For new audiences and old faithfuls alike, the current national tour of Dreamgirls is well worth a look. This 29-year-old musical, which won six Tony Awards in 1981, has a new snap, a new look and a new song to complement an already terrific show.
Despite its elaborate lighting, sets and costumes, the strength of Dreamgirls lies almost completely on the sequined backs of the three actresses who play an up-and-coming 1960s singing group called "The Dreams." (This is a thinly disguised plot based on the real-life Supremes.)
Although the trio's "star" eventually turns out to be the lithe and lovely Deena, the true star has always been Effie, whose volcanic temper matches her powerful singing voice. A hefty and hard-driving woman, Effie balks at the group's first offer to sing back-up for a popular rhythm-and-blues singer, "Jimmy" Early. But eventually she is convinced to go along with the idea by a slick car salesman (Curtis), who winds up being their agent.
As the group's star begins to rise, Effie turns more and more impossible. Her tantrums have become legendary throughout the music industry. She misses rehearsals and complains constantly. When she is inevitably cast aside, first by boyfriend Curtis and later by the rest of her group, she sings the show-stopping "And I Tell You I Am Not Going." That blockbuster song made a star out of the show's original Effie (Jennifer Holliday) and the one who played her character in the movie version (Jennifer Hudson). This Effie, played seamlessly by Moya Angela, may indeed create yet another star. Angela handles her singing duties with impressive power and range, from "And I'm Telling You " to her smell-the-coffee number, "I Am Changing." It, too, is a showstopper, especially when Effie magically changes costume from her rehearsal outfit to a sequined gown (almost) before the audience's eyes.
A song from the film, "Listen," has been added, although in a different context. Now it is a stirring duet of reconciliation between Deena and Effie. In Act II, Angela reveals a kinder, gentler, older and wiser woman. Her moments of forgiveness are truly touching.
The role of Deena is well-served by Syesha Mercado, a former second runner-up on TV's "American Idol." Although her acting needs more polish, she has the moves and the voice to carry the part. The group's third member, Lorrell Robinson, is played by Adrienne Warren. She shows Lorrel's bite when breaking up with boyfriend "Jimmy" Early. She wants to get married, yet he keeps putting her off with promises to divorce his wife.
Chester Gregory is memorable as "Jimmy," the salty "soul man" who sings and dances in a way reminiscent of James Brown. Chaz Lamar Shepherd offers an ambivalent Curtis Taylor. Although his character reveals some bad choices and poor judgments, one cannot deny Curtis' persistence in using every tactic to get "The Dreams" into the limelight.
The heartbreaks and triumphs of "The Dreams" are supported by topnotch production elements. The staging and choreography are magnificent, as is the lighting. A multitude of dazzling costumes takes us from the early 1960s to the '70s. The sets, comprising five enormous panels, shift constantly throughout the show. They first impress as a background of moving polka-dots. Eventually, they morph into backgrounds and divide the stage into different areas, etc. The panels do more than their share to move the story along. One might assert that today's technology supports the show in a way that would have been impossible two decades ago. And the jubilation one feels at the end of Dreamgirls is partly enhanced by a new blend of elements, working perfectly together. The tour moves on to Chicago for a longer run on January 19-31.
