DREAMGIRLS

 

Sorry that I haven’t been posting daily for about a month, but my recent back problem is so serious that it hurts to type. Plus, it’s giving me a brain-cramp, so I can’t even think! But with rest, ice, and ibuprofen, I’m coming around enough to write again. I even managed, with lots of difficulty, to go out twice because I really didn’t want to miss two very special events.

One was Adam Lambert’s recent concert, and the other was the opening of the iconic musical Dreamgirls at the Ahamanson Theatre. Both made me grateful that I was recovered enough to go out for a few hours. Adam’s review will appear at a later date, but now let me tell you about Dreamgirls.

I can’t imagine that there’s anyone out there who doesn’t know that the show is about a Supremes-like group in the early 60s, and the man who manipulates them all. I’m assuming everyone has seen the Jennifer Hudson-Beyonce-Eddie Murphy screen version that came out three years ago and earned Jennifer her Oscar, so I don’t need to go into details of the story. (If you’re one of the few who hasn’t, please Google it.)

This production was wonderful on all levels: music, costumes, performances, choreography, even the mainly bare set that made great use of a multi-sectioned screen. The star role is always that of the overweight, pushed-aside lead singer, Effie White. No actor can overshadow it with her big numbers, I’m Not Going and I Am Changing. The newcomer who played her in this production, Moya Angela, was excellent, but I always feel that no one comes close to the original, Jennifer Holliday, who stunned the Broadway world back in the 80s, with her audible-sobs-inducing performance. I feel like everyone is just trying to copy her, down to the grunts. But for audience members who’ve never seen the show before, these numbers are show-stoppers.

The person who stole the show for me, though, was Chester Gregory as James Thunder Early, a firstly popular and then fading R&B singer. (It’s the role that Eddie Murphy played in the film, for you non-Broadway types.) He was simply wonderful on every level. He sang great, was funny when appropriate, and his dance moves were awe-inspiring. (Perhaps Shane Sparks’ choreography had something to do with that part, but I don’t know.)

The surprise of the night was Syesha Mercado, as the lead singer of the girl group. She had come in third in the American Idol season that featured “the two Davids.” She was pretty awful on the show, and went that far only because she wound-up next-to-last most of the time, and, luckily for her, there was a new bottom person each week, so she kept being spared, though consistently drawing very low votes. So, she lucked into that third spot, but it ended there for her.

Back then, (two seasons ago,) she was pretty and skinny and looked great in just about every type of outfit, but seemed un-deservedly full of herself, and didn’t sing well. To use Simon Cowell’s favorite word, she was forgettable. So much so that I, an expert on all things Idol, and someone who’s (knock on wood) blessed with an incredible memory, could never remember her name after that season.

Jump ahead to the present, and here Syesha is, starring as the glamorous one in Dreamgirls at the Ahmanson. (BTW–this same cast just came off a brief run at the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem, which kicked-off this National Tour.) And she’s great!!! Who knew??? She still pretty, and skinny, and the perfect body-type to show off all of costume designer William Ivey Long’s creations. But now she can sing, as well! I was actually really happy for her.

One production note–the stage show has significant differences from the movie, but keep in mind that the theatre version is the original. Though I’m a stickler for originals, in all aspects of life, I was happy to see that this new production kept the song “Listen” that was written for Beyonce to sing in the film, to give her more of a star moment than the way that the Deena Jones character is written.

Since this was opening night, there were some celebs and an after-party. Jordan Sparks, also of Idol fame, (but a different season), was there with her gorgeous mom, who looked about ten years younger than her daughter!!! But, shamefully, they both wore jeans…to an opening night!!! They should both know better than that. (Everyone should!)

The party took place at a new-ish downtown venue, J Restaurant and Lounge, on Olive Street, and luckily for my crutches-assisted legs, had couches on the outdoor patio, where most everyone congregated. Had I been feeling better, I would have definitely explored the interior and second-floor club, but I was happy to stay put on the comfy couch, especially since the cheery servers very kindly made sure that I got all the passed treats to sample.

The highlight of the party for me, though, was sitting with a lovely girl from the ensemble, Brittany Lewis, and her devoted mom. She’s a personable young lady who appears to have her head on straight, and seems grateful to have made it this far in a super-hard business. She’s pretty young, but was able to fully express her appreciation for the Broadway scene, including the history of it, and the people who came before. So often, people in their 20s are ignorant of the pioneers in their chosen field and feel that they know it all. It was refreshing to hear what Brittany had to say, and also to see her be so inclusive of her shy mother at the soiree, when she could have just partied with the starry crowd. I wish her a long and successful career. And may she never encounter the troubles that the fictional “Dreamgirls” do!