Review: AIN’T TOO PROUD, Kimmel Cultural Campus - US National Tour

Photo credit: Emilio Madrid

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations is a jukebox musical that celebrates over 60 years of musical history, where the highs were unprecedented but the lows were crippling. If you like a happy ending, you may want to leave during the intermission but you would miss some of the best music of the 20th century. The musical’s 31-song score includes every Temptations hit, as well as many other Motown classics, which makes it feel more like a concert than a musical.

Ain’t Too Proud was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and choreography by Sergio Trujilo, and the dancing is truly phenomenal. Fair warning, it may be difficult to leave because people will be dancing in the aisles during and after the show!

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations follows the autobiography of Otis Williams, the founder and only Temptation to remain in the group for the entirety of their life span. Since the 1960’s, there have been over 27 Temptations that have rotated in and out of the spotlight, but Ain’t Too Proud focuses mostly on the original five in the lineup: Otis Williams, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin and Paul Williams. While the first act of the show illustrates how they came together from various vocal duos and quartets to working their way into one of the most integrated and popular R&B groups of all time, despite the turbulent civil rights movement exploding around them, in the second act, the band members’ mental health and addiction issues become overwhelming, and members quit or are fired as Otis Williams narrates what is happening within the group and larger political landscape. There are moments of darkness, depth and poignancy but because of the large cast, it is impossible to delve too far into any one situation or scenario.

Ain’t Too Proud features an incredible 21 cast members and a live band that is integral to the performance. Michael Andreaus plays Otis, whose memoirs are the basis of the musical. He is on stage for almost the entirety of the performance, singing and dancing with the only occasional break to change costumes. He is very convincing as a natural leader and he narrates detailed stories within the larger story that keep it all moving. Elijah Ahmad Lewis plays the wild and charismatic David Ruffin, who oozes all of the bad boy charm that fans have loved for decades. Jalen Harris plays Eddie Kendricks, and has a smile that lights up the theatre. He steals the show when he dances and we only wish that he had sung some of his solo music as well. Harrell Holmes Jr plays Melvin Franklin, who is sweet and strong and comes across as quite loveable. E Clayton Cornelious plays Paul Williams, and was describes as the soul of The Temptations. These actors have some big shoes to fill and they do it seemingly without effort as they dazzle in the spectacular Ain’t Too Proud musical.

Go and buy tickets and let yourselves get lost in the amazing dancing and singing that 60+ years of music has inspired.

Uplifting and nostalgic.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Jamie Flowers

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations plays at the Academy of Music until 21 January, with further information here.