Review: MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is Solid Gold

Broadway San Jose's Motown the Musical is a solid gold hit and played to an enraptured audience last night at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Motown the record company was dreamed up by Berry Gordy in 1959 and the music world has never been the same. Gordy and his cavalcade of artists defined the sound of the sixties and seventies, breaking down racial barriers with a signature soul/pop sound that cut across the black/white divide at a time when segregation was still the law of the land. Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and the Temptations were just a few of the artists that made up Motown. The staggering amount of talent, creativity and love that was the Motown Sound and the story behind its founder Berry Gordy -- all brought to the Broadway stage in Motown -- will touch your heart and put the beat back in your feet. Playing now through June 26 it is a must see song celebration and surely a show for your theatre bucket list.

The story begins right before the 25th Anniversary celebration of Motown Records. It's an event that may conspicuously have to announce Berry Gordy (the amazing Chester Gregory) as a no-show to his own tribute. He's still hurting over the stars that left Motown to go their own way and wonders if there's really anything to celebrate. As Gordy ponders whether or not he'll attend he reminisces on how it all began. The story is then told in flashback beginning with his childhood when African American boxer Joe Louis broke down one of the first racial divides to become the heavyweight champion of the world. The show continues as Gordy strives to realize his dream of owning a record company that will bring black artists into the mainstream following in the footsteps of the great Joe Louis. It proceeds through the lives of the stars he's created, and the love affair he had with Diana Ross (played convincingly by Trisha Jeffrey). Written by the legendary Gordy himself and directed by Charles Randolph-Wright the show features over 40 Motown hits and the artists who sang them.

It's simply a joy to see a 16-year-old Diana Ross and her Supreme gal pals Mary Wilson (Anissa Felix) and Florence Ballard (Krisha Marcano) meeting Berry Gordy and insisting on being heard and taken seriously. Of course they would eventually become Motown's biggest grossing act but here, they're simply three teens with dynamic voices and a dream. The same was true of the young Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson (both played by the extremely talented J.J. Batteast).

Jesse Nager easily captures Smokey Robinson's Signature Sound and bears a cool resemblance to the singer-songwriter and front-person for The Miracles. Robinson would eventually become vice president of Motown, helping to helm the company through the turbulent 60s.

Having the through line of racism and Motown's role in affecting change through music was really touching. Gordy fought hard to break down racial barriers and have his stars be seen as artists who presented music for all people. This theme grounded the show and made it more than just a story. Jarran Muse's Marvin Gaye singing "What's Going On" right after the news that Dr. King was shot was powerful. Audience members teared up when he sang, "Mother, mother/There's too many of you crying/Brother, brother, brother/There's far too many of you dying..." We need to heed those words today.

That scene mirrored the one in which Motown performers begin touring the world. They find acceptance in Europe yet they encounter racism back home in the American South. Police are on hand when Smokey goes on stage to perform to a potentially dangerous crowd. Nager did an excellent job of mixing fear with determination as he began to sing.

David Korins' minimalist set design really caught the tone and tenor of the times and worked stunningly well with Natasha Katz lighting design. Luminous light pillars and gorgeous deep purple and aqua blue spots drew the eye, allowing the audience to focus on what director Randolph-Wright wanted highlighted. As the story progressed, Daniel Brodie's projections of everything from boxing great Joe Luis to Walter Cronkite announcing the death of JFK and MLK added nuance and depth to the pop-soul show.

The biggest applause was saved for The Jackson Five lead by J.J. Batteast who channeled Michael Jackson for this role. But, to be fair, the whole show was a Motown lovefest with anchor performances by Chester Gregory as Gordy and Trisha Jeffrey as Diana Ross. In the end Gordy showed up for the 25th Anniversary performance and the rest is history.

Motown the Musical is in San Jose for one short week. The next stop for the show is Broadway so see it while you can on the west coast.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL
Now thru June 26, 2016
Written by Berry Gordy
Music by the Legendary Motown Catalog
Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright
www.broadwaysanjose.com
Photo courtesy of Joan Marcus

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