This dream will do

May 12 2009 By Barry Dix

He may not have won BBC TV’s Any Dream Will Do, but Craig Chalmers is triumphant in a sizzling production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, at Windsor this week.

How could he fail? A packed auditorium at the Theatre Royal was buzzing, in a manner normally reserved for the venue’s pantomimes, long before the curtain went up on Monday evening.

Perhaps it was the presence of a large and excited contingent of schoolchildren.

Perhaps it was the rows full of the Craig Chalmers’ unofficial fan club, seemingly made up of females from seven to 70.

Or perhaps it was just that, despite the number of occasions it has been performed, Joseph is simply a glorious piece of escapism, sweeping you up and carrying you away for a colourful, scintillating and joyous couple of hours of visual and musical delights.

The Windsor show, directed by Theatre Royal owner Bill Kenwright, no less, is as slick and pacy as any before it, never flagging, never allowing a moment’s mind-wandering.

Amid the limiting confines of a packed set, the cast conjure up all the magic of this Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber perennial with its wall-to-wall favourites like Any Dream Will Do, Close Ev’ry Door and One More Angel In Heaven.

There are plenty of delightful humorous moments among the harmonies and high-stepping– watch out for the inflatable sheep that look like miniature polar bears!

Edinburgh-born Craig, a professional entertainer before his TV appearances, wallows in it all and is relaxed and assured in the role.

No wonder Bill Kenwright, who was on the panel of judges for the BBC competition, had no qualms in giving him the chance to prove himself.

Craig gets excellent support, particularly from Rachael Louise Miller as the narrator.

Mention must also be made of The Young Set Choir, who are on stage for every second of the show, patiently waiting for their next chance to burst into song!

There was a rightly-justified standing ovation at the end – and that wasn’t just from the by-then ecstatic schoolkids and female fans.

* Joseph is at the Theatre Royal Windsor until this Saturday (May 16). Call the box office on 01753853888.