Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Presents an illustrated version of the libretto from the operatic account of the Old Testament story of Joseph and his brothers.

Grade 6-9-- The exuberant melodies that made the original Joseph a musical frolic are very acceptably replaced here by Blake's antic watercolors. But even the libretto alone jumps and rolls in a boisterous and irrepressible fashion that might seem like classic rap to those unfamiliar with Webber's music. (There is virtually no punctuation beyond a few commas and question marks.) The text requires a certain amount of sophistication, not only because of the portrayal of Potiphar's adulterous wife but because of its vocabulary (including a French tag or two) and subtlety of characterization. Blake's pictures are distinguished by his usual vivid colors, energetic line, and zany imagination. Wacky anachronisms are a major part of the humor. This spirited rendition should reanimate the Bible for even the most blase, and stimulate more than a few productions of this now-classic musical. --Patricia Dooley, University of Washington, Seattle
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