‘Ain’t Too Proud’ – Book by Dominique Morisseau; Music And Lyrics From The Legendary Motown Catalog; Based On The Book ‘The Temptations’ By Otis Williams With Patricia Romanowski; Music By Arrangement With Sony/Atv Music Publishing; Directed By Gerry Mcintyre; Choreography by Rachelle Rak; Music Supervision by Kenny Seymour: Music Direction by Seth Farber; Original Scenic Design by Robert Brill; Original Costume Design by Paul Tazewell; Lighting Design by Richard Latta; Sound Design by Kevin Heard; Wig/Hair & Make-Up Design by Roxanne De Luna; and Projection Design by Peter Nigrini. Presented by Ogunquit Playhouse, 10 Main St, Ogunquit, ME, through June 13, 2026.
By Mike Hoban
A few years back, I reviewed Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at the Ogunquit Playhouse and declared it the “Queen of the Jukebox Musicals”. If Beautiful is the Queen, then Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations must surely be the King. Based on the autobiography of the Temptations’ founding member, Otis Williams − and narrated by his character in this electrifying Ogunquit production − Ain’t Too Proud has the missing ingredient most shows in the genre lack: a book worthy of the artists being portrayed, even if the stories play a bit loose with facts and timelines to move things along.
It should come as no surprise that the playwright responsible for this gem is none other than two-time Obie Award winner and recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, Dominique Morrisseau. Boston theatergoers may be familiar with her work, including Skeleton Crew,which ran at the Huntington in 2018 and earned a slew of IRNE and Eliot Norton Award nominations; Pipeline at Central Square in 2020, and Paradise Blue at Gloucester Stage in 2022. The self-described “Detroit Girl” chronicled her hometown in those plays, known as the “Detroit Project” trilogy, making her the ideal choice to bring the Temptations’ story to the stage.
So instead of a flimsy plot that serves only as a vehicle to get to the next big hit, we get a thoughtful story of the trials and tribulations of one of the most talented and prolific musical groups of the 20th century. And as with Beautiful, we’re treated to the enchanting and soulful musical interpretations of some of pop music’s greatest composers in Berry Gordy, Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield, Holland–Dozier–Holland, and the incomparable Smokey Robinson, who Bob Dylan once dubbed “America’s greatest living poet.”
Ain’t Too Proud traces the group’s evolution from Otis Williams’ teen years, when he ran the streets (to the tune of “Run Away Child, Running Wild”) and was sentenced to a juvenile detention center. Faced with a decision to join a gang and end up in prison, or join a musical group and stay out of trouble, he chooses the right path and launches his own group, Otis Williams and the Distants. The group covers classic R&B hits like the Isley Brothers’ “Shout” and “Gloria” by the Cadillacs and begins to make a name for itself (and get paid for gigs), allowing Williams to begin recruiting for a larger group that would eventually become the Temptations, starring the “Classic Five” − Otis Williams (Charl Brown), Paul Williams (Justin Showell), Melvin Franklin (Warren Egypt Franklin), Eddie Kendricks (Blaine Alden Krauss), and David Ruffin (Josh Marin).
Real success eludes them until they finally break onto the charts with their classic “The Way You Do the Things You Do”, and that sets off a string of hits, a combination of affecting ballads (“My Girl” and “Since I Lost My Baby”) and rocking numbers (“Get Ready” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”). But as seems to be the storyline for all successful musical groups chronicled on VH1’s “Behind the Music”, fame, fortune, egos, and drug and alcohol addiction beset the group, and we see the infighting and breakups that threaten to destroy the Tempts despite their outward success.
There’s also turmoil in the country and the world, as the Civil Rights movement is met with a horrifying backlash (the band’s bus is shot at during a tour of the South, and Detroit nearly burns to the ground during the 12th Street Riots in 1967), all while the Vietnam War rages. Peter Nigrini’s projections unflinchingly bring these events to life, punctuated bythe assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968. The Temptations’ numbers are seamlessly integrated into the internal and external strife, especially the heart-wrenching “I Wish It Would Rain” following King’s assassination and “Cloud Nine” when the band begins freebasing cocaine.
As good as the book is, the musical performances in Ain’t Too Proud are off the charts (pun intended). The Temptations’ canon ranks up there with any R&B musical act of the 20th century, and the cast delivers mightily, whether it’s a moving ballad or an explosive number like “Can’t Get Next to You”, and they execute choreographer Rachelle Rak’s dance moves with immense panache and style.
As Otis Williams, the only surviving member, Charl Brown delivers a rock-solid performance as the heart and soul of the group, sliding into the background as the star power of David Ruffin and Kendricks propel the group to new heights. Josh Marin captures the tortured soul of David Ruffin beautifully, and just like his character, steals the spotlight in every scene he’s in, both vocally and dramatically. The show’s supporting cast is also strong, and the women serving in a host of roles (including The Supremes and Tammi Terrell) are equally superb. At the curtain call, I was astonished to see that the band consisted of only five members, yet they delivered a wall of sound I would have bet my life was a full orchestra.
Despite the darkness of some of the material − all the members died prematurely, except Otis Williams (who is alive today) − Ain’t Too Proud is a musical feast with real depth. I can’t recommend it highly enough. For tickets and information, go to: https://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/show/aint-too-proud/
