9/2/2010 Dreamgilrs

Long before it was a film, “Dreamgirls” was a Tony Award-winning blockbuster musical.

Nearly 30 years and a modest makeover later, the dream is back and it’s better than ever.

Though “Dreamgirls” is a story about the road to stardom traveled by a 1960s girl group, everyone knows this is Effie’s show. “And I Am Telling You …” that if the producers of the film had discovered Moya Angela first, Jennifer Hudson might still be a struggling “American Idol” alum.

With a voice that nearly raises the rafters of the Colonial Theatre, Angela’s Effie is so big and so perfectly over-the-top that you can’t help but hurt when she hurts and practically bust at the seams when she gets revenge. Sure, it’s the best role, complete with a gut-wrenching, show-stopping number, but Angela’s incredible performance really does stop the show, and rightfully so.

In lesser hands, the remaining ensemble could easily be left in the dust. But this extraordinarily talented troupe, including “American Idol” Season 7 second runner-up Syesha Mercado, proves to be up to the challenge with strong vocals, great emotional depth and flawless execution of the show’s updated choreography.

With little more than LED lights and moving panels, the stage is seamlessly transformed over and over as the story unfolds. And make no mistake about it, this remarkable dream is in living color, thanks largely to the sparkles and sequins of William Ivey Long’s colorful costumes.