Human Nature: Four Aussies Perform The 'Ultimate Celebration' Of Motown

They walk out on stage at the Imperial Palace to an audience that has been promised the "Ultimate Celebration of Motown." "They" are Human Nature, a quartet of singers from Sydney Australia. Add to their country of origin the fact that they are Caucasian, and it would seem to be a certainty that they are as far removed from Motown as possible, except if they were from another planet.

But — surprise! — they not only deliver, they surpass expectations. This is one terrific show.

Human Nature — brothers Andrew and Michael Tierney along with Toby Allen and Phil Burton — tell of being moved by Motown from the time they were in school together. They were a hit as a boy band called 4Trax. In their home country they are best selling recording artists with a string of gold and platinum records and time spent opening for such as Céline Dion and Janet and Michael Jackson. They performed at the opening ceremony of othe Sydney Olympics. All along they continued to record and please their core teen-age audience. But, as they grew up, they decided to change their focus amd record the Motown music that so influenced them.

They met and performed with Smoky Robinson and it is he who is producing the Las Vegas show.

Every move they make — the stunning and accurate-to-the-source choreography was created by Shannon Holtz — as well as the costumes they wear and the accompaniment of a expert six-piece band — is informed with a love of the Motown music and of the musicians who made it. Each member of Human Nature is a gifted performer and each gets the opportunity to show what he can do.

Show highights are numerous but the a capella Ooh Baby, Baby is a standout, as is Reach Out. And, although they acknowledge the oddness of "four white Aussies doing Motown," they also point out what we Americans may not have realized (although a quick look through youtube will convince you of the truth of what they say), "Motown is a feeling, a culture, that changed the world.

Las Vegas has a lot of first-rate entertainment. Aside from the short-term headliners, the shows in residence tend to be book shows from Broadway (Jersey Boys, Phantom, The Lion King) or Cirque du Soleil productions. But this show, with some improved video and more of a book, could make it on Broadway. Human Nature is that good.

In fact, it would be difficult to imagine a better "celebration of Motown."

Human Nature plays at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas nightly except Friday at 8 pm. Tickets are $49.95 - $59.95 (plus taxes and fees). Call  (888) 777-7664 or visit www.imperialpalace.com.

 

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