BY BARBARA BLANK
FOR THE PATRIOT-NEWS

Talk about sibling rivalry.

The story of the daydreaming Joseph and his jealous brothers makes for great drama. It also, as it happens, makes for delightful musical comedy.

Or, technically, make that an amalgam of a folk and rock opera. There is almost no dialogue in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," which was the first collaborative effort of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Guest director David Fisher had the challenge of pulling together a host of incongruous musical styles — including calypso, country western, and French bistro — child and adult performers and moods that range from broad comedy to near-pathos. He succeeded.

Fisher is assisted by the lively musical direction of Richard Askey and the versatile choreography of Steven L. Flom neither of which misses a beat as the styles change.

The dazzling lighting by Scott Summers and scenic design by Curtis E. Smith drew gasps from some of the younger members of the audience. Costumer Paul Foltz showed humor and imagination in fashioning the diverse clothing styles.

But the show belongs to Michael Zorger, superb as Joseph. His melodious voice is large enough to command but expressive enough to probe the heart of the character. It’s hard to be serious in sometimes-zany proceedings without seeming pompous, but Zorger pulls it off. He’s particularly affecting in the ballad "Close Every Door."

Kristin M. Shoop has a lovely voice that sometimes needs better modulation in its upper range. But her appeal as the narrator is accented by her chemistry with the lead.

It’s wonderful to see a chorus of children onstage, and Joseph’s brothers work beautifully as an ensemble. Kudos go individually to Kirk R. Simpson as Reuben for the sarcastic One More Angel" and to the singing and dancing talents of Michael Prisco (Judah) and Richard William Stevens (Isaacher).

George Paul makes the most of Jacob’s near-silent role, as does Ron Walker in an explorer’s costume with Potiphar’s. Doubling as Mrs. Potiphar and an Apache dancer, leggy Kendra Ferguson has nothing to say but makes the right moves.

M. Jon Whitson gets well-deserved laughs for his hip-gyrating, throaty-voiced performance of a rock star Pharaoh.

A parental caution: the play contains one moment and a longer segment that might be considered risqué. Otherwise, it is accurately billed as "family entertainment."