The Cast Photo by Ray Mabry

So it is with Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, which tells the story of R&B's most successful musical group through their many hit songs. The first two times I saw the show–first, in its premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, then a few years later in a Broadway touring production at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre–I was duly impressed by the musical skills of the cast, but disappointed by the cliché-laden, overly long book by playwright Dominique Morisseau. For this Transcendence Theatre Company production, Morisseau (or her editors) seem to have trimmed the book significantly, much to my delight.

Taking on the story of R&B/soul icons The Temptations is not for the faint of heart, or the weak of voice, for this powerhouse group (there have been 26 different members over the years) is responsible for some of Motown's biggest hits: "My Girl," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), "Ball of Confusion," "Get Ready," and many more, including the titular "Ain't Too Proud to Beg."

Fortunately, the pros at Transcendence have assembled a terrific cast of singers and dancers who deliver the goods with verve, not to mention some serious vocal chops. As group founding member Otis Williams, Conroe Brooks carries the heaviest weight of the evening, serving as a sort of narrator of the story, playing the role with intensity and sincerity. Otis is joined by the other original members of the Temptations–Eddie Kendricks (Kwame Michael Remy), Paul Williams (Tyrick Wiltez Jones), Melvin Franklin (Topher Yengbeh), and David Ruffin (Kyle Parks)–and together they soar to the top of the charts, but only before some rough early years. (The rough times would continue as some members of the group battled various addictions and troublesome tempers.) Although these rough times are certainly included in the story of Ain't Too Proud, the overwhelming mood is one of joy intermingled with the struggles of dealing with fame and the challenges of a life on the road.

The cast do some brilliant work here, impressing the audience at Transcendence's Field of Dreams venue with powerful, thrilling vocal performances from pretty much every member of the cast, no matter how large or small their role. Arielle Crosby, who plays an early manager of the group, Johnnie Mae Matthews, has an explosive voice that I wouldn't mind hearing quite a bit more of. Kyle Parks acquits himself well as lead vocalist David Ruffin, stepping up to the challenge of portraying one of R&B's all-time great singers. But I may have been most impressed by Topher Yengbeh's portrayal of bass singer Melvin Franklin. Not only is his basso appropriately profundo, he exhibits some of the best pure acting skills among the cast. Watching his expressive face deliver moments that could alternately break your heart or make you smile in delight is one of the highlights of the evening.

Transcendence Theatre Company has developed a well-earned reputation for producing shows of the highest quality within the limitations of outdoor theatre, but I feel in the case of Ain't Too Proud, the company falls rather short in the design aspects of the show. The set (by Natalie Rose Mabry) has a rather downmarket, high school musical quality to it, as though the company chose to invest in great musicians at the expense of scenic design. Although the ogee pattern that appears on the backdrop of the set pieces (all of which rotate, thanks to stagehands) is true to the mid-1960s Detroit aesthetic, the reverse of those set pieces feel rather dull and uninspired. There are some wondrous costumes, especially for the scenes with the Supremes, but the clothes seem to fit poorly and lack the urban glamour the Temps were known for. But if you really want to talk about uninspired, let's talk about the wigs worn by several of the cast that spent the entire evening distracting me with the falseness. It's as though they are screaming over the music, "I'm wearing a hairpiece!"

But these quibbles are thoroughly overwhelmed by the quality of musicianship on display here, both from the vocalists and from an uber-tight band led by Richard Baskin Jr. Their soulful skills had the audience bobbing and dancing and clapping (and occasionally singing) along.

As ever, Transcendence gets all the logistical details perfectly, from ticketing to parking to concessions to the incredibly warm welcome from each member of the staff. Their motto is "Best Night Ever" and they continue to strive successfully for that goal. All in all, Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations is a delightful evening of entertainment in the Sonoma wine country.

Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations runs through June 28, 2026, at Field of Dreams, 151 First Street W, Sonoma CA. Performances Thursday-Sunday. Tickets range from $44-$165. "Gold Level" tickets include VIP parking, free drink tickets (wine, beer and water) and admission to the pre-show lounge area. For tickets and information, please visit www.TranscendenceTheatre.org.