Review: MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Underwhelms in Toronto

Motown the Musical, the Broadway show which dramatizes the rise and fall of the record label of the same name, opened yesterday in Toronto at The Princess of Wales Theatre. Though full of hit songs you will recognize, overall the show was underwhelming and lacked enough exposition to hold the audience's attention for almost three hours.

The show starts out setting up the night, with Berry Gordy (Josh Tower) refusing to attend the Motown Records 25th Anniversary party. Through a flashback the rest of the show unfolds, showing us the events that led to his fallout with the very acts he made famous as they left for bigger labels and salaries.

The problem is that with well over 50 songs featured in the show (almost all in truncated form) the creators have left very little room for plot and dialogue of any substance to unfold. The book, credited to Berry Gordy (though a script consultant, Dick Scanlan is credited in the program) is almost nonexistent and the dialogue that is included seems like it's just enough for a semblance of a plot to unfold.

The show's saving grace is the Berry Gordy and Diana Ross love story - with Allison Semmes as Ross being a standout performer in the cast. Scenes between Gordy and Ross were reminiscent of Dreamgirls, a musical based on the rise of Diana Ross and the Supremes.

If the show managed to trim some of the unnecessary musical montages and expanded on the Gordy/Ross love story - I think it would be a much better show; but that already exists in Dreamgirls - a show I'd much rather see over this one.

Other highlights are recreated musical numbers from The Jackson 5, which had the audience cheering.

The show has an incredible cast, but nobody can perform these iconic Motown songs better than the original artists. With the show offering little in terms of drama, if all you're looking for is to rock out to some hit songs, it may be a better idea to stay in and listen to the original albums instead.

Down the block, the feel good musical Kinky Boots is playing at The Princess of Wales Theatre. If you have to pick just one fall musical to see, I'd go with the latter.

Motown is playing in Toronto through November 1st. Tickets available at Mirvish.com.

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