I didn’t know the story of The Temptations before seeing “Ain’t Too Proud” at the IU Auditorium this Tuesday, but from the first song, I was hooked.
The musical “Ain’t Too Proud” details the journey of the 1960s vocal group The Temptations, starting on the streets of Detroit and following them all the way to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The show is a jukebox musical, meaning it features pre-existing songs, and it brings these classics to life in the most electrifying way.
“Ain’t Too Proud” premiered on Broadway in 2019 and has since toured the United States and had a run on the West End. The production that came to Bloomington is on its second leg of the U.S. National Tour.
The Temptations story is told through the eyes of founder and only surviving member, Otis Williams, played by the triple threat Rudy Foster. Williams serves as our narrator, inviting the audience to learn about the epic highs and lows of the iconic Motown group. And boy, was this musical a rollercoaster.
Fosters’ performance was one of magnetism. He had the heavy task of being a charming storyteller while possessing the depth that was needed to portray the group’s many struggles.
The group got their big break after signing with Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. In the musical, Williams meets him in a bathroom and immediately begins pitching the group, creating a very humorous and unexpected scene.
With success comes a cost. William’s philosophy was the idea that “the whole is always bigger than the sum of its parts.” This was tested throughout the entire show. All decisions needed to be a group vote and under no circumstances would the group have a name like Otis Williams and The Temptations. It was the group, not just one person.
A big moment for the group was the addition of David Ruffin, played by the phenomenal Josiah Travis Kent Rogers. When he joined the group, their entire sound and stage presence changed. Ruffin brought the power with his dynamic voice and stage antics. His killer splits became a staple in their act. Yet, Ruffin brought many challenges. His ego kept growing and it clashed with William’s group-first mindset leading to heavy tensions between members.
Onstage, The Temptations looked phenomenal, always in sync and in perfect harmony. However offstage, the group had other issues of drugs, alcohol and fame were their vices. Soon enough, one by one members were leaving the group, creating a revolving door of members of The Temptations.
The show was incredibly fast paced, if you checked out for one second (which I doubt you ever could), you would miss a major plot point. No scene lasts for more than two minutes and somehow the show leaves room for 31 musical numbers (not all of which include their hits). Alongside hits from The Temptations like “Just My Imagination” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” were from other Motown legends, including Diana Ross and the Supremes and The Isley Brothers.
For Jamal Stone, who stars in the show as Dennis Edwards and is featured in the ensemble, this show is particularly meaningful to him. “Ain’t Too Proud” was the first Broadway musical he had seen.
“I remember bawling my eyes out the entire time,” Stone said. “Just to see joy, greatness, Black joy on stage for two and a half hours - it was unreal.”
With every number, I could hear the faint singing of the audience along with the cast. Hits like “My Girl,” “Shout” and “Get Ready” had the crowd clapping just at the instrumentals. It is music that makes you swoon and makes you understand the mega success that founded The Temptations.
Reflecting on his experience in the production, Stone added, “Now I get my opportunity to relish in this history and in this Black joy and love of the art and share with comrades who feel the same way I do.”
“Ain’t Too Proud” is not just a musical, but a celebration.
Stone said it best, “Joy and Black joy still exists everywhere.”
The musical honors the legacy and the groundbreaking music of The Temptations whilst also offering an honest look behind the scenes at their struggles. “Ain’t Too Proud” is a great reminder of the spirit that shaped the Motown era and the music that is beloved worldwide.
