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'Joseph the Dreamer' review: Bible’s OG family drama gets a technicolor reboot

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Jeeves De Veyra

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752574083158MYRA HO - IMG_9940 2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Gary Valenciano and Jordan Andrews in &#x27;Joseph the Dreamer.&#x27; Myra HoDuring the performance of &quot;Joseph the Dreamer,&quot; I was reminded of those bite-sized Reddit narrative podcasts on YouTube and Spotify. The ones that have title pages like: “My brothers sold me into slavery because my father gave me a colorful coat.
Years later, they were bowing at my feet.” Or “Got thrown in jail for rejecting my boss’ wife’s advances.
You’ll never believe what happens next.”</div>The story of Joseph, son of Jacob, is the OG #FamilyRevenge story.Personally, this is what I saw in this run of &quot;JTD,&quot; as director Paolo Valenciano affectionately calls the show. A retelling of the story of Joseph, the original biblical tale of family dysfunction, with modern sensibilities for today’s audience.In all my years as a theatergoer, this was my first time watching &quot;Joseph the Dreamer,&quot; not to be confused with Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.” This is an original musical adapted from a cantata by Freddie Santos first run in Cebu back in 1989. There have been several runs and revivals through the years, but this one has evolved into a spectacular light and sound concert by director Valenciano. Myke Salomon’s re-arrangement keeps the heart of the music, but at the same time, pumping in the new blood via hip-hop, jazz, and pop. (For the musically curious, the original cast recording from the 1997 run will be available on Spotify later this week.)<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752574297739MYRA HO - IMG_0430 2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Jordan Andrews as Joseph. Myra Ho</div>The musical runs for about 2 hours with a 15-minute intermission in between. It didn’t feel like two hours. Under Valenciano’s tight direction, it zips along cutting up the beats into attention deficit friendly set pieces.While at times seemingly overcrowded, the RCBC theater seems to grow from desert camps to towering columns of hieroglyphs when the scenes shift to Egypt under Mio Infante&#x27;s production design.Valenciano’s experience as a concert director shows up in with the UV, DayGlo, and lasers giving the dream sequences an otherworldly air, lighting touches that use color to show time and place, and some clever scenes like the brothers&#x27; trek through the sandy, windy desert to Egypt.I caught a performance with Jordan Andrews in the lead role of Joseph (Sam Concepcion plays Joseph in most shows). The actor playing Joseph must be a triple threat -- that is an actor who can dance, sing, and act. Andrews is just that, with flashes of his years of formal training particularly in an extended interpretative dance sequence with ballet moves.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752574369058MYRA HO - IMG_9815 2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Jordan Andrews as Joseph. Myra Ho</div>The key thing about the title role is how the character grows through the next two hours. Andrews&#x27; Joseph starts off  a somewhat spoiled naïve wide-eyed socially clueless kid partly because of his father&#x27;s doting attention that it’s no wonder how he became the target of his brothers&#x27; resentment, Andrews shines during the story’s low points where his intensity shows angst, abandonment, and frustration.The legendary Gary Valenciano is almost unrecognizable as Jacob, bulked up under robes and changing the timbre of his speaking voice. He plays Jacob as the cool dad, complete with groan-worthy dad jokes. But when Jacob breaks out into song, that’s unmistakably the Philippine pop star on the stage. Besides that, it was a delight seeing an old man breaking it down in Gary V’s signature moves.With the limited time and the huge amount of characters, each character is given a caricature and distinct to make them memorable.<div>Lorenz Martinez steals every scene he’s whether it be as the comical slave auctioneer or the flamboyantly benevolent Pharaoh. Aicelle Santos matches the warmth of Gary V’s  Jacob in flashbacks. <img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752574443201MYRA HO - IMG_0073.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Jordan Andrews as Joseph with his brothers. Myra HoI didn’t get the actor who played the prison warden who seemed to channel Ken Jeong. Props to him for providing just the right amount of levity during that dark part of the story. </div>Going back to those #FamilyRevenge Reddit mini podcasts, those stories end with revenge and retribution usually with those unapologetic erring family members deserving and getting their comeuppance for that momentary dopamine rush.&quot;JTD&quot; is decidedly Christian that it ends on a hopeful note where remorse is rewarded with the reformation of family, and forgiveness imparted me with a joyful glow that lasted way beyond leaving the theater.&quot;Joseph the Dreamer&quot; is an exultant worship celebration gift-wrapped in light, sound, song, and dance. It is a technicolor ray of sunshine that’s badly needed in these interesting times.Here’s hoping there for reruns to remind us to never look down and bask in &quot;JTD’s&quot; warm glow.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752574532381IMG_5331.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>The cast at curtain call. Jeeves de Veyra</div><div>&quot;Joseph the Dreamer&quot; will have its last weekend from July 18 to 20 at the RCBC Plaza, Makati.</div>

The beloved Bible tale gets a vibrant, high-energy makeover in 'Joseph the Dreamer,' where director Paolo Valenciano blends worship, spectacle, and pop flair to deliver a dazzling, heart-filled story of family, forgiveness, and faith.

The beloved Bible tale gets a vibrant, high-energy makeover in ' Joseph the Dreamer ,' where director Paolo Valenciano blends worship, spectacle, and pop flair to deliver a dazzling, heart-filled story of family, forgiveness, and faith.