Mead's Joseph debut praised despite hitch
Feature by Jack Foley
TV talent show winner Lee Mead won mostly positive reviews for his performance in Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat despite a technical hitch that delayed his opening night.
The West End performance – which attracted a huge celebrity turn out – had to be temporarily halted when a revolving stage broke.
But Mead rose above such technical hitches to prove why he had been able to win the the lead role through BBC 1’s Any Dream Will Do programme.
And commenting afterwards, the delighted (and no doubt relieved) actor laughed off the issue, saying “that’s theatre”.
Critics, meanwhile, praised his professionalism and skill as an actor, with Paul Callan of the Daily Express stating: “He has a great talent, and will go far. His voice is clear, firm and convincing.”
The Telegraph‘s Charles Spencer, meanwhile, singled out Mead’s “powerful and expressive voice” but sounded a note of concern that some of “his vocals were beginning to sound a little frayed” by the end.
The Independent also had reservations about some of Mead’s skills, stating: “Lacking in character and with a tendency to give out towards the end of a line, his voice is not the world’s greatest, or even the greatest in the show.”
But it adds: “Mead more than fulfils the requirements, with a mop of dark curls, a wholesome, sweet manner and a way of filling a pleated loincloth that will appeal to all sexes.”
Certainly, the response from Tuesday’s audience was emphatic enough to suggest that Mead had done enough to win them over.
Guests included Jason Donovan and Stephen Gately, who have previously played Joseph, as well as the losing contestants of the Any Dream Will Do show, who subsequently joined Mead on stage, along with the musical’s creators Sir Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, after his standing ovation.
Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is currently playing at the Adelphi Theatre. Buy tickets now
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