Theater Review: Motown

History Lessons Normally Aren't This Entertaining
By Lauren Yarger
The life of music legend Berry Gordy, written by Berry Gordy turns out to be an entertaining trip down memory lane featuring around 60 songs from the Motown catalog that made him famous.
Motown the Musical spans decades from 1938 to 1983 to tell the biography of Berry (Brandon Victor Dixon) and the story of the record label that brought fame to acts like Diana Ross (Valisa LeKae), Smoky Robinson (a terrific Charl Brown who looks and sounds like the legend), Marvin Gaye (Bryan Terrell Clark) and Michael Jackson (Raymond Luke, Jr. the night I attended, and Jibreel Mawry).

Part history lesson, part invitation to the most intimate parts of Berry's life and part toe tapping, hand-clapping good music, Motown satisfies on may levels.

There's romance: Ross and Berry are involved for a number of years personally as well as professionally. There's business intrigue as other labels start luring away Motown's artists. There's pathos -- the story revolves an 1983 reunion concert celebrating Motown, and Berry isn't sure he wants to go and be reminded of betrayals. Director Charles Randolph-Wright skillfully blends the elements and keeps us entertained for the more than two hours and 45 minutes running time.

Many of the songs, musically directed and arranged by Ethan Popp, are truncated, so we get just enough of our favorites without being overwhelmed. Berry's book also makes sense, so we aren't thinking Mama Mia, or how to string a bunch of songs together around a really dumb story. This one is more like Jersey Boys -- a decent biographical story with song placement that makes sense and helps tell the story. The band is great.

Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams add choreography that is easily recognizable for groups like the Jackson Five, The Marvelettes or The Temptations (there is a massive ensemble of 40 for this show). The vocals are good (Luke as a young Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Gordy Berry is a sensation). Standing out is John Jellison as a very funny Ed Sullivan.

The audience sings along and a few members are brought up on stage to help Diana Ross sing one of her numbers. The mood shifts in the second act as the music starts reflecting protests against war and racial injustice. Costumes advance the decades (design by Esosa with hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe) along with set and projection design by David Korins and Daniel Brodie. Overall, a fun and entertaining show.

Motown plays at the  Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th St., NYC. Tickets and info: http://www.motownthemusical.com/.

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