AIN’T TOO PROUD - REVIEW OF SPECTACULAR MUSICAL AT CAA ED MIRVISH THEATRE

Reviewed by James Karas

ain’t too proud – The Life and Times of THE TEMPTATIONS is a spectacular musical that tells what the title indicates. It is in Toronto for a short run at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre. It will run from December 7 to 17, 2023. Mirvish’s effusive blurb describes the show as “the electrifying new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.” 

The musical premiered in Berkeley, California in 2017 and it played in Toronto for more than a month in the fall of 2018 at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Its current brief visit to Toronto is welcome and undoubtedly successful. For those who keep track of our national artists, they should know that the production is directed by Des McAnuff. He is a master of grand musicals and this is just one of them.

The Temptations are five talented black singers and dancers who have been around with numerous changes since 1960. They sing with gusto and dance at the same time with unstoppable energy that may put Olympic athletes to shame. Their performance consists of a series of song and dance routines that leaves the audience breathless, let alone how the performers find the strength and stamina to last for more than two hours on stage.

The group was the creation of Otis Williams, a Texas-born bass-baritone who was raised in Detroit. The musical is based on his autobiography and the story of the group is told by Williams. He tells us that there have been 27 members of the group since its inception but the original five were Otis Williams (Michael Andreaus), David Ruffin (Elijah Ahmad Lewis), Melvin Franklin (Harrell Holmes Jr.), Eddie Kendricks (Jalen Harris), and Paul Williams (E. Clayton Cornelious).

Elijah Ahmad Lewis, Jalen Harris, Michael Andreaus, Harrell Holmes Jr., 
E. Clayton Cornelious from the National Touring Company of Ain’t Too Proud 
(Photo: © 2023 Emilio Madrid

I cannot overemphasize the performances of the original five and some of the replacements that we see that display vocal strength and athletic ability in dancing and singing.

The musical also features The Supremes, Diana Ross (Amber Mariah Talley), Florence Ballard (Shayla Brielle G.) and Mary Wilson (Brittney Smith)

We are treated to more than two dozen songs and you can judge their familiarity and popularity by the audience’s reactions.

The Supremes sing a medley of songs including "You Can't Hurry Love" and "Come See About Me."

With five talented people and many changes in the makeup of the group there are inevitable conflicts. David Ruffin sings with Tammi Terrell (Shayla Brielle G.) and ends up striking her. There is alcoholism, drug addiction, vehement arguments, ego trips and separations. There is also death, including Otis’s son, and a funeral, the full cycle of life. Otis Williams as our host relates the events to us but that is just background information. They then burst into song and dance with vocal fervor and athletic movements, arms flailing, feet moving frantically, all synchronized, impressive, entertaining.

Sergio Trujillo provides the over-the-top, boisterous  choreography. The scenic design by Robert Brill consists of a backdrop indicating the place where The Temptations are performing but also the names of the cities that they toured. It is a fine indicator of the supreme success of the group that they performed not just in numerous American cities but practically around the world.
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Ain’t too proud, The life and times of The Temptations  by Dominique Morisseau (book) based on Otis Williams’ autobiography The Temptations, with music and lyrics from The Legendary Motown Catalogue, played at The CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St. Toronto, Ontario. www.mirvish.com

James Karas is the Senior Editor, Culture of The Greek Press