a loin cloth.
Playing the part of Joseph isn't very demanding. Indeed, it's probably one of the easiest leading man roles going - therefore the cheering and euphoria as he came on stage each time was a little over the top, but the audience were more typical of those maybe watching the red coats at Butlins than your average West End crowd.
So, in a nut shell, it was OK, but Andrew Lloyd Webber's production is probably more pantomime than it is musical theatre. Oh and the forced clapping and manipulated standing ovation at the end wasn't my cup of tea either. I do hate people who clap along to songs. Furthermore, if any theatre cast try and encourage me to stand up at the end in order to massage their own egos I make damn sure I stay sat down - even if I was the only one out the 1000 or so theatre-goers last night to remain in my seat. I do give standing ovations when due but I'm not sure I really like being cajoled into doing so.
- James
18 Jul 07
Priya Kalidas is perfectly cast as the Narrator because her singing /acting was so bad that it made Lee looks great.Whatsonstage Chicago viewers has warned us many times before about the bad management at the Adelphi so it seemed the theatre has totally ignored all the suggestions. Well done to Mr Webber you have found another money making idea - reality show = profit. Fountunately Lee was very good as Joseph but did you hear Connie meowing Memory at the Diana concert? give me Elaine any time.Casting on a reality show can be a very tricky business like Connie it will backfire at some point. If you have seen the show at Palladium then don't waste your money, with his current production the sets/costume are cheap, cheap cheap! - actor
18 Jul 07
My vague recollection of the only production of this show I have ever seen - zonks ago - was of something a touch twee and maybe a little ernest. Well! Nothing prepared me for the outrageously camp, very colourful, high energy spectacle I saw last night. Lee Mead justified his selection and was surrounded by an excellent young cast and children's choir. The production, choreography and design are the real stars and it's a great tribute to the late Stephen Pimlott (which ALW properly recognises in a touching programme note). I don't think it's a show aimed at oldies like me, but it will be great fun for kids and families, with the fast pace needed to keep 21st century kids engaged and enough tongue-in-cheek humour to keep the grown-ups chuckling - a bit like good panto really! - Gareth James
18 Jul 07
I went to see this last Friday 13th and LOVED it. It is not like the previous revivals (and I have seen them). The audience were hyped up waiting for Lee to appear and at first just cheered an empty chair! Lee held the stage well, stayed in character despite some very minor technical errors, and gave great show. I agree Preeya is not strong enough vocally - she did an OK job but her range is too limited. The brothers were all fab but Pharoe/Elvis stole the show and the new number, although an obvious filler to allow for a costume change, is hilarious. And the Potiphar scene was really well staged. Camp, colourful and fun! GO SEE! - Andrea
17 Jul 07
I was quite bored at the show last night. Picking up the tickets took us more than 10 minutes, it was all so badly organised! Lee was fine, his voice was strong and his acting decent. The narrator wasn't strong enough. The set does look very cheap for a major show. The ensemble were good. The show could be entertaining with better direction. Dont expect a grand production, it's not. You'll probably disappointed like I was. Still the kids love it and create the atmosphere of a concert by Steps or SClub 7. - Sarah
17 Jul 07
I really wanted to enjoy the show last Saturday but I couldn't. Lee was good in spite of a few flat notes. I also thought that the ensemble were good, but Preeya Kalidas wasn't good at all. The set was very cheap looking, very touring production. I think could be a good entertaining show as long as you have a good director and a good music director, and this production lacks both. Sure, audiences were delighted, but then, there were mostly talent show fans and people who watch lots of reality tv and very little theatre. I'm sure Michael Coveney will rave anyway and will tell us how fanny is to have the London Eye in the middle of the dessert. - Rich
16 Jul 07
Like some on here I also attended the evening preview showing of Joseph on the 14th July. What others fail to mention are the two standing ovations given by a seemingly thrilled full house (not all of us fans of TV reality shows or competitions).
Sure the stage set was simple (but not overly so) - and in my eyes reflected the simple beginnings in children’s school hall theatre where Joseph's roots lie. You really don't need 'Lord of the Rings' levels of engineering with a show like this (a complexity that has failed to save that production from its numerous shortcomings).
