The odd problem with "Motown: The Musical" is that it appears to have it all -- a score mostly made up of enduring hits, an incredibly talented cast and what should be a great American success story -- yet it is lacking.
It never catches fire because the dialog is so stilted and the book is so heavy-handed it feels as if the big boss imposed only his ideas and no one would dare question anything.
Given that this is the story of Berry Gordy and he wrote it, that makes sense.
His is a terrific story and as the founder of Motown, it was his vision, ear and abilities that crafted the careers of The Jackson 5 (before Michael Jackson was a solo act) Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, the Four Tops and many more.
Collectively these songs have likely started more parties and...
It never catches fire because the dialog is so stilted and the book is so heavy-handed it feels as if the big boss imposed only his ideas and no one would dare question anything.
Given that this is the story of Berry Gordy and he wrote it, that makes sense.
His is a terrific story and as the founder of Motown, it was his vision, ear and abilities that crafted the careers of The Jackson 5 (before Michael Jackson was a solo act) Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, the Four Tops and many more.
Collectively these songs have likely started more parties and...
- 4/19/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
New York -- There are 36 songs in the new Broadway show "Motown: The Musical." Actually, that's just in the first act – 36 songs, not including a reprise of "You're Nobody `til Somebody Loves You." It's like a jukebox went completely haywire.
To be sure, the songs are probably the best America has ever produced: "War," "What's Going On?" "My Girl," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," "Dancing in the Streets" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." But, still, 36? In comparison, "The Book of Mormon" has what now seems like a stingy 16 songs in total.
The 2 1/2-hour show, about Motown Records under founder Berry Gordy, opened Sunday at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre completely unbalanced: The songs are staggering, the book utterly flimsy.
Both are due to one man: Gordy, who clearly knows what makes an indelible hit song, but also has an inability to write objectively about that skill. As the book writer,...
To be sure, the songs are probably the best America has ever produced: "War," "What's Going On?" "My Girl," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," "Dancing in the Streets" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." But, still, 36? In comparison, "The Book of Mormon" has what now seems like a stingy 16 songs in total.
The 2 1/2-hour show, about Motown Records under founder Berry Gordy, opened Sunday at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre completely unbalanced: The songs are staggering, the book utterly flimsy.
Both are due to one man: Gordy, who clearly knows what makes an indelible hit song, but also has an inability to write objectively about that skill. As the book writer,...
- 4/15/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
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