Pastel ‘Dreamcoat’ Is Form Fitting

BREA —  Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is an odd little show, born out of the mood of the 1960s, with all the carefree abandon of that era. It was originally a brief oratorio for a London boys’ school and smacks of that level of juvenilia. It also contains some of the youthful Lloyd Webber’s most original writing.

It uses an eclectic selection of musical styles in the telling of the biblical story of Joseph and his rise from Egyptian slave to favorite of the Pharaoh. And that gives directors a choice of concepts to play with.

In his Stagelight Family Productions staging at the Curtis Theatre, director-choreographer Randal West chooses a middle-of-the-road approach to the sometimes irreverent piece. The result is more adorable than exciting, more charming than charged. That works just fine within the parameters of this youth theater production, and the style is followed through in Margaret Clair’s musical direction.

Like the music, the costume design (uncredited in this production) varies in tone, from revealing to jazzy to campy, but the pastel-colored overalls worn by Joseph’s brothers give them a Farmer-in-the-Dell look that West follows in his simplistic treatment of the musical numbers.

The performers range in age from adult to very tiny, and the multitude of the tiny contributes to the pastel feel of the production. One doesn’t expect to see so many Munchkins in Egypt, but the kids have a ball, particularly in the exuberant dance numbers.

*

The singing leads, who have the burden of putting over Lloyd Webber’s simplistic melodies, do it here with assurance and a great deal of panache. Most notable is Alli Mauzey as the Narrator. Her voice is versatile, vibrant and just right for the many musical colors it has to suggest. She’s a showstopper.

Patrick Zubiate, who alternates with Jared Shaver as Joseph, has a molasses-smooth baritone voices that is also rich in texture. He makes some of Joseph’s songs sound better than they are.

Mike Stuart and Leisa S. Wallace are good as the insanely jealous Potiphar and his wandering wife, who has eyes for Joseph. Andrew Mauzey does an often funny sendup of Elvis Presley as the Pharaoh, and if at times he overdoes it, one has to remember that a lot of this show is overdone before it ever gets in the hands of a director or actor.

*

* “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Curtis Theatre, 1 Civic Center, Brea. Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Ends Saturday. $7.50-$9.50. (714) 990-7722. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Alli Mauzey: Narrator

Patrick Zubiate: Joseph

Mike Stuart: Potiphar

Leisa S. Wallace: Mrs. Potiphar

Andrew Mauzey: Pharaoh

A Stagelight Family Productions staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical. Produced by Janice Kraus. Directed by Randal West. Musical direction: Margaret Clair. Lighting design: Bob Mumm. Scenic design: Clowes & Associates. Stage manager: Kelley Hartranft.