| "Ain’t
Too Proud– The Life and Times of The Temptations"
 |
| L-R: Ephraim Sykes, Jawan M. Jackson,
Jeremy Pope, Derrick Baskin, and James Harkness in AIN'T TOO
PROUD. Photo by Matthew Murphy. |
Opened
March 21, 2019
At Imperial Theatre - 249 West 45 Street, New York.
Directed
by Des McAnuff
Tickets: $89
Online Ain’tTooProudMusical.com
or www.nytw.org - 212-239-6200
Running time: 180 minutes.
Reviewed by Paulanne Simmons.
In recent juke box musicals based on the lives of
a single personality (Cher and Donna Summer) we have seen several
actresses playing the star at different stages of her life. But
in "Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations,"
the subject of the musical actually is several different personalities.
So, if in the first case, the musical presents the one as many,
in the second case the show presents the many as one. Thus "Ain't
Too Proud" is really about how the group survived and triumphed
even while some of its members did not.
In fact the story behind "Ain't Too Proud," as told by
book writer Dominique Morisseau, is mostly a story of the music
and not the men. This is both a strength and a weakness in the show.
To be sure, the music of The Temptations is some of the best that
ever came out of Motown. Songs like "My Girl," "Ain't
Too Proud to Beg" and "Just My Imagination (Running Away
with Me)" are iconic and unforgettable. Director Des McAnuff,
along with music director Kenny Seymour and choreographer Sergio
Trujillo, has brought that era spectacularly back to life.
On the other hand, when the Temps are not singing, the show loses
much of its pizzazz. We get to know Otis Williams (Derrick Baskin),
the founder of the group, best. His narration recounts his life
from his beginnings as a Detroit street hustler to his discovery
of music and rise to fame. His personal life, however, suffers,
despite the success of his career. When Otis learns his girlfriend
Josephine (Rashidra Scott) is pregnant, he marries her way before
he's ready to settle down. His son resents his father's frequent
absences.
 |
| L-R: Christian Thompson, Saint Aubyn, Ephraim
Sykes, Jeremy Pope, Derrick Baskin, and Jawan M. Jackson in
AIN'T TOO PROUD. Photo by Matthew Murphy. |
The show also follows the various personal problems that plagued
the other members of the group.
Otis Paul Williams (James Harkness, Curtis Wiley capably stepping
in the night I saw the show) wages an unsuccessful battle with alcoholism.
David Ruffin (Ephraim Sykes) physically abuses his girlfriend, singer
Tammi Terrell (Nasia Thomas). But we never learn enough about these
men to give us a clear picture of who they are or why we should
care about them. Other members of the group don't really stand out
at all.
"Ain't Too Proud" does give us a glimpse, if not a complete
picture, of the music scene in Detroit during the 60s and 70s. There's
the magisterial Berry Gordy (Jahi Kearse) of Motown Records, whom
Otis meets in a Detroit men's room; the legendary Smokey Robinson
(Christian Thompson), the genius behind many Motown hits;
and The Temptations' white manager, Shelly Berger (Joshua Morgan).
Nevertheless, the music is what makes this show worth seeing. There
are times when the songs seem too fragmented and we just want to
hear more. But what we do see is quite enough to bring us back to
a time when melody, rhythm and lyrics combined to keep our hands
clapping, or feet moving and our hearts racing.
"The
only satisfying climax came at curtain call"
 |
| L-R: Ephraim Sykes, Jeremy
Pope, Jawan M. Jackson, James Harkness, and Derrick Baskin in
AIN'T TOO PROUD. Photo by Matthew Murphy. |
Opened: March 21, 2019 – Open Ended Run
Imperial Theater, 249 West 45th Street, New York City
212-239-6200, Aint Too ProudMusical.Com
Reviewed by Edward Rubin.
There are few examples of jukebox musicals – a denigrating
term if ever – that have blown me away. In fact, without over
taxing my brain, Jersey Boys, which dramatizes the formation, success
and eventual break-up of the 1960s rock ‘nroll group The Four
Seasons is the only jukebox musical of import that immediately comes
to mind.
