Brantley Reviews London's DREAMGIRLS

Amber misses more shows than she actually does tho. How do we think that is going to fly if she is the headliner here? It took me four viewings over two trips to catch her performance, and it was definitely worth it. She definitely deserved the Olivier over Glenn Close, which is saying a lot but London audiences are more calm and collected than Americans and they are never entitled to a refund if a performer is out. I don't think New York theatre goers are going to let that pass, even if her name is'nt above the title.

lol why wouldn't it fly? isn't that basically what happened with Alex Brightman in School of Rock? pretty sure the theatergoers "letting it pass" isn't really a thing.



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Alex Brightman wasn't on Glee

School of Rock, as a title, is the reason that 99.9% of people go see School Of Rock. Amber is going to be at least 30% of why people see Dreamgirls (if not much more). Comparing her to Alex doesn't seem to be the best comparison.

MadsonMelo said: "What? In what world is Amber Riley such a big draw of anything? It's Dreamgirls on Broadway, the freakin' first revival since... ever, they would sell on name alone.

Second, Amber missed a lot of performances because she was sick and she wasn't the only one, the cast of Matilda and Rent also had issues with that.

Third, I saw last week and she was perfection.



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She was one of the 5 main stars of Glee, which was a huge success, and the reason I was so determined to catch her performance. She definitely has not only missed because she was sick. She had pneumonia in January, but the Thursday before the Oliviers she must have just been saving her voice for the award show performance and just this past week she went on vacation but not two weeks after she won the Olivier. I have friends who work in the Savoy who have told me she has missed more performances than she has done. Also, if you follow her alternates social media, they often are posting about how they're getting ready to go on. I love the girl and she is so talented but if you can't do the show almost all of the time you're scheduled to go on, just don't do it, because someone can. Her alternates are fabulous by the way and I wouldn't be disappointed sitting through it again with either of them, but they're not why I wanted to see the show.

If Riley has an alternate (I too am hoping for Wallace), and the public is told when she will be out beforehand, I don't see any problems. Dreamgirls is a very popular musical turned into a successful film that people know, so Riley being out isn't as big a deal as, say, Josh Groban's absences from Comet.

Riley was magnificent, it really wasn't a career defining moment. She will blown New York away

I just wish it was a new production and not a rehash of the original staging. I'd love to see a fresh new take on the show.

I'd imagine she'll have an alternate on Broadway.

I have friends who work in the Savoy who have told me she has missed more performances than she has done.

Sorry to say this but your friends are full of it. The same thing was said about Heather Headley here when she did The Bodyguard, and how she missed more shows than the number of shows she has done. Heather might have missed a lot, but their math is rubbish if they think this is true. Amber missed, but not even half as much as Heather, but is still not a reason to develop a reputation for missing.

The drama queen of absence has been Sheridan Smith and even in her case, her on shows were more than her off shows.

A bit tangential: has anyone seen Asmeret as Lorrell? I didn't know she joined the company, and while I find her talented I cannot imagine her singing Lorrell. How is she?

Asmeret has become the star she has long deserved to be in the show. So many amazing choices she made for the character. A HUGE improvement on the crap performance from whoever I saw in January.

As for Sheridan Smith, I'm so confused as to why Amber is not getting the same reputation in the West End that Smith did. Smith had an illness that she had to take time off for treatment. What is Riley's excuse? Also, Amber is ALWAYS out when she is scheduled to be out. That isn't the issue. She is often out when she is scheduled to be on and they don't allow you to exchange for another date in that case. Brits just kind of think it is what it is, Americans are going to throw a **** fit in the box office demanding an exchange for when Riley is on.

i've said it before and i'm saying it again: i'm still holding out for Patina as Deena because that would be absolutely sublime. I'd also like Nikki James to play Lorrell though that's less of a pressing matter. Amber Riley and Patina Miller have been my dream duo for a production of Dreamgirls for like seven years now.