I’m sure you can imagine just how impressed Alice and I were after making the trip to Toronto to see this show, getting in the theatre, opening the playbill and finding the slip that says, “We apologize, but Donny Osmond will not be performing today…”
Well, after the initial shock, we decided we were going to enjoy the show anyway. And it wasn’t very hard to do! Vance Avery was a great Joseph. And Kelli James Chase was *fantastic* as the Narrator, maybe even better than Janet Metz! It was Johnny Seaton as the Pharaoh again, which was great, and the rest of the cast was fabulous as well! Special mention must go to Rufus Bonds Jr., Amy Walsh (my first Meg in Phantom!), and Martin Murphy.
My only complaint at all would have to be that they had the sound system turned up a little too loud, and some of the performers came across as shrill when I’m sure they don’t normally sound like that. And the megamix was so loud that the seats were actually vibrating!!
I noticed a couple of lines that had changed from the recording, but they could have been like that the first time I saw the show too, and I just wasn’t familiar enough with the music at the time to notice.
All in all, it was a very fun afternoon, and I’m glad I went, even without Donny!
The Quotes:
“Oh my God! It’s the butler!”
Alice, at the stage door
“Wow, I don’t usually get recognized…”
Martin Murphy (the butler), in response to the above
The pictures:
Alice at the stage door of the Elgin Theatre
The cast:
| Joseph | VANCE AVERY |
| Narrator | KELLI JAMES CHASE |
| Jacob/Potiphar/Guru | JAMES HARMS |
| Pharaoh | JOHNNY SEATON |
| Butler | MARTIN MURPHY |
| Baker | PAUL J. GALLAGHER |
| Mrs. Potiphar | CAROLE MACKERETH |
| Apache Dancers | DALE AZZARD, AMY WALSH |
| Brothers and Wives | |
| Reuben | ABE REYBOLD |
| Simeon | JONATHAN HADLEY |
| Levi | PATRIC A. CREELMAN |
| Napthali | SAL SCOZZARI |
| Issachar | PAUL J. GALLAGHER |
| Asher | CHRIS DIAMANTOPOULOS |
| Dan | GLEN KERR |
| Zebulun | DALE AZZARD |
| Gad | MARTIN MURPHY |
| Benjamin | DENNIS LUPIEN |
| Judah | RUFUS BONDS JR. |
| Reuben’s Wife | AMY WALSH |
| Simeon’s Wife | ROBYN WONG |
| Levi’s Wife | RISA WALDMAN |
| Napthali’s Wife | MONIQUE LUND |
| Issachar’s Wife | IPSITA PAUL |
| Asher’s Wife | NAOMI NAUGHTON |
| Dan’s Wife | COLEEN BRAGANZA |
| Zebulun’s Wife | JULIANN KUCHOCKI |
| Gad’s Wife | GAIL MATHESON |
| Benjamin’s Wife | CAROLE MACKERETH |
| Judah’s Wife | SUSAN GATTONI |