Muny impresses with first-ever staging of ‘Ain’t Too Proud’

When the Muny premiere of Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations kicks off with “Get Ready,” the opening number feels less like an introduction and more like a directive. What follows over the next two-and-a-half hours is a whirlwind of emotion and powerhouse performances that move far beyond jukebox musical nostalgia.

Those expecting a simple singalong should know that Detroit playwright Dominique Morisseau crafted something deeper. She threads the group’s greatest hits — and a few surprises — into a theatrical experience that reveals the sacrifices behind the music. The Temptations left an unmatched imprint on Motown and popular culture, and with a special opening-night curtain speech from Otis Williams, the founder and last surviving original member, the Muny underscored that The Temptations’ 65-year legacy endures.

Morisseau centers the story through Williams’ eyes. A wayward youth who found purpose in Detroit after leaving Texarkana, Texas, he built the group and held it together — even as he often stood in the background while others took the lead. The Temptations were an anomaly: five men who each possessed the talent to stand alone. That truth remains with the current lineup, which includes the soon-to-be 85-year-old Williams and Jawan M. Jackson, who embodies Melvin Franklin’s deep bass both onstage in Ain’t Too Proud and in real life as the newest member of the group.

“I call him my second Melvin,” Williams told the crowd.”

The musical shows that destiny comes with a cost. The strain of maintaining a cohesive unit while life intrudes is at the heart of the story. “Don’t nothing rewind but a song,” Williams says more than once — a line that lands as both optimism and regret for choices that fractured relationships along the way.

For its first staging of Ain’t Too Proud, the Muny could not have assembled a stronger cast. Every performer is a triple threat whose singing, dancing and acting impress from the start. Led by James T. Lane as Williams, the principal cast delivers vocal acrobatics that match their kicks, spins and turns — and they bring emotional depth and sharp comedic timing to their roles.

At any moment, one of the “original five” — Lane, Daniel Yearwood as Paul Williams, Jackson as Franklin, Elijah Ahmad Lewis as Eddie Kendricks and Nick Rashad Burroughs as David Ruffin — leaves the audience in awe. Whether it’s a soaring vocal run, a split-second dance move or a heated exchange when being a Temptation becomes too heavy, none of them falter. Burroughs unleashes Ruffin’s volatility against Lane’s moral and emotional compass, while Jackson often steps in as the voice of reason.

The cast’s gifts extend well beyond the leads. St. Louis’ own Robert Crenshaw shines as Al Bryant, a member of the group before they became a household name. His singing and dancing match the principals, and his later turn as Motown hitmaker Norman Whitfield shows sharp acting instincts. Nasia Thomas (Josephine), Candice Marie Woods (Diana Ross) and Joseph Anthony Byrd (Dennis Edwards) further elevate the production.

Among the show’s standout moments are the title number, the Supremes medley and the “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” duet between Lane and Thomas.

Beyond the performances, Ain’t Too Proud offers compelling glimpses into the business of making hits — the financial struggles of emerging artists, the creative restraints imposed for commercial appeal, and the complicated negotiations required to earn one’s worth.

The show’s strength also presents its lone challenge. Director Marcia Milgrom Dodge’s “more is more” approach occasionally tips into overstimulation. The vocal acrobatics sometimes overshadow the richness of the voices — particularly Lewis and Burroughs — and some of Rickey Tripp’s choreography goes over the top for a group known for suave precision.

Still, the visual elements add to the experience. Edward Haynes Jr.’s scenic design is stellar, and Gail Baldoni’s interpretation of Paul Tazewell’s original costumes is equally impressive.

Williams was all smiles after the cast took their final bows. “You all are amazing. I’m speechless,” he told the audience as he helped close out the night. “I’ve been doing this since I was a little shorty doo-wop. And now, all these years later, I’m standing before all these wonderful people. We won’t take this for granted. Because if it wasn’t for you, there would be no us.”

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations continues through Sunday, August 2 at The Muny. For tickets and additional information, visit muny.org.

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