Directed by Des McAnuff, and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, Jersey
Boys opened on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre to rave reviews
in November 2005. Winning four Tony Awards, one for Best Musical,
after 4642 performances it closed in January 2017.
Not surprisingly (most likely not to its producers) it reopened
eight months later Off Broadway at the New World Stages where it
is currently playing to full houses.
Aint Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, another jukebox
musical, also helmed by the Des McAnuff and Sergio Trujillo duo
opened this past March at the Imperial Theater on Broadway. No doubt
Des and Sergio, and the musicals 43 producers (all listed in the
program) are hoping to duplicate the success of Jersey Boys.
 |
| L-R: Derrick Baskin, Jeremy
Pope, Jawan M. Jackson, Ephraim Sykes, and James Harkness in
AIN'T TOO PROUD. Photo by Matthew Murphy. |
I wish that I could say that Aint Too Proud turned me inside out
and sent me directly to heaven. But if the truth be told the first
act is a painful 30 minutes too long, and Dominique Morisseaus mechanically
written fact-filled book based on the groups original founder Otis
Williams 1988 memoir – lots of I did that and he did that
and then we all did that – is as engaging as bad coffee and
a failed omelet on a gray day.
Worse! The musicals thirty one songs, less than a half a handful
sung in their entirety, was a two and a half hour musical coitus
interruptus. In fact, for me, the only satisfying climax came at
curtain call when all the super-talented performers, along with
the musicals superb musicians, took their well-earned bows. Yes!
A vociferous standing ovation – a Broadway musical tradition
for a number of decades – thundered throughout the house.
On the sugary upside – an obvious embarrassment of riches
– every person on stage, some playing double roles, some just
standing and looking good, could act, dance, and sing to a fare
thee well. Adding extra-high voltage were the voices of the lead
Temptations. A few could shatter glass and affect sudden and unexpected
James Brown splits, all of which had the audience yelling and screaming,
just as if they had never seen or heard such singular goings on
before.
 |
| The Supremes and cast of
Broadway's AIN'T TOO PROUD. Photo by Matthew Murphy. |
Unlike the Jersey Boys whose format had each of the band members
giving their own perspective on the groups history and music, or
The Cher Show, and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, which featured
three Chers and three Donnas, each representing different time period
in the stars life, the Temptations features the groups original
founder Otis Williams (neatly channeled by Derek Baskin) to shepherd
us through the history of groups six decades.
With many twists and turns, the journey begins on the streets of
Detroit, passes through the countrys civil unrest during the late
sixties (think Viet Nam protests and the Assassination of Martin
Luther King), tours the segregated south, the Temptations 42 top
ten hits, and 14 number one songs, a crack party sequence in which
ostensibly Otis was the only member to not partake, to the Hall
of Fame and beyond. The story mainly revolves around the groups
earliest five members and a few of their replacements, this due
to booze, drugs, suicide, illness, and ego problem.
Adding a dollop of historical fluff in minor roles and cameos is
Motowns Barry Gordy (Jahi Kearse), and Smokey Robinson (Christian
Thompson). As far as Motowns female contingent, getting to show
their singing chops just a wee bit are the Supremes inhabited by
(Candice Marie Wood (a superb Diana Ross), Nasia Thomas (Florence
Ballard), Taylor Symone Jackson (Mary Wells), and Tammi Terrell
(Nasia Thomas), who died of brain cancer at twenty-four. One of
the musicals sadder notes, she gets to share half a song with one
the Temptations.
 |
| L-R: Christian Thompson,
Saint Aubyn, Ephraim Sykes, Jeremy Pope, Derrick Baskin, and
Jawan M. Jackson in AIN'T TOO PROUD. Photo by Matthew Murphy. |
With many twists and turns, the journey begins on the streets of
Detroit, passes through the country’s civil unrest during
the late sixties (think Viet Nam protests and the Assassination
of Martin Luther King), tours the segregated south, visits the Temptations’
42 top ten hits and 14 number one songs, shows a crack party sequence
in which ostensibly Otis was the only member to not partake, and
reaches the Hall of Fame and beyond. The story mainly revolves around
the group’s earliest five members and a few of their replacements,
this due to booze, drugs, suicide, illness, and ego problems.
