listings u – repeated STAGE REVIEW
DREAMGIRLS Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Tue 19 Apr
Opening on Broadway in 1981, the musical Dreamgirls played for nearly four years and won several Tonys, but didn’t come to Britain until its 2016 run in the West End. Now that Olivier-winning production’s tour has taken it to the Wales Millennium Centre.
The Dreams (later Deena Jones And The Dreams) are a 1960s soul girl group, rising up to become one of the most successful girl groups in the country – but to the detriment of friendship. Famously based on successful soul and R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles and James Brown, audiences have likened the storyline to the real biography of Diana Ross.
Nicole Raquel Dennis is phenomenal as Effie White. Her performance is magnetic: you can’t take your eyes off her even when she’s not the focus of the scene, although her character arc ensures a consistently pivotal presence. She is missed from the start of the second act, although not to the detriment of the other actors – you simply want to see what’s happened to her character – and her big song, And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going, will give you chills. Never mind the fact that Effie is a bit abrasive, indeed a total diva – we want her to come out on top.
Of the other Dreams, Paige Peddie’s Lorrell Robinson – ‘the funny one’, if not overtly hilarious – is a standout. Of Dreamgirls’ male characters, Dom Hartley-Harris is suitably unlikeable as Curtis Taylor Jr, the manager/husband and former car salesman; Shem Omari James is sweet as C.C. White, songwriter and brother of Effie.
Brandon Lee Sears, as Jimmy “Thunder” Early, sticks longest in the mind: his character goes from an energetic composite of James Brown and Little Richard to the slightly tragic figure whose star is fading as the girls’ rises. It’s a shame the show ends with this character on a down note: we want to know what happens to him.
The live orchestra really sells the soul/R&B of the show, while retaining the Broadway/West End feel. Lighting, set and costume design takes us from the beginnings at The Apollo, through convincingly recreated 60s music television, through to the Las Vegas of the following decade. Dreamgirls might be 40 years old, but it doesn’t feel like it – the music it pays homage to is timeless.
words CHRIS WILLIAMS photo MATT CROCKETT
Talbot. 8pm, £27.50. Info 01639 763214. “Ed Byrne presents his brand-new mas- terclass in observational comedy hot on the heels of his 17/18 Touring hit, Spoiler Alert!” I think it’s good when these now- painfully-out-of-date tour blurbs remain online unaltered. Jasper Carrott Venue Cymru, Llandudno. 7.30pm, £24.50. Info 01492 872000. Veteran comedian with a set, Stand Up And Rock, that pairs him with a backing band featuring ELO and Ocean Colour Scene guys.
Robin Morgan + Christian Schulte- Loh + Zahra Barri Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £10.50. Info 0871 4720400 All In Comedy night. Tickets are £6.50 NUS and there’s one more comic TBC.
FRIDAY 13 MAY
uA Hero Of The People Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £20. Info 029 2064 6900. A rewrite or “reimagining” of Ibsen’s An Enemy Of The People, by Brad Birch. On at 7.30pm only on Fri 13, Sat 14, Wed 18-Sat 21, Tue 24, Wed 25 and Fri 27; 6:30 pm on Mon 16 and Mon 23; 7pm on Tue 17 (sold out); 2pm and 7.30pm on Thurs 26 and Sat 28. No per- formances on Sun 15 and Sun 22. (Until Sat 28)
(performed by Telford Priory School), Lisa Goldman’s Cable Street (performed by Ysgol Aberconwy and Aberystwyth Arts Centre) and Katie Hims’ Variations (per- formed by Mid Powys Youth Theatre). Nick Page + Col Howarth + Ben Harrington + Sian Fisher + Kirsty Davies + Drew Taylor Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01443 491424. Clwb Comedy night. Shine Bright Miners Institute, Blackwood. 6.30pm, £10. 01495 227206. Showcase by the Emerald Academy Of Performing Arts.
The Simon & Garfunkel Story Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £19.50. Info 01874 611622. Musical about folk-rock duo.
SUNDAY 15 MAY
Al Murray New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £31.50. Info 03433 100041. Exciting Science Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2pm, £10.50. Info 01656 815995. Science show for youngsters. Rescheduled from April 2021. Henning Wehn Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot. 7.30pm, £22.50. Info 01639 763214. German comedian whose gimmick is being German.
Al Murray Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 7.30pm, £28.50. Info 01656 815995. Pub Landlord with the first of two Welsh dates, the other being in Cardiff on Sun 15 May. See Upfront for an interview. Ben Van Der Velde + Paul Thorne + Christian Schulte-Loh + Jo Enright Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £17.50/£9 NUS. Info 0871 4720400. With various meal deals. On tomorrow also (£21/£13.50 NUS).
