“Ain’t Too Proud”: The Review

By Dr. J. Ester Davis

The awaiting crowd on the closing night of “ain’t too proud” depicting the Life and Times of The Temptations came ready for a showdown in “D” Town Sunday Night. You could tell by the way the generations filed in…took their seats so gingerly,  stately, and confident of a truly fine evening.

Ready! Set! Dance! Pat your foot! Snap your fingers! Dance! Move to the side! Bob your head! Put a smile on your face.  Dance! Lights up, orchestra, action.  And action it was!  The world acclaimed Dallas Music Hall Fair Park belonged to the unstoppable tempting Temptations…. and let me tell you that place will never be the same!

Please do not ask me how was the show!  Words are not enough. Yeah! Is was all of that.  It was of course … electrolysis charges on steroids!  All you really had to do was think about “My Girl”, “Since I Lost my Baby”, “Just my Imagination” and my personal favorite “Ball of Confusion” which can only be defined as timeless. I was on “Cloud Nine” and deeply in love with my first husband when that song hit the charts.  And “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” was upfront and personal when that cloud got foggy, overcast and dissipated.  That’s the real American Story of Motown’s glory days,  “The Temptations” … that sound, shaped our lives with romance, lyrics and style.  Several generations from across the globe have followed and studied their diamond spotlight journey from the streets of Detroit-to-American Bandstand-to-Soul Train-to-Best Choreography-to-a decade of civil unrest-wars-to-the White House-Buckingham Palace, best R&B group of all time. I could go on and on.  And because of their influence, grace, power, tall, dark and handsome good looks, they are still on top of it all.

I would have loved a line or two about Maxine Powell.  Maxine Powell was one of the world’s leading etiquette professionals.  She died in 2013, but left a legacy of poise and grace that has never been duplicated in the entertainment industry.  Maxine Powell studied elocution with the Negro Drama League in Detroit.  She taught dance, movement, self improvement and modeling classes. One of her models was Gwen Gordy Fuqua, Barry Gordy’s sister.  Maxine was hired by Barry Gordy to train the acts that were on Motown’s label.  Emphasis was placed on body language, etiquette, stage presence, diet, fittings, fashions, posture, and diction.  Her job was to “polish” the young artist of Motown into artists who could excel in both the black and white world.  She intentionally transformed a generation. All of the acts at Motown spent hours upon hours with Maxine Powell.   I will write that story soon.

The storyline for “Ain’t Too Proud” was carefully crafted as meaningful stories should be. Otis Williams, who was born in Texarkana, Texas, and raised in Detroit, is recognized as the founding and sole surviving member of The Temptations.  Most of their accolades are planted in the memory banks of our minds. The entire audience was singing alone, missing a few words.  We know that Smokey Robinson played a major role in the songwriting success of The Temptations.  Motown’s Barry Gordy told them to go back and come up with “another name”.  Scores of fans actually remember the original fabulous “quintet” by name without studdering, i.e., Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, David Ruffin. The Temptations & Supremes Album still stands out as one of the bestsellers ever.     As a typical fan,  there was a tidbit that came as a surprise about these  American Masters.  Close to the end of the evening, Otis Williams (Marcus Paul James) notified us that there were a total of twenty-seven(27)Temptations in their lifetime.  Oh, please, come on Broadway Dallas.  Bring them back!!

Esterdavis2000@gmail.com