Review: Dreamgirls Will Make You Feel All Right

Dreamgirls at Music Hall in Fair Park

If Mozart had written an opera about a girl group’s tumultuous rise to fame, Dreamgirls would be it. Not only is the story told primarily through song, with very little spoken dialogue, but the vocal athleticism required of its cast is more akin to opera than a musical.

The word opera simply means work in Italian, and the cast of Dreamgirls was working hard in the Music Hall at Fair Park on opening night. The talented ensemble gave an energetic performance, with plenty of charisma per square inch. That said, two performers stood out from the crew.

Every time she stepped into the spotlight, Moya Angela, as Effie White, brought the house down. She is a vocal powerhouse, whose range of emotional expression equals her tremendous set of lungs. Her rendition of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” received a standing ovation, and sent me off to intermission with goose bumps.

Likewise, Chester Gregory as James “Thunder” Early, was a scene-stealing amalgam of James Brown, Little Richard, and dare I say, a splash of Prince. While his character provides comedic counterpoint to the backstage drama, Mr. Gregory also has a tremendous voice. I found myself simultaneously giggling at his antics, while being utterly impressed by his vocal prowess, funky dance moves and general panache. It was a bummer when his character exited the storyline, because he brings so much pizzazz to this role. I would go back just to see his performance again.

Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones may be familiar to American Idol fans from its seventh season. Her voice has a certain breathiness that reminded me of Diana Ross – and if the “tell all” book I read years ago is to be believed, Dreamgirls’ plot echoes much of the Supremes’ backstage dynamics.

Moya Angela plays Effie White in Dreamgirls in Dallas

Dreamgirls’ costumes are as glitzy and as you would expect, and the choreography is innovative, but part of what keeps this new version from missing a beat are the 5 towering LED screens used for the dazzling stage lights. These panels create smooth segues between the actors’ onstage performances and their backstage banter. These lighted screens give the story extra dimension by simulating television broadcasts, and even provide some humor, as when a watered-down version of a Dreamettes’ song is used in a commercial full of white folks.

I always like to eavesdrop at intermission to see how the audience feels about the show. I did not have to try very hard, since this was a particularly extroverted group. Dreamgirls makes an excellent “girls night out,” and sure enough, I saw several groups of women clad in sparkly outfits sharing bottles of bubbly during the break. Dreamgirls also makes an excellent “boys night out,” I realized after noticing several same sex couples dressed to the nines. As a newcomer to Dallas, this was a nice surprise.

One thing I love about the Music Hall in Fair Park is that you can pre-order your intermission snack from Music Hall Dining. This takes all the franticness out of intermission. It is so nice to walk out, hand your ticket to the server, and be shown to a table where your food and drinks are waiting. My date and I chose the Farmers Market plate this time (roasted vegetables with three dips) and it hit the spot at a mere $9 for the two of us.

Dallas Summer Musicals brings Dreamgirls to Fair Park

The excitement of Dreamgirls continued throughout the second act, with people clearly finding it hard to stay in their seats. The audience kept erupting into spontaneous applause, accompanied by scattered standing ovations, with plenty of whoops and hollers, throughout. It was easy to be swept along in the story because this cast of Dreamgirls holds nothing back.

If you are reluctant to see the live production of Dreamgirls because you enjoyed the movie so much, do not let that keep you home. Remember that this is live theater, and everyone on that stage has only one take. Like a sporting event, there is muscle and might behind every single performance they give, and as the song promises, “Dreamgirls will make you feel all right.” Tickets are going fast, though, so grab yours now before they all sell out.

What: Dreamgirls
When: Now through July 18th, 2010
Where: Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 1st Avenue, Dallas, TX 75210 (map)
Run Time: 2:30, including a single intermission.
Price: $20 – $85. Visit Ticketmaster to buy tickets online.
More information: Visit the Dallas Summer Musicals official website.

NOTE: Tickets were provided to me by the Dallas Summer Musicals for review purposes, but the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.

Photo credit: Joan Marcus, courtesy of Dallas Summer Musicals