Dreamgirls - Savoy / UK Tour

I saw her last week and found her to be exceptional. She is an "older" Effie than the others I guess, and so she brings a lot of maturity to the role - making her act two particularly strong. Very much enjoyed her performance.

Just Karen to see for me now, but I'm done with the show for a while now (6 visits now)

I really wouldn't say I preferred either over the other. They are both at the top of their game (as was Amber)

? Marisha's getting the same amount of shows as Amber did...

Why on earth should a standing ovation be given at that point - it's mid-show! Amber didn't get one then when I saw it.

I think you're vastly overestimating the number of audience members who a) even know which Effie will be on (or even that the role is shared at all) and b) are repeat visitors in the first place. No-one is going to be universally liked, and even if you are reflecting the majority opinion (which doesn't seem to be the case judging by this thread) the effect on ticket sales is going to be minimal compared to if she was a star name getting badly reviewed. There is no name carrying this show, so ticket sales are not going to live or die on one person's performance.

I think to say Marisha is struggling is a little harsh! Whilst it’s totally true she portrays a rawer Effie than others, it’s all part of her chosen portrayal of the character. Yes, there are points where she gasps for breath in the show but I don’t think this is her struggling at all, but her acting. As for the standing O for And I Am Telling You, I’ve seen the show 5 times now (3 Marisha and 2 Amber) and only 2 of those performances, one of each, got nearly full standing Os - the rest were partial and I think even the 20% you estimate for a MID SHOW ovation is amazing!
On the topic of too many shows, Marisha has performed the role for months 8 times a week in Dallas, and has also done stints as alternate here in London in which she went a month without having a show off as well as all the outside promotion she does - that is not a girl that I think is struggling!
Having said all that I do agree it would be nice for Moya to get another show if they’re going to insist on equal billing for the Effie’s, though as another user said above, I doubt the average theatregoer knows or minds who they see, or is even aware that the role is shared!

I've only been twice (sat in the stalls both times), but I don't remember a single person getting up after AIATY.

And, if I remember correctly, a few people got up to give an ovation at the end of the shows (less than 20%).

Which is a good thing, as standing ovations should be where there's something special. AIATY is such a standard song now (done to death on X Factor, American Idol etc) that it's difficult for anyone performing it to stand out.

So I won the lottery yesterday for the matinee and went with the assumption, like with the schedule, I would see Marisha or Moya. Turn up to the theatre and Karen is on which made it a real interesting afternoon! I was surprised to see it wasn't full, and whilst the Upper was open, I overheard some people entering the Stalls and others sat behind me saying they hd
Adbeen upgraded from the Upper.

You all know I love the show and the musical itself, so I won't bore you with those opinions, but some opinions of the new cast as it was my first time seeing most of them. And boy do I have some opinions, but the good and the meh first.

Starting off with Karen. I thought she was great! She has always been "the other Effie" for me, or the one to see just to tick her off the list, but she sang the sh*t outta this score. The accent was a bit ropey, especially pronouncing certian words, and I felt some of the scenes were a bit too rushed onnher part. However, when she sang I Am Changing, it is possibly one of the best versions I have heard, and she sang the hell out of some of the other songs. Her AIATY was the weakest of the 3 actresses I have seen, but she still sang it well and was clearly moved at curtain call by the response. I'd see her again.

Brennyn I wasn't expdcting to like as I loved Liisi in the role, and I wasn't sure at interval of her, but come Act 2, she really came into her own and, for lack of a better term, stamped all over Liisi's versions of those songs! Her Listen was stunning, and her vocals on the dance songs were also amazing. She really nailed it with her performance.

Asmeret. Had seen her before, she is the saving grace of the cast and holds the whole show together. She stole it from the two other girls and put on a performance that you walk away with just going wow! Fabulous.

Kimmy was fabulous as Michelle. She played it alot sweeter and nicer whereas Lily always came across more bitchy and sassy to me, but it worked either way. She sounded great.

I've seen Joe every time I've seen the show. Still strong, sounds great. Nothing particular to note.

Marty is Marty. Not good nor bad, just there.

C.C is C.C, no Tyrone Huntely but fine.

Female Ensemble were fabulous as always. Look great, sound great, dance their asses off and own that stage.

Now...

I'm putting this down to illness as I have seen him do the role before and he was amazing first time around, but I thought Tosh was pretty crap this performance. He could barely sustain any of the notes that Adam could slay. And when his voice gave up, he just kind of threw himself about in an attempt to cover it up. He didn't feel present for me, and it felt very fake. I'm sure he must of been ill as he sounded vocally crap to put it lightly, so I will write it offas that, but still. EDIT: I have just seen that Sean Perkins had to make his Jimmy debut last night due to Tosh's illness, so he really was just ill at the performance I saw.

The Male Ensemble. The f*** ya'll doing on that stage. Bar the two white guys Ashley and Callum, not a single one of them was giving any energy, excitement or look of enjoyment on that stage! Thankfully we are down to just one sweaty dancer now but he sweats enough for four of them and when spinning drenches the rest of them, which is ironic considering he barely seems to be giving much of a performance. I kept watching the guys to see if there was anything there, and there just wasn't. I didn't get it. They made Steppin' to The Bad Side boring! A real shame as the amount of talent that was on the stage first time round crapped on these guys. And the guy who covered Rohan who was off, really shouldn't cover that role, he can't sing or act for Jesus. But thats not to take away from Ashley and Callum, as they were showing the new guys what they should be doing and slayed.

So for the most part it was a great performance. I'll look forward to seeing Moya and Marisha again, hopefully with some Swings on for the Male Ensemble.  

To add to the standing ovation, everytime I have been thus far there has been a standing ovation at the end of AIATY bar yesterday, where no one stood.

Those interested, the one woman show Lily was writing whilst in Dreamgirls will debut on the 22md and 23rd February in London... I must say, it actually sounds quite interesting!

www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk/whats-on/jam-jars

Sorry for the error, its not a one woman show, it appears to have three characters. My bad.

I see that last nights performance was captioned. I've always wondered, especially with Dreamgirls where the girls tend to go into a world of their own with their added belts, riffs and everything, are they asked by the producers or people involved in the captioning to stick to the original score to make it easier with captioning so there is no confusion or the captions don't go too fast or slow as compared to what the actors are singing or doing? Wondering generally with most shows obviously, not just this one.