Review Archive/December 2013
Updated December 31, 2013


THE MARVIN GAYE STORY PLAY
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Great Edutainment!

By Jay Whipple/Trend Magazine Online™

This play/musical sparked my interest immediately after I received the program at the National Black Theatre Festival’s (NBTF) second press conference on Monday June 3, 2013. Once my initial interest settled, however, I began to ponder the obvious question – who is going to play the role of Marvin Gaye? This was a question that did not sit very well with me as I have been a fan of the best (In my opinion) singer of our generation since the 1970’s when one of our neighbors – in Liberty City, Miami, Fl. – blasted his “Got To Give It Up (1977)” hit all night long at a block party. No other artist has even come close to capturing the raw emotion and talent exuded by this man on his many endearing hits from the 1960’s until his fateful death – at the hands of his jealous father – on Sunday April, 1, 1984, just one day before his 45th birthday and on the same day of the week that he was born. Most of us older folks can remember what we were doing when the news hit. I was driving up Albemarle Road in northeast Charlotte, NC, when the news came over the radio on April Fool’s Day. My God, I thought, we have lost another legend and entertainment genius. Of late there have been rumors that R&B (Rhythm and Blues) hit maker Robin Thicke (Son of former talk show host Alan Thicke, 1980 - 1982) may have lifted the beat of Got To Give It Up in his latest smash hit Blurred Lines (2013). It has also been reported that Mr. Thicke is somewhat obsessed with Mr. Gaye’s talent. That is of course another story for another space and time.

This play/musical was produced, written, and directed by Ms. Jackie Taylor who is also the founder and C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer) of The Black Ensemble Company which celebrated the grand opening of its cultural center on November 18, 2011, in the heart of Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. This is the theater’s first permanent home and the only one in the nation whose mission is to eradicate racism. Much CONGRATS from Trend Magazine Online! I have been to Chi Town once – in the 1980’s -- and had a blast! It was daylight when we left the club. Ms. Taylor is also an actress and founded her company in 1976 during the height of the Black Power Movement in the United States when our anthem was the late James Joseph Brown (1993 – 2006) hit “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud (1968),” and Black men and women wore their fro’s (Afros) and dashikis with pride. Those days are unfortunately long gone as some young people these days are somewhat confused about their true heritage. Ask them what amendments freed us, made us citizens, and gave us the right to vote, and most will look at you as to answer “What you talkin about Willis?” Smile! In preparation for this play/musical Ms. Taylor received insight into Mr. Gaye’s life from his second wife Jan Gaye who is also the mother of Nona and Frankie – their children. I will comment on this later in my review.

This play/musical featured the largest cast (14) of any of the four others that I attended this past July/August 2013. It was choreographed by Mr. Rueben Echoles and the musical director was Mr. Robert Reddrick. The venue was the K.R. Williams Auditorium on the campus of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) which is one of our HBCU’s (Historically Black College/Universities). Dr. Kenneth Raynor Williams was the President/Chancellor of the school from 1961 – 1977. One immediate pet peeve that I noticed was the incorrect spelling of Marvin’s real last name. He was born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. on Sunday April, 2, 1939. Some say Marvin added the “e” because it sounded more professional while others say he added it out of respect for the late great Sam Cooke (1931 – 1964) who did the same with his last name. I say he perhaps added it to avoid even the hint of homosexuality due to the fact the he had become quite the lady’s man. What do you think? I arrived at the auditorium at approximately 7:15 PM for the 8 PM show and a bit delayed by the WSSU Ram’s cheerleader practice nearby. Me and some construction workers’ I might add. Smile! There was a steady flow of folks arriving at the same time and the parking lot was beginning to fill up lickity split. I was impressed to see a white guy in line that appeared to be a spectator and not part of the media or sponsors. The ushers were very nice, polite, and knowledgeable as one quickly answered my question concerning capacity – “1,796 seats (balcony included),” she said. They were playing oldies in the background and I sat at stage right in the 6th row.

The play/musical began at 8:03 PM and started out with dialogue about what happened in Marvin’s life concerning his father. The opening number/song was okay but the soloist needed to sing a bit louder to be heard by the entire audience. It was then followed by a musical number but I could not see the entire band from where I was sitting at stage right because they were blocked by a curtain. The live band came complete with a sax, trumpet, and trombone player which was cool with this former first trumpeter and member of the brass family. This play/musical quickly established the conflict between Marvin and his father in an early scene with his mother Alberta (played by Yahdina U-Deen), brother Frankie (Played by Lance Newton), and doo wop group leader Mr. Harvey Fuqua (Played by Lyle Miller). There was a full house in the audience – balcony included – that included quite a few white folks. The next scene featured a duet with Mary Wells (Played by A’rese Emokpae) and the legendary Smokey Robinson (Played by Rashaad Hall). I could barely here Ms. Emokpae as she was being drowned out by the band.

The next scene establishes the fact that Marvin was extremely shy when he first started out in the 1950’s and featured dialogue between him and Smokey Robinson (Hall), Berry Gordy (Played by Rueben D. Echoles, also choreographer and hair designer), and Mr. Fuqua (Miller). I was not aware of this personal persona. Next up was a slow number by the pianist that was pretty good. They did not list the band members in the program so forgive me if I do not give them credit by name. You know who you are. I like the fact that they played oldies in the background during scene changes which gave the audience something to do other than twiddle their thumbs and gossip. Featured next was a solo performed by Alberta Gay (U-Deen) that was pretty good. I had no idea that Mrs. Gay herself was a famous singer from Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Now I know where his talents arose. May she rest in peace (1913 – 1987). Next up was a solo performed by Mr. Thompson of Marvin’s hit “Pride and Joy (1963)” in which he did okay. You have to have some very big cohonas to even attempt to mimic the greatest soul singer the world has ever known; and as such, kudos to anyone who is bold enough to do so in any public forum.

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