Spit Flings & Other Things...

One of the things I love about living here in the Portland area is that each year we get some great Broadway shows that make the rounds. Going to the theater is something I really enjoy, so when it comes time to renew our membership with the Portland Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA), it’s totally worth it. Jennifer, my mom and I all split the membership costs and it is great because we get to purchase advance tickets to all the shows and pick whatever seats we want for the shows.

This season has had some really great shows so far (like Cats) and, most recently, Dreamgirls.

To tell the truth, I was a little “meh” about going to see Dreamgirls. I have no idea why I felt this way since I had heard such good things about the show. My mom and I were going to go together to see it and I even asked my dad if he wanted to go in my place. He said no, and boy am I glad he did! Because I absolutely LOVED the show!

When my mom and I took our seats, I was surprised at the stage set up before the show. Usually the stages are all decorated with cool props and stuff. The stage set up for Dreamgirls was totally nondescript and rather boring looking. (Sorry my picture is a bit blurry - I had a hard time getting a clear photo of the pre-show stage for some reason.)

...and to my favorite place in the whole, wide world - Paris!

I couldn’t have been more wrong about the stage set up though - totally NOT boring. This “screen” was so cool! It is actually a set of big LCD-type screens that light up and give the show dimension.

These screens take the show all over the place like to the white bread land of the early 1960’s television shows...

... and here’s a little video snippet of The Dreams singing the show’s title song.

The best part about Dreamgirls though is the story of how best friends Effie White, Deena Jones and Lorrell Robinson (The Dreamettes) join forces with James “Thunder” Early to reach their dream of fame and fortune as a Supremes-like singing group before going out on their own.

Here are the girls when they get their big break and join Jimmy Early on stage for the first time. Chester Gregory (as Jimmy Early) was amazing!

Like I said, the visual effects were great. Here’s the guys in the “Steppin’ To The Bad Side” sequence.

At the urging of their shady agent, Curtis Taylor, Jr., the girls eventually break away from singing background for Jimmy Early and form their own group “The Dreams”. But, here’s the kicker, Deena will be the lead singer, not Effie because Deena is supposedly hotter than Effie. This doesn’t go over so well with Effie as you can imagine.

But, Effie takes one for the team and does her best in her new supporting role with The Dreams after everyone convinces her that this is the right thing to do for the group.

Here are the girls singing their first single, Dreamgirls...

One of the many things about this play that was just so great was the cast. Playing Deena Jones was Syesha Mercado. Remember her from American Idol Season seven? Syesha finished in third place behind David Archuleta and winner David Cook.

Syesha really comes into her own in the role of Deena Jones. She did such a good job! Let me tell you, that girl can sing with a capital S-I-N-G!

Eventually Effie leaves the group because she finds out her love Agent Curtis has the hots for Deena. Effie can’t take being second in love and in the group anymore, so she leaves. At this point she sings the heart-wrenching “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” song begging Curtis to pick her over Deena. This doesn’t happen so Effie heads out.

Moya Angela plays Effie and did an amazing job. Her rendition of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” is very heartfelt and emotional.

After Effie leaves, she is replaced in the group and the group is renamed Deena Jones and the Dreams. The group goes on to become extremely successful.

In the second act, we catch up with Effie, who is now a single mother struggling to build a music career for herself. Deena realizes that she wants more for herself than singing. She wants to act but is having a hard time getting out from under Curtis’ control.

Deena also hates the way things ended with Effie. Just as Deena is wanting to leave her music career, Effie’s career is taking off with her single “One Night Only”. Curtis schemes to have Deena and the Dreams sing the same song while paying to have Effie’s version of the song pushed down the charts. Effie discovers this and her team goes after Curtis.

In the meantime, Deena and Effie finally meet. Their one-time best friendship calls them back together. Deena knows that she did Effie wrong and wants to reconcile. The girls talk and they realize that their bond of friendship is still strong and they vow to be friends again.

Deena finally gets the courage to leave Curtis and The Dreams to pursue her acting career. Deena Jones and the Dreams have one final performance together.

For their final performance, Effie joins the girls on stage and they perform their signature song, “Dreamgirls” one last time together. It’s a lovely moment and a great ending to the show!

As a side note, seriously... how gorgeous is the dress Effie wears in the final act of the show? Love it!

Moya Angela as Effie got such a big applause...

At the end of the show as each cast member came out to take their bow, the screens behind have huge images of them projected on it. Very cool!

... as she should because she was awesome!

The whole cast came out for their last bow together.

After the show, the title logo was displayed across the screens. It looked really neat!

All in all, Dreamgirls was wonderful! I am so glad my dad said no to my ticket and that I didn’t miss the show! It was great!