I think it’s fair to say that DREAMGIRLS, playing at the Wales Millennium Centre this week, is pretty much a perfect musical. From the very second the show bursts onto the stage you are greeted with sparkle and glitter and some of the best productions numbers you’ll find anywhere.
This is a proper musical where the story is all about music and filled with fantastic numbers, each of them a full production in their own right.
The Dreams – Effie (NICOLE RAQUEL DENNIS), Lorrell (PAIGE PREDDIE) and Deena (NATALIE KASSANGA) – are three talented young singers in the turbulent 1960s, a revolutionary time in American music history. We follow the three friends as they embark upon a musical rollercoaster ride through a world of fame, fortune and the ruthless realities of show business, testing their friendships to the very limit.
To use a well worn cliche, we really do go on a bumpy journey with the girls. The show may be all glitz and glamour, but the harsh realities of show business, as the girls find to their cost, is that fame definitely comes with a heavy price.
The show also touches on the huge inequality in the music industry in that period. There’s a hilarious sequence which steps away from the Dreams action to emphasise this. It’s both funny and sadly true of the time, and an important addition to the story.
I’m sure fans of the show and the Motown ‘girl groups‘ of the 60s would tell you this has its influences in The Supremes, and their meteoric rise to success, with Diana Ross taking centre stage. Whether that is true, or not, the story is powerful and sometimes gritty, thanks in part to Curtis Taylor (DOM HARTLEY-HARRIS).
Curtis is a car salesman, with greater ambitions for himself, and The Dreams, and as he becomes their manager, he stops at nothing to get what he wants, no matter who it hurts.
Initially the girls are backing singers for Jimmy Early (BRANDON LEE SEARS) a butt wiggling, leg-splitting star in his own right. Brandon is incredible and literally doesn’t stop during his performances. He’s like a combination of Prince and James Brown, and boy does he make you ‘feel good‘.
The stars of the show are of course the girls, and in particular Nicole as Effie. Her vocals are outstanding to say the least. All of us in the audience were waiting for ‘those songs’, and when they finally came, she put her heart and soul into each of them. They are truly breathtaking moments.
If you’ve been to the Donald Gordon stage at the WMC, you’ll know how big a room it is. Nicole’s voice hits every corner of this massive auditorium with such power and conviction, that it left all of us breathless. We’re a hard lot to please here in South Wales, and we don’t get on out feet easily, Nicole however, managed it. I’ve not seen anything like this for a long time. In fact the last time was MARISHA WALLACE, who was also in Dreamgirls a while ago.
Before we go any further and tell you what we thought of the show, let’s check in with the audience to get their take on it. We also hear from JOSH SINGLETON who is part of the Dreamgirls ensemble.
So, what about those songs?
We get to the end of the first half and the number pretty much all of us know and love, and a fair portion of the audience can relate to, started. This is Effie’s big song, and what is thought of as the show’s key moment. Effie refuses to let Curtis leave her behind, and says, in no uncertain terms, “I’m staying and you … you’re gonna love me.” Actually, part of the song is directed right at us in the audience, which made it even more emotional.
Now this song has been sung by some big-hitters over the years. From Jennifer Holiday who won a Grammy for her performance in the original 1981 Broadway production. Then Jennifer Hudson who grabbed an OSCAR for the 2006 film. Well, if there were awards to be handed out for Nicole’s rendition, she’d have a dressing room full of them. I don’t think I’m exaggerating in saying there were tears shed in the audience. She sang, lived and breathed every heart breaking moment of the song.
Cue standing ovation.
Actually, in telling you about ‘One Night Only‘, we have to mention the set and costumes, which are A-MAY-ZING to quote a well know judge. There are sequins and glitter shining out of each and every outfit, with credit to Head of Wardrobe SUZANNE RUNCIMAN and her team for having to look after these incredible gowns.
The set too is so good, switching from small concert venue to a huge Las Vegas stage. The seamless changes, and the way the cast are choreographed around it, is incredibly effective for the production. The crystal curtain is a sight to behold though.
One Night Only is Effie’s big return song, and one that would usually get us all on our feet had this been a gig and not a show. It started with her dressed fairly conservatively, by the end of the song a transformation has taken place. I don’t want to say to much, but it is a really good routine.
Dreamgirls is a story of change, how three friends go from backing singers to international stardom, with all the pitfalls that brings. It’s a tale of greed, hate, and plenty of romance. What we get on stage around the story however, are some of the best songs and greatest dance routines, all reminiscent of those changing times in the 60s.
TIM HATLEY has done a mighty fine job with both set and costume design with some incredible direction and choreography from MICHAEL BENNETT.
The songs are incredible, there’s no two ways about it, but the dancing too is so good. There are a few moments when the focus is all on the footwork, and those moments are really something else.
Although we’ve singled out Nicole, the entire cast are real quality. Every song and dance step are executed with utter precision. The sound is exceptional (it’s so nice to be able to hear everything), and the orchestra, under the direction of SIMONA BUDD helped bring the HENRY KRIEGER score to life.
We’ve waited a long time for the arrival of the girls but it’s well worth it. I guess my hairdresser best sums it up – he told me his tickets are a special birthday present, and it’s the best pressie he’s ever had. There’s a passion for this show amongst it’s many fans, and those who have the songs on constant repeat. But that passion is also clear to see on stage too. The cast live this show and every funny, crazy, tough and tender moment.
DREAMGIRLS is big and bold, exhilarating and dazzling in every sense. It will leave you gasping for breath and wanting more than one night only. There’s not many shows I could watch again within a week, this however is one of them.
We always say you’ll need to be quick if you want to catch it, and that is true of DREAMGIRLS too. It’s here at the Wales Millennium Centre for 11 nights only (see what we did there!). Actually, it’s slightly fewer now. It runs through to Saturday 30th April. Shows are at 7:30 with matinee performances throughout the run. Tickets are priced between £19.50 to £59.50 and you can get yours HERE.
And you can check out our preview feature right HERE.
