Blue Mountains Musical Society’s latest musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, opens on October 22.
Twenty-two-year-old Ben Fairbairn of Little Hartley plays the title role of Joseph. Audiences might remember him as Monsieur Andre in Phantom of the Opera last year, and as Action in West Side Story earlier this year, both at the Blue Mountains Theatre in Springwood.
Joseph is quite a change in tone from his previous two shows, and Fairbairn said one of the biggest challenges of the show is “dealing with the sickly sweetness of the production”.
But he said it’s more than just a show about a coat.
“It would be great for the audience to leave with a greater understanding of the underlying meaning of the story.”
A technician and sales representative with Easyview Blinds, Fairbairn loves spending his spare time rehearsing.
“The late nights, the aching muscles, and the resulting complete exhaustion are nothing in comparison to the utter joy of performing with people that are just like me - people that are weird,” he said.
“Not in a ‘You can’t sit with us’ kind of weird but in a ‘Are you my spirit animal?’ kind of weird!”
One of the unique challenges of this particular production is the children’s cast. With more than 45 kids aged between 8 and 14, Joseph is a big production supported by an even bigger team.
First-time director Brittanie Shipway has thrown herself head first into the deep end, and is getting a lot of reward from working with the kids.
“They are completely fearless on stage and bring an energy to the show that is mesmerising,” she said.
Joseph’s leading lady, the Narrator, is being played by Springwood resident and Year 12 student, Jacqui Dwyer. The 17-year-old has already built up an impressive music theatre resume, having played Jemima in Cats, Sally Simpson in The Who’s Tommy, and Confidante in Phantom of the Opera, all with Blue Mountains Musical Society.
Barely leaving the stage for a break, the Narrator is a huge role for the young performer, who describes it as “one of the most challenging and equally rewarding experiences I've ever had the privilege to be a part of.”
Alongside Dwyer and Fairbairn, regular BMMS supporters can expect to see some of their favourite performers from past productions onstage and off, including Micah Bawden and Celeste Furnell who most recently played Tony and Anita in the society’s production of West Side Story, and the multi-talented Sarah Namdar and Matt Herne, who starred as Christine and the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera.
In true community spirit though, there will be a real mix of experience represented on the stage. Forty-eight-year-old Sharon Meyers has never been in a musical before and said she is absolutely loving the experience.
“This fresh take on Joseph brings a new relevance to the message of the story, illustrating that there's all the more need for imagination and hope today than ever before,” she said.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’s season at the Blue Mountains Theatre runs from October 22-November 6. Tickets are on sale now at www.bmms.org.au or by calling the box office on 4723 5050.
