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sunrae

Best Joseph?

So there is another thread on this one....I swear I looked to make sure! But the other one doesn't have a poll so hah!

Anyway....someone can delete this thread if they want to....or everyone can just ignore it.

Whatever
matonad44

Bill Hutton
musikal_geek

Donny. Donny Donny Donny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
convict24601

Me! lol jk.

musikal_geek wrote:
Donny. Donny Donny Donny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Amen Cool

Isn't there a thread already devoted to this though?
Beagle On Stage

I'm not really satisfied with any of the recorded Josephs. As I always say, I feel very strongly that this show should be done with a certain amount of seriousness - not that it has to go the whole way and become like "King of Kings," but it does need to have heart and focus on the real beauty of the characters and story. There's a lot of gorgeous and touching drama right here, and it's lost in nine out of 10 productions because it gets glossed over by the fun (which, yes, does have a carefully regulated place in the show).

Take, for example, the "Poor, Poor Joseph" scene. Joseph is being betrayed by his own family and sold into Eyptian slavery. A wretched life is in store for him: he will probably be sold as a posession, worked like a beast of burden, beaten, raped, and humiliated all the days of his life, and on and on and on. Furthermore, there is virtually no chance of ever seeing the father he loved so much again. Imagine being separated from the family member you're so close to, in the 15th century BC middle east...no communication, no way to locate people, you're just basically falling off the face of the earth into oblivion. To make matters worse, their relationship had taken a little bit of a dive recently, and they probably weren't on the best of terms the last time they'll ever be in contact. All of this can be portrayed beautifully in the show if the production chooses to put some depth and feeling into it........but it gets no attention because we're too busy laughing when an Ishmaelite pays for Joseph with a credit card.

My issue with the recorded Josephs is that none of them takes the role seriously. If there's any personality behind the role (as opposed to the "just singing it straight" method many went with), it's "Look at me, I'm Donny Osmond/Michael Damien/whoever, and I'm starring in a glitzy musical!" The misguided production is then reflected in a shallow performance which just falls flat because, after all, it's just some guy singing what is apparently just a watery role in a cute little show. (PS, many people look down on the show because of this, completely unaware of its potential to be truly awesome.)

The best SINGER of the readily available recorded ones is Donny Osmond. The best JOSEPH.....is yet to be seen.
Baker

Patrick Cassidy was an EXCELLENT Joseph in the 2000 tour (I don't want years it showed exactly... but I saw it in Boston in January 2000 so yeah) ... now he's just too old.
Mysterious Poet

I like Donny Osmond in the DVD. I have the Michael Damien soundtrack his vocal is not that strong but the Narrarator is great.
Salome

Bill Hutton. hands down.
Beagle On Stage

Salome wrote:
Bill Hutton. hands down.


Are you joking me? The OBC probably has the highest rate of things wrong with it out of any version out there, not the least of which is its shrieky Joseph whose voice makes me want to slap him.
Salome

Beagle On Stage wrote:
Salome wrote:
Bill Hutton. hands down.


Are you joking me? The OBC probably has the highest rate of things wrong with it out of any version out there, not the least of which is its shrieky Joseph whose voice makes me want to slap him.

the obc is the only version i can stomach listening to.

the revival casts have all overblown ochestrations, oover amplified singers, that dreadful mega mix, and the show runs way too long.

only hutton,bweechman and the obc cast got the show right.
Beagle On Stage

They did not get the show right. For one thing, Laurie Beechman is responsible for the worst crime ever committed against this show, the female narrator. And they redistribute practically every line and song, making it crappy. The one thing that they do get right is that they keep most of the music simple, as it should be.

The best recording is the studio cast from the 70's, and most of the people on it can't even sing.
Salome

Beechman is the best narrator as well. and itst he only version that actually lets Potiphar sing his own f*cking song.
Beagle On Stage

Why would Potiphar sing his own song? It's a narration. It's like having the Pharaoh sing "Poor, Poor Pharaoh." I could see if it was first-person like "Close Every Door" or "Song of the King" ... but it isn't.
Eponine93

I think Potiphar singing "Potiphar" really adds to the character. Otherwise, he's just sort of there. I do admit I like the "Potiphar" on the 1982 recording, though he sounds kind of batty. Almost like a rich, rich old guy who got married for his money and thinks she's one of his last pleasures in life. It's humorous.

Quote:
Bill Hutton. hands down.
Sure, if you like Josephs that sound like girls.
Salome

Eponine93 wrote:
.

Quote:
Bill Hutton. hands down.
Sure, if you like Josephs that sound like girls.


you mean like michael damian and donny osmond?
Beagle On Stage

Eponine93 wrote:
I think Potiphar singing "Potiphar" really adds to the character. Otherwise, he's just sort of there.


