Dreamgirls: A Sneak Preview

Shabaka
July 5 2006, 4:12AM

Oh my god...Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, Oba Babatunde,...Now I know why there amongst my favorites african american actors...Damn...That was an amazing performance.And to top it all off, that was my fave song of hers!!
Thanks again,Keith!!!

Paul
July 5 2006, 10:31AM

I am looking forward to the movie, pity it wasn't released this summer instead..

Tyler
July 5 2006, 10:45AM

Whatever. Jennifer will do fine.

Let's talk about how they re-wrote the second and third acts. Let's talk about whether or not Beyonce can handle such challenging vocal material when it's clear to anyone who knows about singing that she doesn't have the greatest control.

This movie is probably going to be a disaster. The thing that irritates me the most is that folks don't seem to be up in arms about the re-writing of the musical. And the addition of some "pop" songs for Beyonce to perform as Beyonce. And Eddie Murphy's casting?

But no no, let's harp on Jennifer who is a phenomenal vocal talent who will do her best. Of course she won't be Jennifer Holliday, but she shouldn't be. Given that the script has been re-written there is no reason to compare them now. I wouldn't be surprised if her character is completely gutted to ensure Beyonce is queen bee.

Zeus
July 5 2006, 11:08PM

Wow, I've never seen Dreamgirls and I must say that was an awesome performance on Youtube. Of course Jennifer Hudson will never be able to fill the shoes of Effie, but I think she will be alright.

And Sheryl Lee Ralph has already come out swinging about them casting Beyonce. In so many words she said that Beyonce wasn't dark enough. It amazes me how black folk are still caught up in the light skin vs. dark skin debate.

Reality
July 6 2006, 6:54PM

I'm not suprised that blacks are still caught up with light vs. dark skin.

Most of soft-voiced/non-singing divas of R&B today are light skinned.

Ciara,Tierra Marie,Cassie and Rhianna all sound like garbarge, but are blowing up the R&B charts.

That should tell you something.

augustine Hawkins
July 8 2006, 12:29PM

i remember coming to NY in the eighties from London specifically to see Dreamgirls.i think i must have seen it nearly two dozens times - mostly matinees,standing at the back,but often when i could from the stalls.
i can confirm that Jennifer Holiday's performance was a tour de force,but to suggest that she managed this every day (twice on matinee days) is not true.
She was often replaced by her understudy due to exhaustion - hence my continued visits.
'I am telling you' ended the first act and the audience were on their feet at every performance,Miss Holiday or Understudy -
There were other black shows around this time such as Sophisticated Ladies,featuring the sublime and much missed Phyliss Hyman and Your Arms Too Short To Box With God,with Patti Labelle and Al Green.

Darrell Diggins
July 9 2006, 3:05AM

I'm afraid I might jinx my high expectations of Dreamgirls as a motion picture by admitting how eager I am to see the movie this coming December. Bad press or good press, hype or hum, I will be there--less for Beyonce than for Jennifer and Anika. (And also for Jamie and Eddie.)

Of course, Jennifer II (Hudson) could never be seriously compared to Jennifer I (Holliday). Ms. Holliday's vocal gifts, and in particular her performance of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going," is sui generis, without peer. (Shirley Murdock's forgettable cover of the song in 1987 long ago confirmed that.)

Still, given all the marquee-name actors in the movie, good production values are assured, which means everyone will sound and look better than s/he actually is: hair "did," "beat" faces, sequins and furs. Black pageantry.

I only hope (as Tyler mentioned,) that Hudson's "Effie" isn't gutted for the magnification of Beyonce's "Deena." That would be a supreme disappointment.

anthony
July 9 2006, 3:35PM

Can't wait to see the movie, I do wish that it came out a little early for the summer hits though.

Shalonda jackson
October 9 2006, 4:20PM

People are still in this day being too hard on Beyonce. You know damned well that you are going to the movie for her. Whether it is to do well or fail. It is to see her. As far as saying that she cannot sing, that is B.S. You know she has pipes, if not, she would not have been granted the opportunities that she has like National Anthem, Oscars, lead of all girl group.

Most importantly, this woman is as humble as can be and is just trying to accomplish her dreams in life and still has to listen to haters like yourself try and still her thunder.

Phyllis Scott
December 17 2006, 9:48PM

Back in the early eighties, I ran the summer activities program at one of the major colleges in New Jersey. A major portion of the summer was dedicated to Broadway Shows. I scheduled two for Dreamgirls. Each time, the under study Lillias White was performing. I remember she did a great job. But I was disappointed that Jennifer Holliday was not appearing those times for it was she everybody wanted to see in our group. Thanks, Augustine Hawkins, for letting me know why--exhaustion. She deserved her days off. The good news is--I did eventually catch her performance later in the fall. She tore the house down! A standing ovation and BRAVOs! shouted loudly!
I look forward to seeing Ms. Hudson's performance. It's digusting that vicious gossip surrounding Beyonce being jealous or Fantasia being jealous of Jennifer has to blight Dreamgirls. It's just more fodder for the hatemongers!