Motown—The Musical

Theater

Comedy

Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Until Sat Jun 22

$$$

Photograph: Joan Marcus

Motown—The Musical
Photograph: Joan Marcus

Motown—The Musical
Photograph: Joan Marcus

Motown—The Musical
Photograph: Joan Marcus

Motown—The Musical
Photograph: Joan Marcus

Motown—The Musical
Photograph: Joan Marcus

Motown—The Musical
Photograph: Joan Marcus

Motown—The Musical
Photograph: Joan Marcus

Motown—The Musical

Photograph: Joan Marcus

Motown—The Musical

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Time Out says

Mon Apr 15 2013

Theater review by Adam Feldman. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (Broadway). Book by Berry Gordy. Music and lyrics by various writers. Dir. Charles Randolph-Wright. With Brandon Victor Dixon, Valisia LeKae. 2hrs 40mins. One intermission.

Motown—The Musical left my eyes tired. For half of the show, they were glued to the stage; for the other half, they rolled up in disbelief to the farthest reaches of their sockets. Rarely has a Broadway musical offered such extremes of talent and inanity. The mountains are thrillingly high: glorious snatches of more than 50 classic pop songs from the catalogs of such Motown artists as Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Temptations and the Jackson 5. But the valleys are abysmally low. The book sections of the show, in which Motown founder and Motown coproducer Berry Gordy Jr. traces 45 years of his own journey, is a compost heap of dubious history, wooden acting and risible dialogue—Little Berry: “I wanna be Joe Louis!” Pop: “Now son, there already is a Joe Louis. Just keep God inside you and be the best you you can be, and that will make me so proud”—all set beneath a flickering neon halo of self-hagiography.

Motown’s subject matter evokes comparison with the Supremes-inspired biomusical Dreamgirls, especially in its treatment of the sexual-professional relationship between Gordy (Dixon) and Diana Ross (LeKae). But it is closer in spirit to Baby It’s You!, the 2011 flop about girl-group impresario Florence Greenberg. What it has that the latter musical lacked is showmanship on a massive scale. Although the lead actors are hamstrung by Motown’s sub-rudimentary script and direction, the musical numbers set the theater on fire. Choreographed by Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams—and bolstered by Esosa’s costumes, Natasha Katz’s lighting and Peter Hylenski’s sound—the show’s megamix of hits allows for scene-stealing cameos from members of one of the strongest ensembles I have seen on Broadway.

Standouts in the large cast include Saycon Sengbloh as Martha Reeves, N’Kenge as Mary Wells, Ryan Shaw as Stevie Wonder, Morgan James as Teena Marie, and Eric LaJuan Summers as Jackie Wilson, Rick James and Contours singer Billy Gordon—plus the delightful audience favorite Raymond Luke Jr. as a young Michael Jackson. (Jibreel Mawry plays the role at alternate performances.) What a grand night of entertainment this show could be if it junked its plot and just let these troupers work their magic. Motown’s constellation of secret stars, even in the background, shines brighter than the musical’s self-favored sun.—Adam Feldman

Follow Adam Feldman on Twitter: @FeldmanAdam

2013 Tony Award nominee. See our guide to the 2013 Tony Awards

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Venue details

MAP

Name:
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Address:
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre 205 W 46th St
Midtown West
New York

Cross Street:
between Broadway and Eighth Ave
Phone:
212-575-9200
Website:
luntfontannetheatre.com
Transport:
Subway: A, C, E to 42nd St–Port Authority; N, Q, R to 42nd St S, 1, 2, 3, 7 to 42nd St–Times Sq
Map
1. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
  - 205 W 46th St
    Midtown West
    New York
  - 212-575-9200
  - luntfontannetheatre.com
  - 40.759216,-73.986241

Event phone:
877-250-2929
Event website:
motownthemusical.com

Categories:
Theater. Musicals. Comedy
Event type:
Plays & Shows