Well, true, it's not written as a very substantial role. That doesn't mean that you should give him a song that's not logical for him to have. It's third-person, it doesn't make sense for him to sing it.
Trevor

"I had very few cares. I was one of Egypt's millionaires." lol

I am the best Joseph.
The Very Angry Woman

Salome wrote:
Eponine93 wrote:
.

Quote:
Bill Hutton. hands down.
Sure, if you like Josephs that sound like girls.


you mean like michael damian and donny osmond?


Michael Damian doesn't sound like a girl. He sounds like air.
convict24601

The Very Angry Woman wrote:
Salome wrote:
Eponine93 wrote:
.

Quote:
Bill Hutton. hands down.
Sure, if you like Josephs that sound like girls.


you mean like michael damian and donny osmond?


Michael Damian doesn't sound like a girl. He sounds like air.


Oh, so I'm not the only one who thought he was singing while standing next to suffles (sp?)on the American Album? Wink
KY CANNIBAL

Donny, hands down. He's an incredible talent and made an excellent Joseph.
Broadwaydarling21

This may shock some!

I disagree with everyone . Joseph is a wonderful show with amazing music I've seen the best version and the worst version. I feel that joseph is usally pertray as the oldest looking bother or at least some where in the middle. Now if you listen to the song he is suppose to be the youngest with nieve charm. In the patrick cassidy version he was old and conceied and sounded more like an elf. Donny was great but again to old for my taste. I recently have seen the lastest touring cast of joseph in january. this joseph was very unknown but SO realistic. He looked the youngest and had such charm he was almost like a puppy i found myself have much more sympathy for him more than any other joseph. I felt he was the perfect joseph. Not to mention he voice was perfect I highly suggest looking him up.
Dreamcoat

Jose

Beagle On Stage wrote:
I'm not really satisfied with any of the recorded Josephs. As I always say, I feel very strongly that this show should be done with a certain amount of seriousness - not that it has to go the whole way and become like "King of Kings," but it does need to have heart and focus on the real beauty of the characters and story. There's a lot of gorgeous and touching drama right here, and it's lost in nine out of 10 productions because it gets glossed over by the fun (which, yes, does have a carefully regulated place in the show).

Take, for example, the "Poor, Poor Joseph" scene. Joseph is being betrayed by his own family and sold into Eyptian slavery. A wretched life is in store for him: he will probably be sold as a posession, worked like a beast of burden, beaten, raped, and humiliated all the days of his life, and on and on and on. Furthermore, there is virtually no chance of ever seeing the father he loved so much again. Imagine being separated from the family member you're so close to, in the 15th century BC middle east...no communication, no way to locate people, you're just basically falling off the face of the earth into oblivion. To make matters worse, their relationship had taken a little bit of a dive recently, and they probably weren't on the best of terms the last time they'll ever be in contact. All of this can be portrayed beautifully in the show if the production chooses to put some depth and feeling into it........but it gets no attention because we're too busy laughing when an Ishmaelite pays for Joseph with a credit card.

My issue with the recorded Josephs is that none of them takes the role seriously. If there's any personality behind the role (as opposed to the "just singing it straight" method many went with), it's "Look at me, I'm Donny Osmond/Michael Damien/whoever, and I'm starring in a glitzy musical!" The misguided production is then reflected in a shallow performance which just falls flat because, after all, it's just some guy singing what is apparently just a watery role in a cute little show. (PS, many people look down on the show because of this, completely unaware of its potential to be truly awesome.)

The best SINGER of the readily available recorded ones is Donny Osmond. The best JOSEPH.....is yet to be seen.


You're absolutely right about that, which is why I've been disappointed by all the Josephs in professional U.S. productions.

The best Joseph by far I've seen in my life was Guillermo Mendez in the Mexico City production that ran between 1983-1985 (it was a wildly successful run which was only cut short because the 1985 Earthquake destroyed the theater and everything in it).

He had the voice of course but most importantly he had the right doses of passion, innocence, and enthusiasm when they were called for. You could really feel you were watching a person go from the most joyous days of his life to the most tormented; his suffering during Joseph's low points was very genuine.

That production by the way also happens to be the best I've ever seen; I've been particularly disappointed by the early 90's show at the Pantages Theater in L.A. as well as by the music video. They looked amaterurish by comparison.
music is my life!!!

convict24601 wrote:
Me! lol jk.

musikal_geek wrote:
Donny. Donny Donny Donny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Amen Cool


Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny!Donny! Applause
Dreamcoat

In case anyone's interested, here's a couple of video clips of Guillermo Mendez in the MC production, the image and sound aren't too good but you can get a rough idea.

Coat of Many Colours
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xn8xs_jose-el-sonador-mexico-1983

Close Every Door
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xn94u_jose-el-sonador-mexico-1983
Yip1982

I guess my choice isn't on these boards, but I would like to say Donovan. Donovan conveys more of the boyish innocence and does not perform the role as if to say "hey look at me". And although he hasn't had a full recording I'd also like to vote for Philip Schofield, for much the same reason.
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