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Tina Knowles (mother of artist Beyoncé Knowles) chats with
HDIV News Editor Barbara James
By B. James/L. Traiger, HDIV News
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- HIGH DESERT, CA—-‘Ain’t to Proud to Beg’..A powerful and immersive musical experience that is visually stimulating with the cast stepping and harmonizing to the amazing Motown beats. The entire audience is their stage and you are seated in their neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. A seamless flow of memorable soulful music and artistic style will leave you feeling nostalgic–all night long. Therefore, sit back and enjoy a taste of Motown music!
Aint Too Proud to Beg, My Girl, Heard it through the Grapevine, Just my imagination, The way you do the things you do, I wish it would rain, Get Ready, I’m gonna make you love me, Cloud Nine, Ball of Confusion, I Can’t Get Next to you- All these iconic songs, and more were performed, and many got full on sweaty soul stirring, stunning vocals, and fantastically choreographed production numbers that kept the show moving and the audience dancing in their seats.
HDIV News Editor Barbara James with Otis Williams-Temptations
Derrick (Otis Williams), starts with the back story and the rise of the most successful crossover R&B group in history, with Derrick (Otis) seamlessly pivoting between fourth wall narrator and being himself in the story as it unfolds. Of course the story weaves through the Temps rise to the top and also interweaves the African American experience in the 60s including violence against the group as they were touring the deep south and their bus being shot at by the KKK, also the racial unrest in Detroit. Also narrating their experience of the shocking murder of Dr King, singing ‘Oh How I Wish that it Would Rain’. The storyline highlighted their desire to speak up in the late 60s through their songs, while often clashing with their mentor and record producer Berry Gordy. Gordy often expressed that music and politics should be separated.
Motown CEO Barry Gordy with actress
Debbie Allen
The Temptations were among the first black crossover artists to make it big on white Top 40 radio stations and on television, playing “American Bandstand” and “The Ed Sullivan Show” in the early 1960s – along with girl group mega-act The Supremes (and, yes, we hear “Baby Love”..an astounding rendition of the Supremes memorable top tunes ). The Vietnam War, too, gets riveting emotional promotion with just the brief number “War.”
Keeping all this song and dance production moving is the impeccable cast led by Derrick Baskin as Temptations patriarch Otis Williams. James Harkness plays baritone and choreographer Paul Williams, whose tragic story plays out in the second act. Jawan Jackson as deep-voiced bass Melvin “Blue” Franklin, plays the peacemaker of the group. As Eddie Kendricks, Jeremy Pope lends his energetic falsetto singing style to the role. Ephraim Sykes, a former Ailey II dancer, gives
Musical artist John Legend attends opening night
David Ruffin, the early standout lead, plenty of flashy dance moves, including James Brown-like jazz splits, and a egotistical attitude. The group is clad in sharply tailored suits and ensembles filled with the vibrant colors, sequins and shiny sharkskin fabrics that made the 1960s and ‘70s such a definitive fashion era. The clothes, in this case, did make the men: image was essential, noted Berry Gordy (Jahi Kearse), who insisted they always appear as clean-cut gentlemen.
Huge kudos to the remarkable orchestra who played on point and played every Motown hit impeccably.
‘Ain’t Too Proud’, reaches for and succeeds in attaining the artistic excellence and entertainment levels of many outstanding musical stage productions. Don’t miss this superb performance playing at the Ahmanson Theatre until September 30, 2018. Visit www.Ahmansontheater.net/events for tickets.
