Joseph Synopsis

Synopsis

Act I

The story is based on the Biblical story of Joseph, found in the Book of Genesis. It is set in a frame in which a narrator is telling a story (sometimes to children, encouraging them to dream). She then tells the story of Joseph, another dreamer (“Prologue,” “Any Dream Will Do”). In the beginning of the main story Jacob and his 12 sons are introduced (“Jacob and Sons”). Joseph’s brothers are jealous of him for his coat, a symbol of their father’s preference for him (“Joseph’s Coat”). It is clear from Joseph’s dreams that he is destined to rule over them (“Joseph’s Dreams”). To get rid of him and prevent the dreams from coming true, they attempt fratricide, but then they sell Joseph as a slave to some passing Ishmaelites (“Poor, Poor Joseph”), who take him to Egypt.

Back home, his brothers, accompanied by their wives, break the news to Jacob that Joseph has been killed. They show his tattered coat smeared with his blood – really goat blood – as proof that what they say is true (“One More Angel in Heaven”). In most productions, one brother usually sings the solo; the song often segues into a celebratory  hoedown after the bereft Jacob has tottered off the stage.

In Egypt, Joseph is the slave of Egyptian millionaire Potiphar. He rises through the ranks of slaves and servants until he is running Potiphar’s house. When Mrs. Potiphar makes advances, Joseph spurns her. Potiphar overhears, barges in, sees the two together – and jumps to conclusions. He jails Joseph (“Potiphar”). Depressed, Joseph sings Close Every d/door – but his spirits rise when he helps two prisoners put in his cell. Both are former servants of the Pharaoh and both have had bizarre dreams. Joseph interprets them. One cellmate, the Baker, will be executed, but the other, the Butler, will be returned to service (“Go, Go, Go Joseph”).

Act II

The Narrator talks about impending changes in Joseph’s fortunes (“A Pharaoh Story”) because the Pharaoh is having dreams that no-one can interpret. Now freed, the Butler tells Pharaoh (acted in the style of Elvis Presley) of Joseph and his dream interpretation skills (“Poor, Poor Pharaoh”). Pharaoh orders Joseph to be brought in and the king tells him his dream involving seven fat cows, seven skinny cows, seven healthy ears of corn, and seven dead ears of corn (“Song of the King”).

Joseph interprets the dream as seven plentiful years of crops followed by seven years of famine (“Pharaoh’s Dreams Explained”). An astonished Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of carrying out the preparations needed to endure the impending famine, and Joseph becomes the most powerful man in Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh (“Stone the Crows”). In the 2007 London revival, Pharaoh has a new song (King of my Heart).

Back home, the famine has caught up with Joseph’s brothers, who – led by the brother Reuben – express regret at selling him and deceiving their father (“Those Canaan Days”). They hear Egypt still has food and decide to go there to beg for mercy and to be fed, not realising that they will be dealing with Joseph (“The Brothers Come to Egypt”). He gives them handfuls of food and sends them on their way, but plants a golden cup in the sack of his brother Benjamin (“Grovel, Grovel”). When the brothers try to leave, Joseph stops them, asking about the “stolen cup”. Each brother empties his sack, and it is revealed that Benjamin has the cup. Joseph then accuses Benjamin of robbery (“Who’s the Thief?”). The other brothers, though, beg for mercy for Benjamin, imploring that Joseph take them prisoner and set Benjamin free (“Benjamin Calypso”).

Seeing their selflessness and penitence, Joseph reveals himself (“Joseph All the Time”) and sends for his father. The two are reunited (“Jacob in Egypt”) for a happy conclusion. The show ends with two songs (“Finale: Any Dream Will Do (Reprise)/Give Me My Coloured Coat”), and for curtain call in some big productions, a rock/disco medley of most of the musical’s major numbers (“Joseph Megamix”)

 Characters

• Narrator: A woman or man, as in original productions, not of the time or place of the action. The Narrator tells the story through word and song, guiding the audience gently through the story of Joseph and his brothers.

• Jacob: The father of twelve sons, Jacob definitely favours Joseph. At times he may appear unfair and shallow, but he is, more importantly, the prophet who recognizes the future and the calling of Joseph, thus saving the House of Israel.

• Joseph: Obviously his father’s favourite, Joseph early on shows a talent for interpreting dreams and telling the future. This gets him into trouble with his brothers when he predicts his future will include ruling over the other eleven. However, it saves his life when in Egypt he correctly interprets Pharaoh’s dreams. In the end he has risen to a great position of power, but he still forgives his brothers and brings his family to Egypt to partake of the bounty he has accumulated there.

• Ishmaelites: Men of the desert, they buy Joseph as a slave, take him to Egypt, and sell him to Potiphar.

• Potiphar: A powerful and rich Egyptian, Potiphar purchases Joseph and puts him to work in his household, where he soon realizes that Joseph is honest, hard-working, and a great addition to his pool of help. When he grows suspicious of his wife and Joseph, however, he grows angry and has Joseph thrown into prison.

• Mrs Potiphar: Beautiful and scheming, Mrs. Potiphar tries to seduce Joseph (unsuccessfully). However, she does manage to rip off much of his clothing just as her husband comes into the room, thus condemning him to prison.

• Baker: One of Pharaoh servants, the Baker is in prison with Joseph who correctly interprets his dreams and predicts that he will be put to death.

• Butler: Another of Pharaoh servants, the Butler is also in prison with Joseph who also correctly interprets his dreams, this time that he will be released and taken back into Pharaoh’s household. It is the Butler who tells Pharaoh about Joseph and his uncanny ability with dreams.

• Pharaoh: The most powerful man in Egypt, Pharaoh is considered a god on earth. When Joseph interprets his dreams, he promotes him to one of the highest positions in his government. In most productions, Pharaoh is portrayed as an Elvis Presley -style figure.

• Joseph’s Eleven Brothers: Although acting usually as a group, they each have their own different personalities, talents, and flaws. As a group they sell Joseph into slavery, but as individuals they deal with the following years and how they can make amends. They sing and dance their way through many situations and places. The performers also double as Egyptians in many cases.
  • Reuben: Eldest son of Jacob; showed kindness to Joseph and was the means of saving his life when his other brothers would have put him to death.
  • Simeon: Second son of Jacob; detained by Joseph in Egypt as a hostage.
  • Levi: Third son of Jacob, by Leah; he went down with Jacob into Egypt.
  • Judah: Fourth son of Jacob; he pleads with Joseph when Benjamin is falsely arrested for theft of a goblet; one of his descendants was to be the Messiah.
  • Dan: Fifth son of Jacob; the tribe of Israel descended from him.
  • Naphtali: Sixth son of Jacob, by Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid.
  • Gad: Seventh son of Jacob, by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid; brother of Asher.
  • Asher: Eighth son of Jacob.
  • Issachar: Ninth son of Jacob.
  • Zebulun: Tenth son of Jacob; he had three sons.
  • Bemjamin: Twelfth son of Jacob. Joseph accuses him of stealing the golden cup. After Joseph went missing Benjamin was beloved.

• Wives of the 11 Brothers: Dancing and singing women who in the first scene take on the persona of the 11 wives but later dance and sing as Egyptians, slaves etc throughout the show. If not all wives are dancers this may be accommodated.
• Other singers and dancers are required for the ensemble and choir. Adults – any age and singing range and children aged 6 years and upwards. Choir is an integral on-stage group who backs the majority of songs through the show and forms the strong vocal support for the onstage dancing roles.

Musical numbers