Product: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat [VHS] (2000)
Rating: 5.0
Enjoyably unique
I saw a community stage production of "Joseph" several years ago and loved it. I can't remember all the differences between the stage version I saw and the video version, but I did enjoy both.I have to count myself as a fan of Maria Friedman as the Narrator. Maybe it's because I'm not a belter, or maybe it's because I'm not a die-hard Joseph fan who is familiar with a certain "sound," but taking her voice for what it is, I found it fantastic.Donny was suprisingly buff, although when he first came onscreen, I thought he was Michael Jackson. I got used to the hair eventually.The Costume Controversy... well, I was taken aback at first, but if you've ever read the Bible, you'd be pretty surprised at how graphic THAT can be.I thought Donny's voice was quite pleasant and expressive, although I prefer a singer to hold out the ends of phrases a bit more than he did. He chops phrases off at the end, which I found distracting.The Baker and the Butler got amazingly on my nerves. I found them highly creepy.The Pharoah is my new crush. I think all men should wear that eye makeup all the time. The Brothers were OK, but I really loved the ...what was she called? The dancer? That was a great scene. Were her stockings running? The "rap" bit with the Brothers was also cute.I also appreciated setting it as a school cantata, although like many other reviewers, I found the children at times obnoxious and the bipping back and forth from story to reality a trifle jarring. But I loved the "Curtain call" at the end. Donny looks FAR finer with short hair than with long, and can he wear a suit!