'Dreamgirls' Performers Provide a Breakout Hit

Jennifer who? In Northwest High School's production of "Dreamgirls," the only Effie White on audience members' minds was that of Ines Nassara, who delivered a breakout performance comparable to that of Misses Holliday and Hudson.

"Dreamgirls," which has experienced a bit of a stage revival since the 2006 film version, is the kind-of-true, kind-of-fictional story of the famous Motown group the Supremes and, to a lesser extent, of Motown itself. Of course, the names have been changed to protect the innocent. This is actually the story of the Dreams and the nameless record label they are signed to, managed by the ruthless Berry Gordy Jr. doppelganger Curtis Taylor Jr. (played by Dereck Paul).

Concerned only with mainstream success, Curtis relegates the Dreams' powerhouse lead singer Effie to backup while promoting the fairer, thinner and more pop-music-voiced Deena Jones (Anuja Joshi) to lead. After the temperamental Effie is exiled from the group, she continues to struggle for her big break while the Dreams achieve worldwide renown. But success demands conformity, and those in the spotlight are left with no artistic room to breathe.

Fittingly enough, in a show about showbiz, the praise belongs to the performers. Nassara made Effie White her own, especially in the pivotal number "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going." Delivering the first half of the song with quiet restraint while barely holding back tears, Nassara gave Effie's impassioned plea new dimensions before belting out the finish.

Also notable were Yazid Gray and Justine Moral as on-again, off-again lovers James "Thunder" Early and Lorrell Robinson. Both brought a perfect blend of comedy and pathos to their performances. Gray demonstrated the natural charisma and vitality of the soul singer, and his subsequent resentment toward the stifling conventions imposed by Curtis. Moral was a riot as the bubbly and overeager Robinson who idolizes Early, but was able to turn her adoration sour in the second act, impeccably capturing the frustration of the "other woman."

The concept of the staging was unique: All of the Dreams' concerts and performances took place on Northwest's stage, but most of the off-stage drama occurred on the fringes of the stage. Though an interesting approach, this sometimes meant that catching crucial plot points depended on where you were seated. Additionally, by positioning the action closer to the orchestra pit, dialogue was occasionally lost to incidental music. For the most part, though, the cast's flawless vocals held their own.

Overall, Northwest High School's "Dreamgirls" was a great showcase of its stars' vocal prowess -- and it sure beat spending a night watching "American Idol."

Madelaine Gaw

Gaithersburg High School