the best jukebox musical in town? | AIN'T TOO PROUD west end review at the Prince Edward Theatre

[@juliahouse7176]

The choreography was so important to telling the story of the Temptations. Their precision dance moves are the basis for all the boy bands that came after.

[@MsJaytee1975]

If I count correctly there have been 27 Temptations over the years. I think it centres on Otis Williams because he owns the rights to the name The Temptations. I wonder if they don’t go to hard into the dark parts of the band members because it would just be too dark, especially David Ruffin (particularly his relationship with Tammi Terrell), and Paul Williams. If you want a real sense of The Temptations, look up their battle with The Four Tops from Motown’s 25th anniversary concert. Incredible. I don’t think there would be much point in a Supremes musical, except for the music, Dreamgirls already did the story!

[@nicoletrudell2065]

I think it also centers on him because he is the only original member alive for the creatives to consult with.

[@Muswell]

Saw it yesterday. Really loved it - but I'm of that age ! Something didn't "click" with me in the first act - the writing? the delivery of lines? Not sure. But the 2nd half took it right up to 4 stars for me. And no-one in the audience were singing - which had been my worry. The finale of "My Girl" gave the audience chance to sing along. A great piece of pure entertainment. Biggest applause came after Eddie singing "Just My Imagination" - wonderful. And when Otis declares, at end, that he & The Temps are still performing, it was a very emotional moment, rewarded with an applause.

[@IloveHeartlandX]

I went to see this with my mum a few weeks ago and had a great time! I didn't really know the music of the Temptations either (we booked the tickets through London Theatre Week because she is a fan) but I didn't find that mattered and I actually knew a few more of them than I thought I did. I thought the cast was amazing and I really liked what they did with the staging, I thought they managed to do a lot with relatively little which worked well for the show. I actually felt a lot of the stuff covered in the second act was heavy enough already and I was okay with them not delving super deep into it. The audience were great as well, I don't think I heard anyone singing along and there was no bad behaviour, at least not anywhere near me (though we did go on a Tuesday night, so people are less likely to get super drunk!). I also really loved that they gave the band that moment to shine at the end, I actually preferred that than if they'd had a sing-a-long encore.

[@xonvaldez]

Exactly, you know the songs not knowing you know the songs!! I saw the show in LA the day the cast found out it was headed to Broadway. Back them I called it, a Tony Award for Sergio Trujillo won Best Choreography!

[@ryanpervola163]

Worked on the touring production of this. Was a good production

[@justanotherrandomdisneyfan3717]

I went a few days ago and it was amazing! They went through the history and making of the band touching in the dark parts of the members as well as adding funny bits in. Very well done.

[@hnc52]

I have never been a fan of jukebox musicals...until I saw Ain't Too Proud on Broadway last year. I'm glad it it playing at the Prince Edward, former home of Mary Poppins which was my first London theater experience.

[@mwmheps]

I saw this today on a rush ticket and really enjoyed it! I think it is probably my favourite biopic musical that I've seen, like you it's not generally my favourite genre, but I found this one more interesting and powerful than most. Personally I did find the deaths sequence really moving and was left weeping even though I understand your criticisms of it. I did find that the songs seemed to blur to each other maybe because I didn't know a lot of them beforehand. But still it's such a enjoyable genre of music and the choreography and performances were so fantastic I didn't mind. I would definitely recommend this as a great jukebox show :)

[@ReubenCornell]

Tosh was ace in The Drifters Girl, and I was so happy to see him in this.

[@JujRosie]

I remembered this review when I went into see the show yesterday on tour in Detroit. And revisited the video after today. I will say- it is interesting to see how the impact moments for you were WAY different than the ones for our audience. I think being in an audience where about 75% of the people in it lived though the events of the end of act 1 (Detroit in the summer of ‘67) lead to a completely different tone. I feel people watching here will always have different reactions than elsewhere in the world watching.