The cast on Joseph performed with an excitement, relish and professionalism that lifted well known songs from the norm to the superb (apart from the new 'Pharaoh Song' which needs to be shortened and actually made audible to human ears).
Lee himself was a surprise; a real talent with a superb voice and stage presence that kept you focused, enthralled and the ladies quite excited. Though chosen through the dubious medium of Saturday PM TV, Meade is no stranger to the stage; giving up his role as understudy to Raul in 'Phantom' for his chance at the top spot. How someone can rate the new lead below Philip Schofield is quite frankly lost on me.
Preeya Kalidas as narrator did an admirable job, not in the league of Linzi Hately for sure but nowhere near as bad as others would have you believe. The brothers glued everything else together with their great mixture of skulduggery and comedy - the children were fantastic throughout (well done guys!) and it all went without a hitch.
So all in all, a thoroughly enjoyable evening that slapped a big smile on a cynical face (Les Misérables and Wicked being my preferred evening treat). I clapped with the songs, sang to the tunes and even (horror!) laughed at the jokes - if that makes me a plant then so be it! Thankfully I didn't have to pay $3000 to fly out of my vegetable patch to find culture - just thirty five quid well spent on a fabulous Saturday night's entertainment. - Bru
16 Jul 07
Saw it last night and was very disappointed. It's just the Palladium version from 1991, which was quite godd, but with the cheap set that toured when it closed in London. Lee Mead was ok but he lacked stage presence. Preeya Kalidas was totally miscast as her vocal range is extremely limited. There are some re-orchestrations but the music didn't sound too good. The new song for the Pharaoh is totally pointless and it seemed to go on for ages. The ensemble weren't very good, the choreography was all over the place and badly done. I have no objection to the reality tv casting, but that doesn't mean the they should gives a crap production just because they know people will go anyway. And the producers know that their target audience are people who don't normally go to the theatre and just want to see the winner of a talent tv show, so they don't really care about the quality of their product. Just give them the songs they know, the kids will love it, and put the girls in tacky semi-naked outfits so the dads won't get bored. And what was that thing with the London Eye in the middle of Egypt. I mean one thing is being tongue in cheek, and a very different is being utterly ridiculous and 100% stupid. - Nicholas
15 Jul 07
What a wonderful way to spend an evening after seeing the brilliant Wicked (which still needs a bit of work on Act 2). It was worth our A$3,000 tickets to the UK to see last night’s ‘cock-up’ edition of an obviously low-cost Joseph (Can anyone spell ‘money making reality show spin-off’?).
After the ‘technical difficulty’ which resulted in a concert version of Act 2, we missed the tack and jokes that only the audience with an IQ of a plant would find funny. Did we really need a model of the London Eye? Surely they could have done a bit more to this staid version other than a new, totally pointless song for the Pharaoh?
Lee was average to quiet good with a few flat notes in between, but has potential with some more experience. On the other hand, we wondered how Priya was cast as the Narrator with her abysmal performance, robotic dancing and those terrible shrilling notes that could kill off cancer cells. We really could not see what she had to warrant her beyond the chorus – could there be hidden talents elsewhere? Obviously they didn’t want to cast someone who could outshine Lee.
However, there is one other ‘special’ individual who deserves a mention – the grumpy, rude merchandise seller who has either seen too many previews of Joseph and has become numb, or his parents really did not pass the personality gene along.
The biggest praise has to go to the brothers and the way the whole cast turned the show around and completed it as a concert. They obviously got on well and there was great camaraderie between members. The ad-libbing was very funny.
