Broadway national tour of Temptations’ stage story is confusing, hard to follow
May was a “Tempting” month for fans of the iconic music and moves of The Temptations.
The Temptations, in their current incarnation of membership, played an exclusive concert May 14 on stage at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. Then, starting May 24, “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of
The Temptations” began a two-week run at Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St. in Chicago playing through Friday, June 5 for the first national tour since it was unveiled in 2019 on Broadway.
Early on in this new musical, presented by Broadway in Chicago
(and which clocks in at nearly three hours with one intermission), one of the singers, Otis Williams, a deft performance portrayal by Marcus Paul James, good-naturedly reminds the audience: “There’s another reason we’re sometimes called ‘The Temps.’ ” It’s a hint about the many members who have come and gone as members during the group’s incredible 60-plus year career. By my count, more than two dozen singers have had turns as part of the famed five-member Motown created singing sensation that earned a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The real Williams, now age 80 and still performing and touring with today’s talent line-up of The Temptations, provides his own perspective for this new stage telling of The Temptations’ tale of career highs and lows, starting in Detroit for a rise to fame ignited in the 1960s. The signature dance moves and songs like “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and others are all folded into the stage timeline, as penned for this Broadway treatment by Kennedy Prize-winning and threetime Obie Award winning playwright Dominique Morisseau and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, and featuring the Tony Award winning choreography of Sergio Trujillo.
But with so many talented identities and names associated as members of The Temptations over six decades, it all gets rather confusing when trying to convey so many backstories, personal and professional histories and career moments while moving at such a fast pace to fit everything in and neatly presented.
Otis Williams is given the role of narrator, as you would expect, since he is the original voice still representing the group he helped form.
All of the anticipated pitfalls of the show business industry are represented as the demons swirling the group’s members awaiting life’s stumbles, from alcohol and drug use to philandering while on the road to rival egos, illness, neglected spouses and forgotten children.
Back in 1998, de Passe Entertainment (as run by former Motown vice-president Suzanne de Passe) teamed with Hallmark Entertainment to produce “The Temptations,” which was a four-hour television miniseries based on Otis Williams’ published Temptations autobiography. When the miniseries was broadcast in two parts, first covering the group’s history from 1958 to 1968, and then, the years from 1968 to 1995, it was a ratings success that sparked controversy from the other founding members and their families.
Williams’ former wife Josephine Miles, Melvin Franklin’s mother Rose Franklin, David Ruffin’s family, and Johnnie
Mae Matthews all filed lawsuits against Williams, Motown, de Passe and de Passe Entertainment, Hallmark, and NBC for a number of complaints, including defamation. It was Williams’ stance that, although his book was used “as the source material for the film,” he had limited say in the film project.
The Broadway examination also leaves no stone unturned, including, as explained in the Broadway musical, after original member and lead vocalist David Ruffin was ousted from the group because of ongoing conflicts, for a short time he even formed his own Temptations touring group with another ousted former member, adding further confusion for fans and audiences.
For this stage tour, Elijah Ahmad Lewis is in fine vocal form playing Ruffin, as is Harrell Holmes Jr. as bass singer Melvin “Blue” Franklin. The other original members provide solid vocal balance and aptly also slip into their stage identities of Paul Williams, played by James T. Lane, Eddie Kendricks played by Jalen Harris, and later, Harris Matthew as new lead singer Dennis Edwards.
Along the journey, as you sort through all the names and highlight moments, portrayals of Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and Motown’s Berry Gordy in various scenes all leave their own spotlight influence footnotes contributing to The Temptations’ history.
I’m still sorting the who, what, why and how in my head, while marveling at such an incredible career and musical mark with an influence still reaching new generations and eager ears.
Ticket prices range from $29.50 - $116 at www.AintTooProudMusical.com or www.BroadwayinChicago.com or call 800-775-2000.