Dreamgirls - Savoy / UK Tour

Soon! Amber could extend, theoretically speaking, but the general expectation is that she'll be announced as taking the show to Broadway.

So, Karen is absolutely KILLING it.

Sorry, another post from me.

Wow - what a show! Absolutely loved it from start to finish. Karen was fantastic and I also though Liisi was amazing - not sure where the criticism I've seen from her is coming from?

Highlights have to be AIATYING and also Listen (sorry, cliched choices) but I loved every song from start to finish, there is a hell of a lot of talent on that stage. The audience were good but a little too much cheering for my liking, especially at the end of act 1 when I wanted to hear Karen finishing it off properly.

We had Rohan Richards as Curtis who I really enjoyed and also developed a bit of a crush on - he was looking very dapper in those suits.

What a show... will definitely be back!!

Just noticed this video that has recently surfaced of Karen singing Listen back in December, her second performance apparently. To me, this doesn't sound too good at all - shouty and pitchy particularly at the climax when they sing together. Anyone that's seen her recently - I gather she's improved since this? If this is what she sounded like towards the beginning of the run then I'm not at all surprised that Marisha was brought over! Glad to see her getting morepositive reviews now, though.

Looking back on it, I suppose for Ruth it wasn't a question of talent. It was a question of being ready - she wasn't ready to go on when they needed her, and they had two other girls who were ready to go so she was costing them unnecessary money paying her and having to cancel performances. Never say never for her, I reckon.

A friend of mine got a stalls row D ticket for today's matinee for £20 at 11.30am. I'm wondering whether to wait and risk it when we go down in September.

Joshua Liburd is now C.C. according to the website. Guessing rehearsals for Jesus Christ Superstar have begun?

He'll be able to stop smiling. 

His jaw must be killing him. 

I loved Tyrone in this but always felt he was a bit wasted in the role. Judas is a much better part and he was awesome.

In Episode 5 of Season 5 of Orange is the New Black, there is a flashback scene where Janae (who is African American) is taken to a very wealthy private high school and is given a tour of the facility, including a rehearsal of Dreamgirls, and yup, you guessed it, the three Dreams are white (with Afros), and the camera switches between her teenage self and the ridiculous situation on stage.

The crazy part is that many years ago, I spotted a high school productions of Dreamgirls where the Dreams were played by white girls as well.

I love OITNB and its astute commentary on class, race and identify politics, and this moment made me even love it more. I am sure whoever thought of this scene must have seen something like it in the past, because no one can invent sh*t this crazy.

Well, yesterday afternoon Liisi eluded me for the second time, as Jocasta was on. However Amber was, and in terms of stage presence she really was phonomenal. Her voice is thrilling and she did have the edge of Marisha I have to say. However one aspect I feel she is lacking in, is her acting. She does not uniformly convince. Yes her It's All Over/And I Am Telling You plus I Am Changing strongly convince but the rest of the time, I feel her acting is simply serviceable. She does that typical thing that average actors do - they do very cliched things with their hands.

She certainly should not have won the Olivier over Glenn Close - that is laughable.

Amsmeret was absolutely wonderful - spirited and assured. Jocasta was similarly great. (did I see her as Lorell back in December??)

I feel Curtis is directed as far too nasty. It chimes badly for me - he is so resolutely mean, I cannot see how either of the girls would fall for him. Many of his lines and body language are delivered SO harshly. I really don't get what Nikolaw is doing pushing this big bad villian element. I felt Jamie Foxx played the role with far more humanely and with more heart.

Brilliant show, lowbrow audience. I think I'm done with it for now though. I think the second time, although there are some lovely subtle elements in it, it's played SO big and broad - which is not my naturally most appealing element of musical theatre. I think if I kept watching it, I might grow tired of it.

Adore the score and the last 10 minutes of act 1 are about as exciting as live theatre gets, in my view.