DREAMGIRLS tour cuts/additions?

[daspazoo]

Posted: 1/23/10 at 7:24pm

Anyone who's already seen the current DREAMGIRLS tour:

I know they interpolated 'Listen' from the movie into the tour. How much of 'I'm Somebody' (the recitative between Deena and Effie) is then cut out?

Are there any other additions/deletions/changes from the stage version? (For the record, I'm most familiar with it through the Actor's Fund concert recording.)

As much detailed info as anyone can give, I would really appreciate it!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 2:11am

I really liked the addition of "Listen" but the entire bit between Effie & Deena starting with "Believe me, Effie. I never knew what Curtis was doing to you..." all the way through Curtis' "When I first saw you I said "Oh my you're my dream'" is all gone. That's about 4 minutes of some of the best music in the entire score.

[morosco]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 2:19am

That's about 4 minutes of some of the best music in the entire score.

Agreed. I always get choked up when Effie sings "I saw you Deena at your Mama's funeral. How I wanted to speak to you that day. But I couldn't reach you. There were so many people in the way."

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 2:20am

I do, too. There's so much said there not only between Deena & Effie but between Deena & Curtis and it's all gone now. Unfortunately I don't think it will ever be put back in now.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 2:22am

The cuts at the end don't really bother me that much, but I hate that new act two opener.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 2:23am

Oh, I forgot about that! Yeah for someone as familiar with this show as I am that Act 2 opener was a bit jarring. I don't know why they felt the needed to change that!

[lakezurich]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 2:29am

Just saw the show tonight. How did Act II open before?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 2:33am

There was an original original opening on Broadway, but the one that had opened act two since 1983 or so was the Dreams in Vegas, Deena does patter with the boys, sings a line of Dreamgirls, then they do "Step on Over" and it ends with the girls reprising Dreamgirls.

Have you heard the Actor's Fund album? It's on there.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 2:49am

I have not

[lakezurich]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 3:12am

Just listened to the other Act II opening, thanks to a certain someone. And I think the new opening is just fine.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 3:28am

I think it's mainly just a matter of tastes and aesthetics. There are those who still believe that the ORIGINAL original act two opening (and that holy grail with it, the second press conference) should be restored.

I can't really put my finger on what I don't care for about the new version. I kinda feel like the song she's singing sounds more like act one Dreams stuff.

I dunno. I kinda feel like there's something missing without them reprising Dreamgirls at some point there, because I've always thought about how it was used three times perfectly in the original.

I like that my spellcheck thinks that I wanted to say it was all taste and asthmatics, so you know what, maybe that IS what I think.


ETA - And full disclosure. I haven't seen it yet. I have tickets for next week, but I don't think they've made any changes since the Apollo, have they? Updated On: 1/24/10 at 03:28 AM

[lakezurich]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 3:30am

Haha!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 10:54am

Phyllis I am SO glad you're going- we saw it yesterday and I LOVED IT-- except for the second act opening. Taking that press conference out makes Deena much more sympathetic. Add in Listen and suddenly SHE'S the victim.

I like my Deenas bitchy, please.

If they wanted to cut the Dreams from the top of the act- why not start at Effie's audition with Marty & the club owner talking "Yeah I know about Effie- she got booted out of the Dreams and now they are the the biggest act int he world- just toured Uerope, blah blah blah." That first scene is pointless.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 1:00pm

I like my Deenas bitchy, please.

I found that many only know DREAMGIRLS via the film-version and the film's presentation of Deena -- as the innocent little dear. They are totally unaware that Deena in the stage-version was far from being a victim, et al.

After exposing them to the stage-version, they are first shocked at how different the stage-version of DREAMGIRLS is from the film-version AND they love the stage-version Deena -- all sassy, bitchy and with an agenda.

I also agree about the original 1981 Act 2 opener (Deena & The Dreams simply doing a medley of their hits on that huge Las Vegas staircase) and that sensational (and revealing) press conference that followed it. Each of the ladies is interviewed and so much information is given letting us know what's taken place between the end of Act 1 and Act 2. Even Deena's little jab to Diana Ross is delicious. I never cared for the 'new' Act 2 opener that Michael Bennett replaced it with -- and it was a tragedy he even removed that press conference. This 3rd version is horrendous and totally misses the point.


Jennifer Holliday and Sheryl Lee Ralph in the original 1981 Broadway production's Effie and Deena reunion:

[lakezurich]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 10:01pm

Haha! In the opening scene for act II, when they stood behind the reporters and took their coats off, and then walked out from behind them with their dresses on the audience applauded. I was like "Really? Was that really applause worthy?"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 11:04pm

Every time I revisit the Dreamgirls movie, I like it a little less.

I never understand why Bill Condon has Deena all mopey and worried about booting Effie and then has her sing It's All Over. The dressing room scene in the stage version is perfect. I keep working for you, baby. I keep working!

[lakezurich]

Posted: 1/24/10 at 11:09pm

This thread makes me wish I had seen the original stage version. But, alas, I was in diapers at that time.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 1/25/10 at 8:21am

I miss STEP ON OVER for the Act II opening but the replacement melody isn't bad at all.

I do like the quietness of the original reunion scene between Deena and Effie, but I have to admit, watching it at The Apollo, it was quite the crowd pleaser to see the two actresses have a vocal smackdown for the re-worked duet of LISTEN. Beyonce couldn't hold a candle to the singing of Syesha Mercado and Moya Angela. (As an aside, I hate that I've yet to hear Beyonce sing LISTEN live in its original key as used in the film - all the times I've seen/heard her sing it, it's been lowered by at least a whole step or a minor third...)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/25/10 at 11:01am

I didn't mind Listen but I did find it rather hilarious that Effie & Curtis's illegitimate child is dispensed with in about 10 seconds.

And LZ they applauded the Dreams taking their coats off when I saw it too.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/25/10 at 11:32am

I didn't mind Listen but I did find it rather hilarious that Effie & Curtis's illegitimate child is dispensed with in about 10 seconds.

To be fair, that's pretty much how it is in the original version, too.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/25/10 at 12:09pm

As I typed that I tried to figure out what was different this time. I've never felt like it was so "Tossed in" before.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/25/10 at 1:34pm

Please tell me the tour kept Ain't No Party.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/25/10 at 2:42pm

And it was the best "Ain't No Party" I've ever seen. Lorell did an excellent job (I don't have my program so I don't have her name) but she really made this scene work!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/25/10 at 2:54pm

I'm glad to hear it! It is my favorite number in the show and I was devastated it was cut from the film. I'm taking my parents to see the tour as they have only seen the film version. They're both pretty excited about it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/25/10 at 3:14pm

I can't wait to hear your review.