Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations musical is the most electrifying show on Broadway!
Immediately following the opening number, the story unfolds in chaos. Otis Williams, played by Derrick Baskin, is headed down the wrong path and no sooner finds himself in jail. It doesn’t take much inspiration for him to set his path straight as he later mentions during a fight started by Al: “we came too far to go back to that street sh*t.”
We feel that constant tug as Otis is both fighting to resist temptations of his own and fighting to build the number one group in the history of Rhythm & Blues: The Temptations.
Through his reflective tone, he shows compassion for each member—24 singers since the beginning in 1963. And from the start of the narration, he wonders if the rise to fame was worth the cost of losing those closest to him. It’s a deep thought to begin a musical, yet Derrick Baskin helps us to evenly place the tragedies so that we don’t leave saddened but rather in celebration of the historical accomplishments.
The general pacing of the show is quick and seamless from the microphones entering through the moving runway, to the headline of Martin Luther King’s death flashed across the marquee. The props seem to have a voice of their own as they transition with power and intent. They each resemble the precision known exclusively to The Temptations.
Through this pacing–several storylines unfolding through a single number–we truly have a sense of urgency, along with their pressures, and how the history and politics of those times impacted the music. And though Al adds to the turmoil, you sort of miss Jarvis B. Manning Jr.’s stage presence and his sharp moves once he is kicked out of the group. The standout choreography is also especially mastered by Paul Williams (James Harkness) and Melvin Franklin (Jawan M. Jackson), who has a few comical scenes with his seductive, deep voice.
Courtesy of ‘Ain’t Too Proud’
Saint Aubyn, who plays Dennis is far more than a David Ruffin replacement as he enters with a series of countless spins. He steals a few scenes of his own when he is the lead singer for Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone, singing begrudgingly and rolling his eyes toward the song writer, Norman. Also, the scene with David and Dennis is almost like an intended duet as the two battle for the spotlight. The chemistry just works in exemplifying the competition and why so many compared the two voices. They take turns snatching the mic from each other and the tension completes the most hilarious scene.
After a while, David Ruffin’s (Ephraim Sykes) mischief does become quite comical to an extent when the entire group enters stage left on cloud nine. Ruffin just finished getting the entire reunion tour singers high off his drugs. It is hard to regain composure after watching all, even Melvin, engage in such activity.
Each actor completes the enactment of the classic Temptations, but the female voices command the stage, even if for a short moment. For instance, during Johnnie Mae’s (Taylor Symone Jackson) dramatic exit. “Hard feelings, soft feelings,” she says to Otis, “the only thing that matters is the bottom line.” During the musical number, Shout, Johnnie sings a series of runs that cause an uproar in the audience in addition to her marching downstage, plopping her body in the driver’s seat of the Cadillac, glaring back at Otis, then whipping her finely pressed tresses back towards the road. She pulls off, ripping the name from the group, snatching their suits, and finally seizing their car.
And when Josephine (Rashidra Scott) belts out an award-winning sound, the audience simply begs her to stay onstage with their thunderous applause. Outside of I’m Going to Make You Love Me, performed by Eddie (Jeremy Pope), Josephine’s scene is the closest the musical comes to a standing ovation in the middle of the show! These two especially hold their notes the longest and we’re not sure if it’s the finesse in their unique melodies or the fact that they sit in their notes with ease that we find so compelling.
Courtesy of ‘Ain’t Too Proud’
Other crowd favorites seemed to be the musical’s title song, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg, both commencing and finishing with an applause. It might sound strange but, Papa Was a Rollin Stone, Pt. 2, which was used to announce the passing of the members, was also a favorite for the crowd. During Ruffin’s announcement, he jumps at least three feet high, throwing the mic in the air and then drops down into a jazz split just in time to catch the mic. Melvin, on the other hand, leaves off stepping with joy, and Eddie announces his regrets and finally admits his love for Otis from his wheelchair! Their exits, symbolizing each respective death, leaves the greatest imprint on the heart, showing how meaningful the lives and artistry of The Temptations was to humanity.
Ain’t Too Proud is a Broadway musical that pays a special tribute to the life and times of The Temptations. There’s a line in the musical that Otis says, “I never meant to be the last one standing. I thought my brothers would live forever. I guess the only thing that lives forever, is the music.” And the music is still here impacting past and present generations.
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