Unless you’re a Lee fan, stay away until they spend some more money on the set, or hire people who can actually sing and are not just pretty to look at. - The Melbourne Thespians
13 Jul 07
Everything was chaos and badly organized tonight at the Adelphi. No information available and no signs to direct us. We managed to find our seats without any help. I really wanted to like the show but it bored me to tears during the first half, really cheap and tacky. The audience were in general no regular theatre goers but fans of the tv show who just want to see Lee Mead who was good, but they would have loved him equally had he sit there reading the phone book. The Narratorwasn't strong enough vocally and her acting was very weak. The dancing routines are awful and badly executed. The interval lasted nearly 45 minutes and then we were informed that due to a technical problem the second half would be more like a concert so the cast came in front of the safety curtain and sang nervously and clumpsily the rest of the songs minus the megamix. None of them knew what to do and I couldn't wait for it to finish. They are doing full refunds for tonight and I'm so pleased as I would have regretted having spent £45 in this pile of rubbish. I'm going to take my money and run, and won't be booking for this again. But then again, I'm probably in the minority here. - Fred
13 Jul 07
It was an interesting show this evening. There were technical difficulties with the set which meant that the show was not able to continue as planned, and they did an impromtue concert version of the show infront of the black guaze which was superb. It really highlighted the brilliant singing from most of the actors concerned. Lee (who i am a huge fan of) was brilliant and close every door to me gave me shivers. I was not the biggest fan of the narrators voice and agree with all aforementioned reviews. The brothers however stole the show for me, they were wonderful and very entertaining and had clever comic timing. I felt that the concert version allowed me to enjoy the singing without all the cheese, gags, cheap setting and direction etc. Some of the audience left when the concert version was announced which was poor form. The companys improvisation was brilliant and the comment from the pharoh of "all the worlds a stage, well not mine tonight" was pure genius. The choreographer explained to the audience that there would be a long extended piece of music left for the dance routine in canan days and we were to listen to it but the brother used this gap to have an improvised dance off which had me in tears of laughter along with the rest of the audience. The lighting operator came up with a very speedy and funky lighting design to cover them well and the spot operators were on top form.
All in all i think i got the better end of the deal watching the fabulous concert version rather than the second act of the actual show. All the audience left happy which is the main thing. The only thing i missed was the mega mix, as they did not perform it (im guessing due to spaceing issues). It was a good night! - Jane
13 Jul 07
I know it's a preview but it should have been much better, specially when the prices are not reduced at all. It has some nice songs but the music sounded awful. The show looks cheap, tacky and and very dated. The direction is abysmal, most of the cast don't seem to know what they are doing. Lee Mead is good and the audiences love him because he's a reality tv winner. Priya Kalidas is terrible, can't sing very well and her acting leaves a lot to be desired. The Pharaoh's new song didn't work and everybody in the audience was bored. I was disappointed as i really like this show. The megamix at the end is far too long and many people started to leave. Still, it's a crowd pleaser, the average audience are not regular theatregoers and they seem easy to please and just happy to see Lee Mead, that's whats going to keep this very mediocre production going. To add excitement Mead signs autographs in the foyer at the end of the show. At least the marketing people are trying hard. - Petra
12 Jul 07
This show is a total mess at the moment, very underehearsed and quite badly directed. Lee Mead sings well but Priya Kalidas sounds really awful, with her very limited vocal range she is totally miscast as the narrator. It's selling well because of the tv program no because of its quality. I always liked the music but last night sounded terrible, weird arrangements, sometimes it sounded so loud that it would drown the voices. The new song is ugly and pointless. The ensemble don't seem to know the choreography yet. The set looks cheap and tacky, apparently is the one the used for the touring production after it closed at the Palladium. In total Andrew Lloyd Webber must have spent about £50 in mounting this production. - Simon
11 Jul 07
I had a great time at the show last night. We already had our tickets so did not experience any of the problems mentioned in other reviews. Lee was amazing, his voice was very strong and the dancing and acting were great! The narrator wasn't as strong as the original narrator but she was still good. The set does look cheap but this adds to the comical side of the show. The brothers were also very good with some very funny moments. The show is extremely entertaining and Lee is great! Definately worth seeing but dont expect a grand production (set-wise), especially for the first half! - Sarah
10 Jul 07
I really enjoyed the show last night and thought that Lee was excellent - he has a great voice and acted well. I also thought that the brothers were good but Preeya Kalidas wasn't as strong as the original narrator. The set was very cheap looking I have to admit! I think it's a good entertaining show as long as you don't try to take it too seriously - some parts were hilarious! - Rebecca
10 Jul 07
Saw it last night and was pretty disappointed. I thought this was a new production, but it's just the Palladium version from 1991 with the set that toured when it closed in London. Lee Mead was ok (Close Every Door was excellent), but he lacked the stage presence of Jason Donovan or Philip Schofield. Preeya Kalidas was totally miscast as the show just isn't written for her vocal range. There has been some re-orchestration which was good and there seems to be a new song for the Pharaoh which is totally pointless and just slows the second act right down. The lyrics are mostly titles of Elvis songs as far as I could tell, but it seemed to go on for ages and had nothing to do with the story (was this in the Palladium production, or is it new?). The ensemble were mostly dreadful too, the choreography should have been perfect this early into previews, but it was all over the place. The only enjoyable part of the whole experience for me was the mega-mix as it meant 10 minutes till I could leave.
