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As a 22-year-old male, I am usually looking for parties and the next big thrill on the weekend.

So when I first got the assignment to go to Masquers Theater's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on a Friday night, I can't say I was jumping for joy.

But, I can honestly say after the play was over that it was a joy and a thrill to sit through the production. I've never seen Joseph, so it was a fresh musical experience for me.

The songs are extremely upbeat and most require numerous people to be singing at once. That fact alone, no matter who is cast as the characters, makes the play more enjoyable. The fast and bright nature of the songs really brings out some life in the audience.

Under the direction of Janice Murphy-Roman, the cast really comes together for their tough parts. There is no song that is simply one or two people. Every song requires a lot of things to be working right together, and Murphy-Roman made sure that the cast knew that and did their job.

The cast that performs the songs in this version of Joseph are a fun and rambunctious crew. They are talented singers who also threw everything they had into their movements, mannerisms and they really were believable in their disdain for Joseph in the beginning and their eventual longing for the banished son of Jacob.

Scott Stoneking, who counts Joseph as his first Masquers' production, does a remarkable job as the title character Joseph. He has the right voice to blend in wonderfully with others in the large singing groups, but he also has the voice to carry his own tune, as displayed by his solos in the production.

Nathan Hoarn, as Pharoah, delivers some hilarious scenes in which he channels his inner Elvis. There were a few moments in the play that had the crowd in an uproarious laugh, and many of them included the Pharoah.

The narrators have a unique job in Joseph, as they sing just as much as the characters. The trio of Jill Alton, Melissa Stewart and Cami Sells is great together as they sing and prance their way across the stage in their formal attire.

The costume and set designs are also top notch. The set is beyond colorful, with pillars lining the stage that flash different colors. In front of the magenta and green of the pillars, the set is a lively recreation of ancient Egypt. Even something as dull as a camel dragging Joseph across the desert draws giggles from the crowd because of the phenomenal design of the set and costumes.

The designs were so much more amazing when Vice President of Masquers Tony Nobles explained that they ran into a few hitches and basically had to recreate the set two weeks out from opening night.

From beginning to end, the production is lively, colorful and entertaining. Maybe it's the nature of the play, but Masquers' and the whole crew that put time into the play did a great job. From design, to acting, to its musicality, the production transformed my Friday evening into a rowdy night of singing and dancing.

The production runs through Sunday, July 26, and I would suggest anyone who enjoys plays or even wants to spend a fun evening in the air conditioning in these dog days of summer, should check out Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

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