Other voices I loved in the show came in surprising places such as one of the smaller roles of the original Temptations to be kicked out of the group, Al Bryant, played by Treston J.
"I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" was another great showcase of Ruffin's voice power paired with acting chops. He carried the storyline, along with the music of the Temptations. Ruffin's voice was a fan favorite, but also added conflict to the show with his character, leading to the separation of the Temptations. “Even though he was all the trouble in everything, his voice is excellent,” audience member Pam Shelle said. It was soulful, and depicted Ruffin's mischievous personality and star quality well, which the audience ate up. One of my favorite moments of the show was the reveal of David Ruffin, played by Elijah Ahmad Lewis, as their lead singer, using arguably their most popular song, "My Girl," to depict the success they received after the addition of Ruffin to the group. The scene where Paul Williams, the choreographer for the Temptations, played by Brett Michael Lockley, taught the group their classic dance moves, was a great addition to the story, showing their progress as a band in a wholesome, yet musically dense way. The story went on to show how Otis curated the perfect group, having both funny and tense moments of negotiation and finding their sound. "Run Away Child, Running Wild" was the best song for this storytelling, opening this musical as more than a concert, but a triumph of musical storytelling, making this one of my favorite songs in the show. This sets up the show as a coming-of-age for the band, and I am a sucker for a coming-of-age story. While I believe the main focus of the show was the group dynamic of the Temptations, I think the secondary focus was on how Otis Williams, played by Marcus Paul James, rose from the bleak circumstances he began the group out of: trying to escape the gangs and streets of Detroit.
"That was dad’s favorite Temptation, that’s why. “My favorite character was Otis," audience member Tabriana Wilkins said. The narrator of the story being none other than the classic Temptation, Otis Williams, interacted with the audience from the very start, getting them to sing along and answer his question with woos, only increasing the personality of the show. While it was an older crowd for the most part, that did not alleviate the energy in the Cobb Great Hall, filling with cheers when the Classic Five Temptations entered the stage. Knowing that so many of the audience members were there out of a passion for the group or their childhood memories created an atmosphere of familiarity and excitement that I couldn't ignore. Talking to audience members, many were there because of nostalgia or their love for Motown.
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