"Dreamgirls" at The Music Hall at Fair Park exceeds all expectations, and might be the finest night of musical theatre I have seen in Dallas all year.
The 1960s and 70s Motown story of a female singing group (not unlike The Supremes) is highlighted by the tour de force performance of Moya Angela as Effie White. She's a show-stopper in the middle of a stage filled with great voices.
"Dreamgirls" is also staged differently than the Broadway original, now featuring enormous video boards and relective mirrors, working wonders for the audience.
Actors come on and off stage smoothly, and the result is an improved Tony Award-winner.
And then there's the compelling, brilliant performance by Chester Gregory as James Thunder Early. His James Brown knock-off had audience members jumping up and down in the Fair Park aisles.
Every voice, every character in "Dreamgirls" is stellar — even exceeding the popular movie in vocal quality.
What plays like a tent revival of R&B is filled with rich emotions and knock-out talent.
Something special has moved into Dallas, and it's called "Dreamgirls."
Performances of "Dreamgirls" continue through July 18 at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas.
E-mail gcogill@wfaa.com