[@aarontaaffe6881]

If the Michael Jackson musical that’s on Broadway at the moment transfers to the west end I need to see Mitchell zhangazha play him his vocals would be perfection

[@mattbonner5281]

It is after this show 😂 next year! Same theatre

[@aarontaaffe6881]

@@mattbonner5281 I guess it’s written in the stars then hahaha

[@joannekatende]

MJ the musical comes to the West End March 2024

[@suzannewdowik]

I don't particularly like jukebox musicals, but I LOVED Ain't Too Proud! I saw the touring version when it came to Detroit.

[@emxemxem]

I just saw this on tour in the States. There were a couple people around me treating it as a concert experience with lots of hooting and hollering during the songs and some singing along, but overall, it was a pleasant experience. I agree the first act felt very long.

[@IWillBeHers]

The choreography very rightly won Sergio Trujillo a Tony! I saw the US national tour and the performers went all out!

[@leagoldenstein9408]

I was an usher when the show was pre-broadway so I've seen it dozens of times (and one more time in New-York). There wasn't an encore at the end of the show. The band's musicians are the last on stage. Fun fact, Jawan Jackson originated the role of Melvin Franklin in Motown, then in Ain't too proud and is now touring with the Temptations.

[@brianeduardo1234]

You haven't as far as I can see reviewed Dancing At Lughnasa at the Olivier? Truly a wonderful play .... I know you are very busy

[@matthewroyle5682]

I saw this last week loved the show one off the best musicals I have seen in a long time

[@musicalstar21]

saw this on tour in the US and loved it! like you said, it's a very different type of show than a more traditional musical, but the incredible talent with the singing and dancing cannot be missed!

[@Catiedid51]

Seeing the us tour made this a new top 5. Love the lights and choreography of this show so much!!

[@lorrainegearing2200]

It was brilliant, especially Tosh

[@Ted655687653]

I saw it on Broadway and would give it 99 out of 100. I saw it in San Diego and would give it 85 out of 100.

[@penhallj]

I fell in love with Tosh in Dreamgirls! He made me feel like a 1960s groupie just wanting to scream and grab him (of course all internally!) Truly electric!

[@EMM_84]

I saw this in Toronto pre-Broadway. The music and choreography were amazing. It's been a few years so I don't remember a lot about the story but I thought it was well done. I do remember thinking the women in the show were amazing as well and, while the show wasnt focused on them, I was sad they werent needed as much because their vocals were fantastic.

[@IndiaMyers]

I saw Ain’t Too Proud on its US tour and I really enjoyed the show! I did grow up watching many-a Temptation film and the musical does really gloss over the hardships these guys lived through. I tend to expect that from musical theater; to make light of serious matters, but maybe I’m watching the wrong shows?

[@annacalstone610]

I'm off to see this in a few weeks and given so many issues at Jukebox musicals a little bit apprehensive. I'm hoping I'll enjoy this as much as I enjoyed drifters girl since I know the songs but I'm interested in hearing more of the story behind the band.

[@serenah6387]

I felt this show had all the elements to it that I didn’t like about Jersey Boys, which is the shortening of some of the better known songs and/or constant interruptions during the song with narration. I could put up with this a little more if we’d got an encore at the end but we didn’t. I just expected a big impact when they sang My Girl, which is arguably their most well known song, but it just almost seemed slotted in. If I recall correctly My Girl wasn’t even performed in the context of it being one of their songs, I think it was performed by someone else at a different show and they just kind of joined in singing it. So in summary I didn’t hate the show, but I most certainly didn’t love it. Its not one I’d see again. Which is a shame as I love The Temptations music. Oh and where was Treat Her Like a Lady? I know it’s one of their later songs, but how can they not have included it.

[@Muswell]

"My Girl" was a much bigger hit by Otis Redding.

[@serenah6387]

@@Muswell My girl by the temptations reached number 1 in the US. The Otis Redding version reached number 11 in UK charts. The version that most people are familiar with due to be used in many movies is the temptations version. But that’s besides the point anyway. My point was My Girl was probably one of The Temptations most known songs and should have been given a real ‘moment’ within the show, which I don’t feel it was. The show was about The Temptations and My Girl was a song by The Temptations.

