DREAMGIRLS UK TOUR REVIEW
SHEFFIELD LYCEUM
THURSDAY 17TH MARCH 2022 @ 2PM
***** 5/5
There’s been a slight delay in posting this review but better late than never, right? Following on from my last review of The Addams Family UK tour, today’s post is the Dreamgirls UK tour review. My last visit to Sheffield was to see 9 to 5, a review that I have yet to post.
PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS
Dreamgirls is up there as one of my favourite movie musicals but I’ve not seen it on stage before. This was a production that I was beyond excited to see, especially because of the cast. There aren’t many casts that are quite as diverse, which is a real shame. I remember seeing Nicole Raquel Dennis on The Voice years ago and was blown away by their talent so I was really looking forward to seeing them in their rightful place: as a lead.
THE DREAMS
I’m putting it out there, this might be the best cast I’ve ever seen in a show. Every individual was spectacular and perfectly cast. I’ll start with my number one lead, Nicole Raquel Dennis as Effie White. To see them shine like the star they are was nothing short of phenomenal. They made me cry multiple times with their emotive vocals, which is a tough task (I never cry at anything). Nicole brought the perfect mix of strength and vulnerability to Effie and was particularly moving during I Am Changing as well as the powerhouse vocals during And I’m Telling… When I tell you they had me feeling every emotion under the sun, they really did! I’m pretty sure I deafened those around me with my whooping for them!
Alongside them to complete The Dreams was Natalie Kassanga as Deena and Paige Peddie as Lorrell. Natalie encaptured the ‘girl becoming woman’ personality of Deena through the years during the show as she turns from a backup singer to Effie to a star in her own right. Whilst it’s a challenge to begin with, she owns it in the end. Natalie had such soul to her vocals and you really see her blossom throughout. Paige’s Lorrell seems naive but again, stands up for herself as the show progresses. Once again, her vocals are a knockout and between the three of them, the harmonies are to die for, complimenting each other perfectly.
THE SUPPORTING CAST
The male cast more than pull their weight, despite it being a female-centric story. Dom Hartley-Harris as Curtis is the ‘baddie’ so to speak but you certainly don’t feel like booing him. I’m saying it again but his voice was so smooth and he has such a presence on stage. Speaking of presence, Brandon Lee Sears’ Jimmy Early is all those Motown stars rolled into one. He’s the comedic value of the show but don’t be fooled by that. He has equally as strong vocals and dance moves to boot.
Shem Omari James, playing CC White, Effie’s brother, is also an integral part of the show. He’s the moral compass but has his own struggles too. I’ve always thought he should get more of a storyline to explore in both the show and movie.
A special shout-out of course goes to the incredible ensemble. Each one of them has talent up to their eyeballs and you could tell they genuinely were having a great time. I love to see casts’ bonds and it’s clear this is a tight cast.
THE PRODUCTION
The soundtrack to Dreamgirls has always been a favourite of mine. I love proper vocalists, especially in soul and Motown music. Dreamgirls puts The Dreams’ vocals at the forefront, with each member getting a solo moment too.
From costumes to wigs, set design to make-up, this entire production is slick. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a smooth production from start to finish. It’s glitzy and glamourous with the main focus being on vocals. Although I didn’t get round to seeing the West End production, it feels like the entire show has just been lifted to go on tour. The calibre of every part is that good.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I was expecting an incredible show but it still managed to exceed my expectations! The talent on the stage was out of this world, led by three absolute stars. If you get a chance to see Dreamgirls at a theatre near you, please do. You can catch the rest of the tour dates here.
Have you seen Dreamgirls before on its previous West End run or on this tour? If you enjoyed this Dreamgirls UK tour review, check out my other theatre reviews here. You can keep up-to-date with all my stagey trips on both Twitter and Instagram too! (Peep at my nails too, got them done to match the colour scheme of the show)
