Interview: Actor Ryan Carter on West End production of AIN’T TOO PROUD
From the creators of the award-winning Jersey Boys, Ain’t Too Proud tells the story of legendary quintet The Temptations from their humble Detroit beginnings to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We spoke to cast member Ryan Carter who plays Smokey Robinson in the UK premiere production.
You’re currently starring in the much-anticipated UK premiere of Ain’t Too Proud at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. How is everything going?
We’re flying through it and this cast make me howl with laughter on an hourly basis. I’ve been lucky enough to be in a predominantly Black company before, it really does something for the soul. There is so much talent, so much love and so much respect for the story and characters were inhabiting.
You play Smokey Robinson, a role you previously covered in Motown The Musical. Was that what attracted you to the production or was that just a coincidence?
Honestly? A bit of a coincidence! A lot of the early Motown groups evolved from Do-Wop music, which split male voices into vocal parts more distinctly than they do now. So having a fairly decent falsetto meant that I assumed there might be something in Ain’t Too Proud for me. I didn’t know that Smokey was in the show until the job offer came through.
What is a coincidence is that in Motown, I played Eddie Kendricks and Covered Smokey Robinson, and in Ain’t Too Proud, I play Smokey and cover Eddie!
Do you feel a certain amount of pressure to get it right, particularly when you’re portraying someone that’s still alive?
100%! Smokey is integral to the story, but he’s not a major role in this show like he is in Motown The Musical. In Ain’t Too Proud, we span the Temps trajectory from the very start through to 1985 so in this musical, his time with them is over by the end of Act 1! He’s such a recognisable and iconic artist, I want to give him the weight he deserves, whilst focusing most of my energy into showing just how integral he was to the rise of the Temptations. I don’t have to sing as Smokey like I did in Motown so slightly less pressure, but he’s literally a founding father of RnB and Soul - if he makes it over here during our run, I’ll probably implode.
There are some timeless classics in the soundtrack, which one is your favourite?
‘What Becomes of the Broken Hearted’ has been one of my favourite songs (and go to audition pieces) for years now. Kenny’s orchestrations and arrangement of it for this show are pretty special. A new favourite is ‘I’m Losing You’. It’s a banger on its own but where it sits in the story of our show just adds a whole lot of drama and energy that makes it a real moment. Plus, Tosh’s vocals. He eats it!
If you could play any other musical icon (non-gender specific), who would it be and why?
I mean, if they ever give Prince the jukebox musical treatment, I’ll be there with bells on. I love that everything he put out was an experience of some form. He was truly gifted as an artist, and his style?!
Ain’t Too Proud is currently booking at London’s Prince Edward Theatre until 1 October, with tickets available here.