[@Muswell]

@@serenah6387 I understand. Ok.

[@MarcusMartn]

I saw this production twice on broadway is was SO GOOD. And motown the musical was amazing also

[@LeBasfondMusic]

AIN'T TOO PROUD premiered at Berkeley Rep and I was pleasantly surprised, because BRT typically does very experimental and adventurous material. I will never say no to the music of The Temptations, and it is a very well-put together show.

[@maddieyadlon7358]

im so early! hi your my favorite youtube creator! one day i wanna do reviews like you lol

[@Ryan_P]

I saw it last Wednesday, so one of the last previews. I got a rush ticket and was up in the grand circle, which is quite a poor position for a rush ticket (I was at the front of the royal circle when I had a rush ticket for Mary Poppins). I found the sound mix loud to the point of distortion in some places. I found the show just okay. 3/5 if I was scoring it. The performances themselves were good, but I found it very formulaic. Like Jersey Boys but with less swearing. I thought The Drifters Girl did this type of thing so much better. There were many Motown fans in who seemed to enjoy it.

[@csamknights]

Ain’t too Proud is amazing, just Motown heaven

[@anne1596]

I saw a performance of the US tour and thought it was great, but I wasn't necessarily thinking about it from a critical perspective. I can see where you are coming from with your criticisms. I also haven't seen Jersey Boys so I didn't make that connection. I thought the performances were all stellar and you can't not love the music of the Temptations. So maybe not the most expertly-crafted musical but still a fun way to spend the evening. :)

[@grodriguez7225]

I don’t at you because I myself love to listen to musical basically 24/7‼️

[@nigelmenard4967]

This had its broadway tryout in Toronto Ontario.

[@stephamonkey]

I saw the show in LA in 2018 before it went to Broadway. It wasn't my favorite, but I didn't give it a full shot because I left at intermission. It was very jarring how fast some parts were going and the act as a whole seemed to really be dragging on. I decided I would rather go to the game night my friend was having instead of staying for the second act. I tried to give all my comments for changes in the post-show email survey. I don't think I felt really invested in any of the characters, and everything was just too jumpy for me. I've never seen Jersey Boys or any musicals like that. I just wanted them to work the songs into a plot and let me feel the emotion of all these songs (a la Mamma Mia), but I felt like they were just singing the songs to sing the songs most of the time. I do love the music and enjoyed the singing and dancing. It didn't seem like they were going full out with the dancing that often when I saw it. I mostly just had my old director's voice in my head yelling for it to be sharper and to really hit it with energy through your fingertips. It just wasn't the kind of show I was hoping for. My friend's mom really loved it though.

[@megwestfox2481]

I also left at intermission. I felt like there were too many songs, I just don’t care about the temptations that much, and I was tired.

[@matthewmoss6688]

The 1st 30 min I did not like the rest so good 💚💚💚

[@garethcotterell9698]

Saw it on Broadway 2019 and then last week in the west end. I enjoyed very much but.. do think there’s a lot of exposition in the book to explain the story…. And they cut down some of the big songs :/ which is a shame

[@liberaider]

Ain’t to proud 9/10 saw it on tour

[@wehojm7320]

I have a love / hate relationship with jukebox musicals. Try as they might as to build a life story around the music that they sang and possibly making up stuff along the way is troublesome. The music of their career is enjoyable, the drama, real or reimagined may be another thing entirely.

[@TheLegoStar]

I have to tell you … I saw AIN’T TOO PROUD during pride month when all the playbills had a rainbow banner… so there was an ironic joke of playbill saying we’re proud to support lgbt+ … but the Temptations weren’t TOO proud!!! [PS can I tell you how much I hated that they said “had been a minute” (a very modern phrase)… TWICE!?!?!]

[@RayRayJams]

Trust me... you won't be saying Aint Too Proud is the best jukebox musical once MJ hits the West End!!!

[@HappyRareGrooveMan]

There not singing live not when dancing , singing over pre recorded backing tracks .