It started on Broadway with a smash musical hit. Then came a great Hollywood film. Now “Dreamgirls” is in Los Angeles at the MET Theatre. DOMA Theatre Company has done it once again. Time after time DOMA has emerged as the theatre company for its consistent breath taking stellar presentations. The latest offering “Dreamgirls” Directed by Marco Gomez is yet another glowing example of what musical theatre should be. As the cast came forward for curtain call my eyes welled with tears of great joy – it was that good.
The “Dreamgirls” story is based loosely on or perhaps more correctly was inspired by the super group Diana Ross and the Supremes. “Dreamgirls” begins as many of the greatest performers have at the fabled Apollo Theater in Harlem (NYC), New York. Three young female singers from Chicago have come to be in a talent contest, a contest they plan on winning. But victory is stolen from them through evil manipulation. Not all is lost as they reluctantly accept a background role for one of the major R&B singers of the day. Eventually stardom comes but at a high price of friendship broken,
The audience is drawn into the murky world of pop music stardom with its bribes and payola and manipulations. The dark reality reaches out that talent alone does not create nor sustain stardom. There is also a price for fame and fortune. It is a riveting story masterfully told by a mega talented cast anyone one of whom could easily equal anyone on Broadway. True the entire cast is of the highest possible caliber speaking yet again to the sharp eyes and keen ears of Marco Gomez, Dolf Ramos and Michael Abramson. But there is one utterly amazing stand out and she is Constance Jewell Lopez in the role of Effie White. Constance Jewel Lopez has the voice of an angel, a very powerful angel. When she sings you listen in rapture and awe.
It was also inescapably obvious that the show producers spared no expense on costuming; It was eye popping dazzlingly in amazing abundance and variety. This matters because it draws the audience into the pop star world were image is always everything.
Musical Director Chris Raymond once again made his relatively diminutive band sound much larger than it was and provided the perfect accompaniment to the many varied songs of the show.
There are many theatre venues in Los Angeles. Some are the gorillas in the room; Pantages and Ahmanson for instance. Others are more modest but still impressive like The Colony in Burbank and El Portal in North Hollywood and there are dozens of cozy 99 seat theatres all around town, but due to the immeasurable talents within the DOMA Theatre Company some of the very best in theatrical entertainment in Los Angeles can be found at the MET Theatre in Hollywood. The current production of “Dreamgirls” is one of the very best of the best. If you love musical theatre “Dreamgirls” at the MET is a must see, hear and deeply enjoy. But do hurry because as has become the norm for DOMA Productions available seats are selling out fast. That observation brings me to my one big criticism of DOMA. Guys, it is time to move on to a larger venue. That said do see “Dreamgirls” now by going on line to www.domatheatre.com or calling 323-802-4990. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sunday’s at 3:00 pm now through April 14th.
Please take a mere moment and subscribe to this Examiner. Thanks.
Comments