Brantley Reviews London's DREAMGIRLS

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 8:54pm

He likes the production and all out gushes over Amber Riley, comparing the reception she's getting to what's being afforded to Bette in HELLO, DOLLY! here.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/30/theater/review-a-souped-up-dreamgirls-roars-in-london.html?smid=tw-nyttheater

A very good omen for a transfer.

Updated On: 4/30/17 at 08:54 PM

[Just_John]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 9:02pm

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.  

[gypsy101]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 11:22pm

Just_John said: "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.

[Sondheim_Disney1595]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 11:43pm

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.

 

"

Alex Brightman wasn't on Glee

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 11:52pm

Just_John said: "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.  

 

"

Doesn't she also have three different alternates, as well? Btw I hope they transfer Wallace over, if they transfer the show. 

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 11:53pm

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]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 12:01am

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.

[Just_John]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 12:09am

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.

 

"

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. 

 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 12:12am

I do hope it moves to the beautiful and roomy Hudson next season!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLBQbT6ArrY

 

Posted: 5/1/17 at 12:12am

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.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 12:24am

somethingwicked said: "He likes the production and all out gushes over Amber Riley, comparing the reception she's getting to what's being afforded to Bette in HELLO, DOLLY! here.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/30/theater/review-a-souped-up-dreamgirls-roars-in-london.html?smid=tw-nyttheater

A very good omen for a transfer.

 

 

It is coming next season late winter-spring '18 and I hear possibly the Hudson...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gjvgYTTdHA

 

 

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 1:59am

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

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 6:17am

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.

 

"

It isn't the first revival. The original production was in 1981. It was revived in 1987. Those pesky facts......

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 7:01am

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. 

[MoveOnGypsy]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 7:02am

Debating if I should see this on the West End in August or wait until it transfers which sounds more likely by the day.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 9:26am

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

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 9:33am

I really hope the Hudson stays primarily a house for plays (as it was originally announced the intention would be). I would think producers of DREAMGIRLS would want to put it in a house with more seats (revenue potential). It's a big show.

[sparepart973]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 9:36am

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. 

 

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 10:18am

In addition to Amber Riley, Liisi LaFontaine (Deena,) Asmeret Ghebremichael (Lorrell,) Joe Aaron Reid (Curtis,) and Marisha Wallace (Effie alternate) are all Americans doing the show on the West End. I'd expect to see all of them in the production when it transfers here. Adam J. Bernard (Jimmy) has gotten rave reviews and won the Olivier alongside Amber so I wouldn't be surprised if he's brought over as well.

As others have said, it's going to the Hudson.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 10:21am

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?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 11:39am

Wouldn't Asmeret be attached to SWEET CHARITY this Fall?

[Just_John]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 11:43am

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.  

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 1:02pm

Matt Rogers said: "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.

 

"

It isn't the first revival. The original production was in 1981. It was revived in 1987. Those pesky facts......

 

"

That production that opened two years after the original closed with the main star being the understudy/replacement of the original star of the show and with the entire creative team of the first production and that lasted for five months? Sorry for forgetting about that ''revival''.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 2:04pm

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.

[silent]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 2:27pm

I hope they find a new Deena for the US transfer. Perhaps Glennis Grace. And why doesn't the show have 2 or 3 Effies as the stars? The role is such that one person is always missing shows. 

Updated On: 5/1/17 at 02:27 PM