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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-04-21, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 21,2005. PAGE 7. - Madill presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat F. E. Madill Secondary School is the home audience on opening night, played Joseph in strong Pharaoh and his takeoff on Elvis Aron of champions. the previous production. Presley was an excellent tribute to the king of Not only is the Wingham high school Not only does Madill have outstanding rock and roll, especially with that wig regarded for its athletic prowess and respected for its high academic standing, it is also revered for its excellent stage productions. A good example of that reverence was demonstrated during the school’s Drama Guild’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. For the second time within the past 10 years, the Drama Guild decided to present its version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber production. The first production was done on the stage in the school’s gymnasium, while the most recent version was presented last week on the stage of the Wingham Town Hall Heritage Theatre. Opening night was April 13.Potiphar, left, (portrayed by Chris Cottrill) catches Joseph (Patrick Main), kneeling, with his wife and sentences him to a prison term. (Jim Brown photo) director, student Jontue Kuyvenhoven and vocal director and pit band conductor Vicki Gerth. The pit band was excellent. The sound was perfect, with the exception of a couple of mic glitches on opening night. The costumes were symbolic and aprospos, and the set — what can be said about the set? When they wanted to let the audience know they were in Egypt, they had the Sphinx, with its moving eyes -- not side-to-side, but up and down. As in every high school production of this magnitude, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes personnel. Some also appear on stage in major or minor role, but the behind-the-scenes work still has to get done. Making sure the play was on schedule was stage manager Jill Johnston, Lacey MacEwen was the microphone technician and house manager and Mike Oliver was the technical and lighting director. Assistant house directors were Aaron Ninaber and Anna Heibert. Preparing the costumes were Tenille Cranston, Nancy Cook, Kate Kuehl, Lianne Pollard and Dan Karpyshyn. Five elementary school students — Beth Beardsley, Diana van der Voort, Leah Hutchison, Molly Ryan and Rebecca Marshall -- were instrumental to the production, especially the beginning when Carruthers introduced the story and Main, as Joseph, told about his dreams. All-in-all, this was another masterful production from the Madill Drama Guild, another performance that is going to be hard to top. Story by Introduction Joseph (Patrick Main) introduces his story to five elementary school children who were members of the cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and members of the audience, (jtm Brown photo) vounte son Joseph (Patrick Main) was the favourite of Jacob’s 12 sons. (Jim Brown photo) Unlike the last time, when Lesley Pike was the only narrator, director Louanna Alexander decided to go with four narrators. All four were powerful storytellers, but Mackenzie Carruthers, was the most dynamic. Not only was she always smiling, but she was easily understood as she enunciated her words. Using four narrators was an excellent idea and all four were very good. Is there a recording career in their futures? Patrick Main was a hale and hardy Joseph. Micah Hussey, who happened to be in the athletes, but it also has an excellent record when it comes to leading male actors, who can sing as well as act. Main was also involved in the set design, construction and decoration aspects of the production. Will Main follow in his father Phil’s footsteps, with a career over the airwaves? Tyler Mawdsley played a featuring those thick sideburns. Mawdsley also played one of Joseph’s brothers — Levi. Chris Cottrill had the role of Potiphar down pat. Not only did he live the role, but he seemed to relish it. He also played one of Joseph’s brothers__Judah. Alexander was ably assisted by assistant Jim Brown Usefulness Joseph (Patrick Main) demonstrates his usefulness to Potiphar (Chris Cottrill) during the F . E. Madili Secondary School’s Drama Guild’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. (Jim Brown photo) Before Joseph Joseph’s brothers are before him asking for some food to take back home. However, the brothers do normalize they are talking to Joseph (Patrick Main), (Jim Brown photo)