Lunchtime Family Comedy Show Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 2.30pm, £10.50/£7 kids. Info 0871 4720400. Featuring Ben Van Der Velde, Foxdog Studios and one more TBC.
Buried Thunder: Ibeji Volcano, Swansea. 1 + 5pm, £5. Info 01792 464790. Part of a series of 30-minute performance/ art pieces titled Solo Duets For The Future. This one is from a physical theatre compa- ny and takes place at 1pm and 5pm on Fri 13 May; 1pm and 3pm on Sat 14. Count Arthur Strong The Stiwt, Wrexham. 7.30pm, £21. Info 01978 841300.
Draenen Ddu Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda. 7pm, £10. Info 01248 208485. Theatr Bara Caws present a Welsh translation of Charley Miles’ play Blackthorn. Scott Bennett The Riverfront, Newport. 8pm, £16.50. Info 01633 656757. Standup who does all the normal TV show stuff. uThe Gruffalo Theatr Clwyd, Mold. 4.30pm, £10. Info 01352 344101. Kids’ show based on kids’ book. On at 4.30pm on Fri 13 May; 1.30pm and 4.30pm on Sat 14 May; 10.30am and 1.30pm on Sun 15 May. (Until Sun 15) uThe Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Venue Cymru, Llandudno. 7.30pm, £23. Info 01492 872000. Classic novel adapted for the stage by Blackeyed Theatre and South Hill Park. On tomorrow also.
Paul Merton Impro Chums Venue Cymru, Llandudno. 8pm, £26. Info 01492 872000. Live comedy impro(visation) show that’s been going for quite a while now, though not as long as Whose Line Is It Anyway?, with which it shares its personnel.
MONDAY 16 MAY
National Dance Company Wales: One Another Pontio, Bangor. 7.30pm ,£14. Info 01248 382828. Three new dance productions: Ludo by Caroline Finn, Codi by Anthony Matsena and a new work by Andrea Costanzo Martini. uSchool Of Rock Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £19.50. Info 029 2063 6464. Hit musical based on the movie and made stageworthy by Andy Lloyd-Webber. Postponed from 2021. On at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Thurs 19 and Sat 21. Tickets: £19.50-£45.50, Mon 16-Thurs 19; £24.50-£52.50, Fri 20 and Sat 21. (Until Sat 21)
TUESDAY 17 MAY
The_Crash.TestWales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 8pm, £12. Info 029 2063 6464. Hijinx present a cautionary theatrical tale about our contemporary rela- tionship with technology. Also on at this venue on Fri 24 June. uTwirlywoos Theatr Clwyd, Mold. 4.30pm, £10. Info 01352 344101. Kids’ show. On at 4.30pm on Fri 13 May; 1.30pm and 4.30pm on Fri 20 May; 1.30pm and 4.30pm on Sat 21 May.
SATURDAY 14 MAY
Diversity Motorpoint Arena Cardiff. 1.30pm, £34.35. Info 029 2022 4488. Rescheduled from May 2021. Note the lunchtime start if you’re planning to go. Gary Delaney Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. 8pm, £20.. Info 01239 621200/ Comedian with a show titled Gary In Punderland. National Theatre Connections Festival 2022 Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 5.30pm, free. Info 01970 623232. Part of a UK-wide festival of new theatre work, this evening will feature debuts of three productions: Stef Smith’s Remote
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Discover Dance Pontio, Bangor. 1pm, £8. Info 01248 382828. Interactive dance show from National Dance Company Wales. In Cardiff on Fri 20 and Sat 21. Milky Peaks Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £17. Info 01874 611622. uRevolt. She Said. Revolt Again. The Other Room, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10. Info
otherroomtheatre.com. First show for The Other Room in over two years, and likely to be one of the last in this building before they get booted out so the building’s owners can make Cardiff a worse place for everyone except themselves, this play is by Alice Birch, who worked on Normal People quite recently. It’s billed as “a raw, bold and experimental piece about modern womanhood that interrogates and challeng- es traditions of language, behaviour and relationships”. On at 3pm and 7.30pm on Sat 21 and Sat 28 May; 5.30pm on Sun 29 May. No performances on Sun 22 or Mon 23 May. (Until Sun 29) uRock Of Ages New Theatre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15-£42.50. Info 03433 100041. Rock-themed musical, rescheduled from August 2021. On at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Wed 18; 8.30pm only on Fri 20; 2.30pm and 8.30pm on Sat 21; 7.30pm only all other days. Tickets are £18-£40 from Tue 17-Thurs 19 (evening shows only) plus Sat 21 (matinee show only); £15-£27 on Wed 18 (matinee show only); £21-£42.50 on Fri 20 and Sat 21 (evening show only).
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