Jawan M. Jackson as Melvin Franklin, with a shaking the rafters
bass brings needed wit and much laughter as his sonorous voice,
emerging at the proper times, his voice sinks lower than is humanly
possible. Unfortunately, health issues lay him low. Jeremy Popes,
(Eddie Kendrick),is the always questioning cynic of the group. His
high notes during Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) and
"Get Ready" just about pierce the theatres ceiling.
James Harkness, as Paul Williams, another Classic Fiver, in losing
a battle with alcohol commits suicide at 34. His singing For Once
In My Life with loads of heart-rending emotion is a standout.
And of course, the last one standing is Derrick Baskins Otis Williams
who at 77 is still out there performing with the Temptations. A
little known fact, and I am tossing it in for fun, the thrice wed
Williams was once engaged to Patti LaBelle. She ended the engagement
when he wanted her to quit music and become a housewife. You Go
Patti!
As far as the productions technical prowess, Paul Tazewells costume
design, the spiffy signature looking suits of the Temptations was
letter perfect. The set (Robert Brill) with its revolving turn table,
simple furniture when needed, and muted gray colors, and Howard
Binkleys lighting design, did no harm to the production. As far
as Sergio Trujillos choreography, well, his hands were tied from
the git-go. After the first half dozen beautiful and smoothly choreographed
songs, and there were some two dozen and a half, tedium began to
set in. I mean how many uniquely different hands, legs, and body
movements can you stomach before you go bonkers.
The good news for Temptation lovers is that the seemingly never
ending group, is still touring, and releasing albums both old and
new. Their touring schedule and album list can be found on their
website http://www.temptationsofficial.com/tour/
 |
L-R: Ephraim Sykes, Jawan
M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope, Derrick Baskin, and James Harkness
in AIN'T TOO PROUD. Photo by Matthew Murphy.
|
Cast: Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan
M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope, Ephraim Sykes, Saint Aubyn, Shawn Bowers,
E. Clayton Cornelious, Taylor Symone Jackson, Jehi Kearse, Jarvis
B. Mannonmg Jr., Joshua Morgan, Rashiidra Scott, Nasia Thomas, Christian
Thompson, Candice Marie Woods.
Technical: Music Direction and Arrangements, Kenny
Seymour; orchestrations, Harold Wheeler; sets, Robert Brill; costumes,
Paul Tazewell; lighting, Howell Binkley; sound, Steve Canyon Kennedy;
projections, Peter Nigrini; production stage manager, Molly
Meg Legal; stage manager, Jay Carey.
Producers: Ira Pittelman, Tom Hulce, Berkeley Repertory
Theatre, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, EMI Entertainment World, Inc.,
Josh Berger, Ken Schur, Ron Simons, Stephen Byrd, Alia Jones, Ruth
& Steve Hendel, Cheryl Wiesenfeld, Harriet Newman Leve, Jeffrey
Finn, Stephen & Nancy Gabriel, Darren Bagert, David Binder,
Wendy Federman, Susan Quint Gallin, Mickey Liddell, Robert Ahrens,
Christopher Maring, David Mirvish, Stacy Jacobs, Marianne Mills,
Loraine Alterman Boyle, deRoy-Winkler, Karmazin-McCabe, Koenigsberg-Krauss,
Zell-Kierstead, Deborah Taylor, Robyn & Larry Gottesdiener,
The Araca Group, Rashad V. Chambers, Mike Evans, Hani Farsi, The
John Gore Organization, Mike Karns, Willette & Manny Klausner,
Gabrielle Palitz, No Guarantees, Sheldon Stone, Stuart Weitzman
and Universal Music Theatrical.
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