Those voices! The whole of Oxford’s New Theatre vibrated when Dreamgirls took to the stage last night and let rip with their astonishing vocal range and melodic power.
It was absolutely breath-taking to behold as this bonanza of a cast picked their way through the Motown-esque story of rags-to-riches and obscurity to fame.
“if you want to be blown away by the sheer talent on stage I’d get in quick, because judging by the standing ovation last night, word will be spreading fast”
From soul to disco, RnB to funk, the tale of three American friends entering a talent competition and instead getting picked to become backing singers for the notorious Jimmy Early, before breaking out on their own as The Dreams, is an easy one to follow.
Loosely based on The Supremes, Dreamgirls also exposes the in-fighting, greed and corruption that comes with fame at this level, along with a hefty dose of sexism, racism, domestic abuse and plagiarism thrown in for good measure.
Relayed through song, while few could live up to the same dynamic musical repertoire, the Dreamgirls cast more than make up for it vocally. And the audience lapped it up.
The shining example was Nicole Louise-Lewis who plays the spurned Effie White, she of so much wisdom, karma and retribution, and a voice that rendered the audience speechless.
Her accompanying Dreamgirls Natalia Kassanga as Deena Jones, Paige Peddie as Lorrell Robinson and later Brianna Ogunbawo as Michelle Morris, held their own amidst some fierce competition from the likes of Matt Mills as Curtis and Shem Omari James as Jimmy.
Luckily there’s also a strong thread of hope and redemption running throughout, relevant to the #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter movements, which helps. Let’s just say the baddies don’t get away with it for long.
So if you like singing, music, dancing and want to be blown away but the sheer talent on stage I’d get in quick, because judging by the standing ovation last night, word will already be spreading fast.
Dreamgirls runs at Oxford’s New Theatre until Saturday October 1. Book at https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/dreamgirls/new-theatre-oxford/
