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Those Sensational Soulful Sixties
Written & Directed by Jackie Taylor
Produced by Black Ensemble Touring Venture
At The Black Orchid
230 W. North Avenue
In Piper’s Alley, 3rd floor
Chicago, IL
Call 312-944-2200, tickets $45
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Through January, 2007
Sixties soul never sounded better!
In a joint venture, Black Ensemble Theatre has mounted a fabulous new revue in Old Town in Piper’s Alley at the Black Orchid nightclub. The result in an energetic, stirring toe-tapping tribute to the sixties soul singers. This exciting nostalgic trip back to the terrific sounds, harmonies and rhythms of the performers who made soul an American musical icon. I can’t remember enjoying a musical revue more than I did this spirited tribute. Jackie Taylor has organized a 36 song revue that covers every important performer and group that developed the “soul” sound that revolutionized the sixties. She penned several original “soul-styled” tune to get the show rolling.
Featuring an outstanding cast of 5 guys and 4 girls including the charismatic 17 year old RaShawn Thompson and the 18 year old Thoe Huff. These young guys has talent to burn as shown with their strong, versatile vocals and their mastery of the 60’s style singers including Thompson’s deft rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life.” Anchored by David Simmon, Byron Glenn Willis and Kenny Davis, the male guys and groups are nicely represented. Sam Cooke, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jerry Butler, Sam & Dave, Marvin Gaye, Wilson Picket, Otis Redding and Jackie Wilson as well as groups such as The Temptations, The Four Tops with tunes like “Twisting the Night Away,” “What Kind Of Fool Am I,” “Get Ready,” “My Girl,” “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch” and “Dock of the Bay” the tone and mood of soul is exemplified nicely.
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All our memorable 60’s tunes seem to be performed in this great show. The emerging female soul stars and groups include Mary Wells’ “My Guy,” “Respect” from Aretha Franklin, “Mack The Knife” from Ella Fitzgerald. Esther Phillips’ “Release Me,” Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” and Patti LaBelle’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” are featured and landed with heart. Darlen Love’s “He’s A Rebel.” “At Least” by Etta James and “How Glad I Am” by Nancy Wilson are featured by the amazing voices of Melanie McCullough, Melvia “Chick”Rodgers Williams, Marilyn Grimes and Stephanie Booth.
The girl groups --- The Supremes, The Shirelles and The Marvelettes are featured and Gladys Knight’s “Neither One of Us” take us back to out first love, our army days and our youthful dreams from those turbulent 60’s. Each tune propelled me back to that place where I first heard it.
The show has terrific energy with smooth ballads, blues, up-tempo anthems and haunting classic soul sounds. Featuring a 7 piece band with horns, reeds and percussion (music direction by Kenny Anderson), the soul tunes rock, soar and bounce right into our hearts. This highly entertaining show offers a trip down memory lane for many and it is a fabulous showcase for 60’s soul tunes to the younger folks. Amazingly, the kids today don’t know much about these sounds. This show will blow their minds with the spirit of soul. For most of us, soul is music that is a healing force that unites us.
It is heartwarming to see two teens paying homage to the wonderful talents of the classic soul era. RaShawn Thompson and Thoe Huff are two emerging talents. Get to experience an old time nightclub (the Black Orchid) and see and hear live performers do justice to “Those Sensational Soulful Sixties.”
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2006
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