“Ain’t Too Proud – The Life And Times Of The Temptations” brings great music, synchronized dancing and smooth vocals, along with a dramatic story, to the Fabulous Fox stage, for an all-too-brief run, Friday, May 9 – Sunday, May 11. It is a Mother’s Day treat.
This touring production of the hit Broadway show tells the story of Motown greats, the Temptations, whose vocal harmonies and smooth synchronized dancing set the bar for Motown, and their string of hits, with many Number Ones, was unparalleled.
Since “Jersey Boys,” there has been a string of biographical musicals about either pop groups or individual stars. For some of them, the music is not to every taste, more niche, but the story of the band and it’s members is incredibly dynamic, making for great storytelling. For some others, the music is terrific but either the story behind it or the way the musical tells it does not soar. Fortunately, the Temptations’ music is among the best, nearly irresistible, and their story – and individual stories – so “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life And Times Of The Temptations” is the one biographical band musical that really reaches the heights.
The musical follows their rise from poor Black kids singing on street corners to forming one of the very best groups to come out of Motown and crossover into wider, international fame. The band of five, a lead singer and four back-up, was a partnership, but the idea began with just one teen, Otis Williams (Rudy Foster), who after a stint in juvenile detention, decided to take control of the direction of his life and form a singing group, recruiting the very best singers he could. By eighteen, he and those band mates were on the way to stardom.
One of the first singers Otis recruited was a kid with a big bass voice, Melvin Franklin (a charming, funny Jameson Clanton), who later earned the nickname Blue. Melvin was reluctant to join because of his domineering mother, and told Otis he had to ask her. That prospect would have stopped many a teenage boy, but fearless Melvin asked her, politely, and won her over. Otis, Melvin and another singer, Al Bryant (Robert Crewshaw) formed a band, but soon merged with a duo, Eddie Kendricks (Lowes Moore) and Paul Williams (Bryce Valle). The final touch for the original group was when Al left, and Otis asked golden-throated lead singer David Ruffin (Josiah Travis Kent) to join. The band was first called the Elgins but changed their name under Motown producer Berry Gordy (Kerry D’Jovanni) to the Temptations.
Credit:© 2024 Joan Marcus
But the band was not just back up for Otis; instead he found other singers to put in the fore and made the group’s members all partners, a decision that helped the group endure.
The hits started coming, including many presented in the show, like “Get Ready, Here I Come,” “My Girl,” “I Can’t Get Next To You” and,, of course, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” The show includes later hits, as their style evolved, like “Daddy Was a Rolling Stone.”
The show follows the group through the changes in its members and the changes in musical styles, with them often on the cutting edge of R&B and soul music. There are triumphs a plenty but tragedy too, as the band’s rise and success spanned the tumultuous era of Civil Rights and the Vietnam War and more.
This is the second time this fabulous Broadway hit has visited the Fox, but this current touring cast tops the first one, particularly in the dramatic realm, which lends even more power to its storytelling. The show has the same inventive staging, the same favorite hits and the same wonderful choreography, but this cast makes all that soar even more.
A lot of credit has to go to Rudy Foster as Otis Williams. Otis was the originator and the engine of the group, so in that role Foster is on stage pretty much non-stop, either narrating the story of the band or acting in dramatic scenes or singing and dancing as part of the group.
All cast are standouts for both acting, and singing and dancing. The performances of their hit songs are along the show’s biggest highlights, with gorgeous harmonies and excellent dance moves. Vocally, Josiah Travis Kent Rogers as David Ruffin is a wow, with a soaring voice that honors the singer he is portraying.
The staging is about as perfect as it could be. Some musical numbers features backdrops for the marquees of the many venues they played in their long years touring, starting with a big show at the Fox in Detroit (their were many Fox theaters across the country, thanks to studio head William Fox). For other performances, the back drops feature black and white still photos of audiences of the era. Sets are simple but also perfect, changing quickly as the story moves from location to location.
Costumes are period perfect, and the performance ones, appropriately, are sparkly and sequined, just as the nattily-dressed real Temptations always were on stage.
All in all, this is a delightful show, one of the best of the year. What better Mother’s Day weekend treat than to take her to the Fox for “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life And Times Of The Temptations.”
“Ain’t Too Proud – The Life And Times Of The Temptations” musical is on stage at the Fabulous Fox through May 11, 2025.
© Cate Marquis