I have no objection to the reality casting, but why use it to promote and market shows that have been done to death? Surely he should be looking for new young writing talent and then using the reality casting to advertise and promote that. Either that or revive something that hasn't was last in the West End more than a year ago. Perhaps he could try to find a Mamma Rose for Gypsy or the star crossed lovers for a newly re-invented West Side Story. - Steve
10 Jul 07
The show is enjoyable but I have to agree that the theatre was pure chaos, very disorganised from the queue to pick up the tickets til the moment you reach your seats. After the prices you pay these days this is inexcusable. - Jane
09 Jul 07
Actually the show really deserves 3 stars for me but I have to take one out due to the overall experience. Everything was so disorganized at the Adelphi that just getting to our seats was and stressful experience. The foyer was packed, nobody knew where to go and there was no staff available to help. My children spotted the merchandise shop and wanted to buy some badges so we went there, but the man selling merchandise was so rude and abrupt to everybody that we decided to give it a miss. We then went to find our seats in stalls just to find them already taken but people with the same seat numbers. Finding an usher was a nightmare, but finally after 10 minutes one came and sorted it out, he apologised and said to us that they were very short of staff. Now the show. The atmosphere was great and people were really into it. The show is a tad dated but my children had a fantastic time and so did I. Lee was very good, but i wasn't impressed with the Narrator, her voice wasn't strong and her acting was weak. The new Pharaoh song doesn't really work. In spite of that there was great energy on stage with the ensemble doing a great job. At the end of the show we were told by another usher that Lee would be signing autographs in the main foyer in a few minutes. We took one of the side exits and try to go back to the front but it was so packed that it was impossible to go back inside. So we decided to go home in spite of my children disappointment. So the show was fun but the whole experience very poor. Considering that it has just started and they claim to be sold out for the whole Summer I think patrons would appreciate a better customer service. But, of course, they already have our money, so what do they care? - Elaine Chilsom
08 Jul 07
Well, I know it's only the first preview but it should have been better, specially when they are charging the same price that you would pay after opening night. It has some nice tunes and it's kind of fun but looks tacky and and very dated. Lee Mead is good and the audiences love him because he's been on tv. Priya Kalidas is really bad and can't hit the high notes, her acting is also very weak. The Pharaoh didn't do anything for me. I was disappointed but maybe I expected too much. I tried to buy a program but an usher explained to me that they were not allowed to sell them. Andrew Lloyd Webber was looking at one of them and had a fit when he realised that it had some publicity for the new production of Grease. He ordered for all of them to be discarded. But the public were allowed to buy the cast list which had been ripped from the program!!!??? - Diane M
07 Jul 07
Just cameback from the dress rehearsal. It might get better but it's all quite messy at the moment, very underehearsed and with total lack of direction. Lee does a good job but Priya Kalidas is just awful, totally miscast as the narrator, who needs a strong performer, someone on the league of Linzi Hately. My impression is that they don't care much about it because it's selling well and they think that as long as Lee Mead is on, the public will be happy. But anyway, the first paying customers will be in tomorrow, let's hear what they have to say. - Paul
