Jordan Wright
May 12, 2019
Headed to Chicago after a quick ten-day run at the National Theatre, Pride & Joy ~ The Marvin Gaye Musical has captivated Washington audiences with the life and indelible music of DC-born songwriter, musician, and sweet soul singer, Marvin Gaye. It was in Washington where Gaye played the Howard Theatre with Bo Diddley and began his singing career.
Pride & Joy. Image by The National Theatre.
As a multiple Grammy Award-winning R&B artist, Gaye together with producer Berry Gordy, created Motown’s legendary hitmaking studio of the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. Along the way he married and divorced Gordy’s sister Anna, and, towards the end of his career, became an outspoken musical visionary during the contentious political era of the Vietnam War when R&B music steered clear of politics. constant singing partner in the early days.
In the same vein as The Jersey Boys, Beautiful – The Carol King Story, and the recent multiple Tony Award-nominated Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations (reviewed here in July 2018 when it previewed at the Kennedy Center). Musically, it is fabulous, though the sound on the night I was there had serious mic feedback problems and in general was not the high-caliber sound engineering we know from the National Theatre. I’m cutting it some slack in hopes it develops into a tighter, more cohesive musical that could very well see Broadway in its future.
Jarran Muse (and Chae Stephen) as Marvin Gaye – Photo courtesy of New Day Entertainment
Pride & Joy is a bio-musical filled with Gaye’s finest and most memorable hits accompanied by an 8-piece kick-ass band. You could call it a full-blown concert with innovative, continual choreography and snazzy, period-perfect costume changes for each new number. The plot hangs together on the singer’s relationship with Anna and the Gordy family and Gaye’s religious redemption. Some of Gaye’s most memorable hits were with Tammi Terrell, featured here as his muse and singing partner. Her sudden death at 24 deeply affected Gaye and nearly ended his career.
Video projections depicting the period’s history both musically and politically depict riots and racism during the 60’s rise of the KKK. These videos feature early moments in Gaye’s career including the undeniable influence of the TV show Soul Train along with Gaye’s early performances at the legendary Flame Show Bar in Detroit and New York’s Apollo Theater.
Flame Show Bar dancers. Photo courtesy of New Day Entertainment
The musical has all the elements necessary for a hit, including a strong cast, but it needs some serious cutting. As of now, it is overly long, gets lost in too many side stories, and lingers needlessly on Gaye’s volatile relationship with Anna. Currently, there are 34 scene changes with 29 massive musical numbers including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Heaven Must Have Sent You”, “Sexual Healing”, “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”, the anti-war classic “What’s Going On”, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, and many, many, more mega-hits. Other huge Motown stars Jackie Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Tammi Terrell, Teddy Pendergrass, and The Marvelettes are part of the story too.
DC audiences were thrilled to hear the old Gospel songs, “His Eyes Are on the Sparrow” and “Precious Lord”, which accompany the most painful tragedies in Gaye’s life. Arms were raised in praise and my seatmate and I agreed that we could probably skip church that week since it we had just had one heckuva Sunday-go-to-meeting.
Recommended for its high-octane performances, off-the-chain vocals and eye-popping dance numbers.
Kourtney Lenton as Tammi Terrell and Jarran Muse as Marvin Gaye. Photo credit courtesy of New Day Entertainment
Starring Jarran Muse and Chae Stephen as Marvin Gaye, Krystal Drake as Anna Gordy Gaye, Kourtney Lenton as Tammi Terrell plus a 24-person ensemble cast of dancers and singers.
On its way to the Chicago Theatre for seven performances only from June 19-23. For information visit www.msg.com. For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 800 745-3000.