Las Vegas Mixtape v4: A Gloriously Old-School Diner, a Hellbound Show, and More

Track #2: “Ain’t Too Proud,” Reynolds Hall at Smith Center

Amid the neo-art deco splendor of The Smith Center, it was a treat to see “Ain’t Too Proud,” the touring musical that celebrates the music and meaningful history of the Temptations. The former Broadway show, based on surviving member Otis Williams’ 1988 memoir written with Patricia Romanowski, is joyously funky, gritty, and poignant.

With a muscular band backing the performers, the imaginatively staged “Ain’t Too Proud” rolls out the legendary Motown group’s massive hits interspersed with their story of success, intense internal friction, and tragedy (co-lead singer David Ruffin accidentally died from a crack cocaine OD).

Notably, the Temptations managed to successfully move beyond their early ‘60s pop hits like “My Girl” and “I Wish It Would Rain” to sing unflinchingly about world chaos and racism in songs such as “Ball of Confusion” (1970). Catch the musical—an important salute to Black culture—when it inevitably comes back around.