Dreamgirls movie - What things do you feel should not be changed? — Page 2

There's a real exuberance to the revised second act opening, particularly after dialogue break in the middle. It was a great number in the Atlanta production, with dancing boys and a revolving staircase for the girls. I do see this number as one of the easiest to cut, though. It's basically just a bunch of reprises and it doesn't propel the plot (except for the brief Jimmy and Curtis scene it middle). It's a hell of a number to bring you back after intermission, though.

And I'm in agreement with Capn and Michael Bennet about Condon. I thought he did an amazing job with the Chicago screenplay and I was really happy to see his name attached this movie when it was announced. The only thing I really missed from the stage version of Chicago was "My Own Best Friend." I understand why it didn't make it, though.

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Thanks for answering my questions Marquise. Now I have heard The Opening of The Second Act and I absolutley adore it. I really hope it doesn't end up on the cutting room floor.

FYI --

Bennett kept revising and revising and REVISING the the 2nd Act opening during the entire life of the show and I don't think he EVER found one that he was completely satified with (he is the only director I've ever heard of that never stopped tinkering with a hit show even a YEAR AFTER after it had been playing to soldout houses).

I don't have the strength to sit here and describe in detail all of the different openings of the second act I saw, but there were at least five that I can remember clearly - all completely different from each other (from previews to shortly after opening night to six months later to the LA version to the post-LA version).

Bennett played with the "press conference version" through previews and even after opening, I believe, but he was never happy with it because Eyen and Krieger could never find a way to appropriately musicalize it and he could never find a way to stage it so that it didn't just look like a big ole mess of random people on stage (which it absolutely did in previews). While it gave out some interesting plot and character details, Bennett HATED it and cut it because it didn't "MOVE" like the rest of the show and it was just a ton of unnecessary (though very interesting) exposition, and one of the cardinal rules of directing is that non-critical exposition must always be cut. So buh-bye.

Bennett cut the top of Act II press conference somewhere right around opening night (I think a bit after, but I'm not sure). At various times I saw it afterwards, the Dreams came out at Act II carrying suitcases, with stage patter about all of the places around the world they had been (and they arranged the suitcases as platforms to walk up and down, with dancing boys aiding them); there was a GIANT staircase one time (with each stair lighting and unlighting as they walked up and down); there was once a whole opening dance number involving their various "dancing boys" whom they talked about in detail; and then there was one that had no gimmicks -- just a medley with intricate dance work and choreography around the stage.

In each of those cases the press conference was cut, and following the end of the medley, Effie, Marty and the "I Am Changing" number rolled out immediately afterwards.

I do think some version of the press conference would/could work much easier in the film version than it did on stage -- Bennett was a genius, but for whatever reason, having the press conference there after the big, splashy Act II opening (and then followed by the "I Am Changing" scene) seemed to grind the show to a hault for too long for him, no matter what he did, so he felt the need to cut the press conference. Condon will have a much easier time with it on film, if he chooses to include some version of the scene.

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Thanks for the wealth of information, Margo. I didn't realize the act two opening had gone through that many incarnations. Very cool to know.

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Marquise, It must be magic at your house.

Have y'all heard about the open casting call for Effie on June 18th in NYC? btw, Marquise it says they are from Detroit in the casting call. Anyway, is anybody here going to audition? I can't wait to see who they find, if they find anybody. It's such a hard part to cast, I'm glad I don't have to be the casting director.