From the very first cowbell and opening of the glittery curtain, I knew that the Dreamgirls gala performance was going to be a special night at The Alexandra Theatre. Filled with all the powerhouse vocals, stunning costumes and sparkly lights, it was a showstopper from start to end. 

Loosely based on Motown artists such as The Supremes and Jackie Wilson, the story follows The Dreams, a young trio from Chicago, in pursuing their dreams to become stars. Filled with setbacks along the way, such as racism and fatphobia, the story tracks real experiences within the music industry in a heart-warming yet honest way. As such, the show was soundtracked with soul, RNB and funk numbers as well as a few power ballads to take you right back to the 1960s. 

What I immediately loved about this show was the staging. As opposed to the clutter that can often overshadow musicals the set was very minimal, utilising sliding metal panels to move the story from the mainstage to backstage at ease. These grilles became the foundation of the show’s mood, switching from being a bright sparkly frame during the opening competition scene, to creating moments of darkness or lighting sections of the stage in more sombre moments. 

After building the audience’s anticipation with such lighting, tight synchronized dance numbers and close harmonies from chorus members, we finally got to see The Dreams themselves. Whilst all three cast members were exceptional, it was clear that Nicole Racquel Dennis, playing the lead singer Effie, was the most astounding vocalist captivating the audience with her dynamic shifts and extraordinary range. 

Having previously only seen the film version, starring Jennifer Hudson, I felt that Dennis had big shoes to fill. Notably she had performed the act one closing number ‘And I Am Telling You’ with Hudson during her time on The Voice and was thus well aware of the character’s legacy. However, Dennis’ interpretation of the song was unlike typical performances that I have previously seen. Beginning extremely softly, far from much of her previous belting, she drew the audience in with incredible vocal control. By the song’s climax she had us all wrapped around her finger, gasping as she momentarily broke down with tears yet maintaining pitch at all times- which is often sacrificed during such emotional performances. I was left with goosebumps and eagerly joined the well-deserved standing ovation, which is rare at the interval, and 5-minute-long applause that followed. 

As the second act took off, the momentum built with every rapid costume change. The Dreams shone in sparkly dresses adorned with feather boas, Twiggy style mini dresses with knee high boots and bright red jumpsuits. In and amongst this, a more tender moment came with Effie’s ballad ‘Changing’ where a grand piano was subtly slid onstage. Unlike the previous inclusion of brass instruments in the dance numbers, which were merely for show, the live piano playing added a level of intimacy to this moment before the rest of the orchestra slowly joined in. 

Other highlights of course included Brandon Lee Seer’s character Jimmy Early, the eccentric, womanising popstar who had the audience laughing at his well-timed gags and gasping at the sheer physicality of his performances. Throwing himself across the stage, even performing gymnastic tumbles at times, it was impossible not to fall in love with his character however flawed. 

By the final song, it was clear that the audience was reluctant to let the show finish, laughing, cheering and applauding at any given moment. The cast too seemed sad to finish, looking longingly back after their final bows and the theatre was left buzzing with the wholehearted happiness that comes from seeing a well executed musical theatre show – there truly is no feeling like it!

Rating: 5/5

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