Members of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Caranzalem, will present the iconic musical ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ on May 23
RACHEL ALAINA SHAH
Back in 2005, director Alfwold Silveira wanted to stage ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’. But unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be at the time. So instead, he created his own original musicals. That effort resulted in ‘The Carpenter’s Cross’ and ‘AD 2019’, both gospel rock operas that he wrote, composed, and directed himself. But the thought of staging ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’, “was there at the back of my mind, and it set me on this journey,” says Silveira.
Bursting with colour and music, the play is a musical retelling of the Biblical story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis, and focuses on themes of jealousy, forgiveness, and family values.
The shows appeal lies in its large variety of musical genres, catchy tunes, modern lyrics, and adaptable script. “The music is multi-genre. There is a little cowboy style rhythm. There’s a French cabaret song. There is disco. There is rock and roll,” says Silveira. One of the notable moments is when the character of Pharaoh sings a song in the style and manner of Elvis Presley. There’s also a Calypso tune in the show, a genre of music that holds a natural kinship to Goan music.
Silveira’s production also includes the use of both, a narrator and a storyteller, as well as focuses on inclusivity. “My vision is always to be inclusive. It’s a coming together of the community,” he says. The play’s cast comprises of people from all walks and paths of life. “The children in other productions were merely a part of the audience whereas here they are involved in dancing, acting on stage, and animating the scenes,” says Silveira.
His vision for the production is to create a platform for those who haven’t been given the opportunity before. “Because there’s so much of talent in Goa” he says.
The cast comprises of Mark Rocha, Alex Braganza, Kian Manuel, Natalie Moreira and Jemimah Homen among others. The dance numbers choreographed by Cecille Rodrigues seamlessly integrate what the characters were previously doing in the scene into the performances as well. This ensures that the dances tell the story rather than merely accompanying it.
Unlike most musicals, this production is also almost entirely sung through. “It’s one of the first plays I’ve done where there’s absolutely no dialogue, it’s all music,” says Moreira, who plays the role of the storyteller in the play. She also talked about the atmosphere behind the scenes, “The cast is very tight knit. Everyone is very free and comfortable with one another. So, it’s very fun, at practices.”
This sentiment is also shared by other members of the production as well. “Everyone is just working together towards the success of this play,” says Rocha who plays the role of Joseph in the play.
Getting the role of the Joseph was a very full circle moment for him as he had initially wanted to play the part the first time he was part of the production, way back in 2004. “I studied in Catholic school in my last year. So the story of Joseph, is something that we knew growing up. So I knew I needed to be a part of this somehow,” says Rocha, adding that beyond the music, what drew him to the production was just being on stage. “It was one of the foundations for me being an entertainer and a musician today,” he says.
Evelyn Barboza who is not just a part of the choir but balances the role of costume designing as well, states that while the production has been a lot of work, it was enjoyable at the same time. “One of the most significant parts of the play is the technicolour coat itself, as the central idea of the play revolves around it. This coat has 28 colours woven into it. I made sure that each and every colour was put into the coat,” she says. As the team prepares to stage the production, Braganza, who plays the role of Pharaoh states that the main message that the musical seeks to convey is that you can achieve a lot by just being a dreamer.
(The play will be staged on May 23, 5 p.m. and at 8p.m. at Kala Academy, Panaji. Donation passes are available at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Caranzalem and at the venue.)
