Review: DREAMGIRLS, New Wimbledon Theatre - UK tour
Photo credit: Matt Crockett
Dreamgirls is currently touring the UK and if the enthusiasm of the audience at the New Wimbledon Theatre is anything to go by, it’s as successful as the West End run.
The Dreamettes are a girl group formed by friends; Effie (Nicole Raquel Dennis), Deena (Natalie Kassanga) and Lorrell (Paige Peddie) who are talented singers with hopes of stardom. Set in the 1960s, the R&B music, matching dresses, and choreographed routines are reminiscent of groups like the Supremes (who this is said to be based on).
As we follow the girls in pursuit of fame and fortune, we see the realities of show business; the pressure, the toll of touring, creative differences and most importantly the test on their friendship. As the original front woman and best singer, Effie is relegated to back up and then forced out. Deena, who has the X factor, takes the lead and Effie’s boyfriend (the group’s manager, Curtis (Dom Hartley-Harris)) as the newly named Dreams gain success.
The production is slick and the set by Tim Hatley is clever. Sliding panels adorned with spotlights are seamlessly used to change scenes. The spotlights are bright and colourful as we see the performers on stage from the front and dimmed when their backs are to us as if we are behind the stage.
The dresses (also designed by Hatley) become more glamourous as the Dreams success grows and the quick changes deserve a round of applause! There’s a brilliant scene where the girls burst through a silver foil fringe curtain dressed in dazzling black and white dresses, indicating they are making it big!
The music and singing drives this production which has few spoken words in favour of a whirlwind of tunes and sung dialogue. The Dreams songs are snappy and catchy. The numbers sung by the characters are often heart wrenching. The stand out song, ‘And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going)’, only works in the hands of a powerful artist, who can pull this off without yelling. Dennis belts it out with such raw emotion, that it hits us in the gut as we feel her pain and hope. A slight problem with this being at the end of Act 1 is the songs that follow in Act 2 feel a little flat.
The ensemble are effervescent and the dance routines tight, entertaining and - like the costumes - in keeping with the 1960s.
Although the part is clearly written as an impression of James Brown, that doesn’t take away from Brandon Lee Sears’ amusing and charming performance as the old hand singer and Lorrell’s lover, Jimmy Early. He throws himself around with vigour and impressively yoyos in and out of splits.
Paige Peddie (who plays Lorrell) has a marvellous musical theatre voice and is comical as she moves from naïve starlet to sassy star who gets fed up with Jimmy!
Dom Hartley-Harris as Curtis is stand-out. Curtis has slower and quieter numbers and Hartley-Harris’ smooth melodic tones provide a much needed contrast in a production full of “big songs”. It’s a shame that Curtis is not as fully developed as some of the other leads. He is supposed to be corrupt and controlling, but we don’t see that play out enough for us to really detest him.
But if you love the sound and style of the sixties and you want to hear some impressive pipes, you’ll have a great night.
It has hits and glitz aplenty!
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Victoria Willetts
Dreamgirls is touring around the UK until 11 February 2023, with tickets for select venues available here.