(Note: This review was written by my friend Diana Rowell and edited by me)
Wow! “Tina- The Tina Turner Musical” is in town at Civic Theatre in a 2-hour, 40-minute show that covers her life from a sadly abusive upbringing in Nutbush, Tennessee to the triumphant soul/blues diva she became. Along the way, she sang in the church choir and later worked as a domestic on the way to stardom.
Phyllida Lloyd directs a boffo cast in the touring show.
Born Anna Mae Bullock, Tina began singing in the church choir, later worked as a domestic and a nurse’s aide. Then she began singing in nightclubs in St. Louis and East St. Louis.
The first song to bring down the house was “Let’s Stay Together,” which was early in the first act and performed by Raymond (Gerard M. Williams) and Tina.
Never shy, she walked up to Ike Turner one night when his band the Kings of Rhythm were performing, and asked if she could sing with them. She became a featured vocalist with his band, and she began to sing with the “Ikettes.”
Naomi Rodgers played the Queen of soul on opening night, offering 23 songs (not counting encores) to a large crowd of appreciative fans.
The audience was so involved that once, after Ike had abused Tina and wasssinging “She Made My Blood Run Cold,” someone yelled “Tina, get him!”
Ike began to laugh and action stopped for a few seconds.
As time went on, Tina wanted to move from soul and blues to rock and roll.
She eventually met soulmate Erwin Bach (Max Falls) while auditioning in London for a record label.
In Act 2, Tina has difficulty balancing work life and single motherhood while trying to cross over from soul to rock and roll.
The show looks good: Tina has glittery costumes and she wears short dresses (presumably because she thought her legs were her best feature).
Sets and costumes are well designed by Mark Thompson. Two particularly spiffy ones are set in Las Vegas, where Tina performs “Disco Inferno” and in Brazil, featuring nearly blinding spotlights as Tina descends a lighted staircase.
Naomi Rodgers was clearly the favorite in the cast, Mark Lawrence’s Ike was terrific as well. And Kristopher Ward as Tina’s father Richard Bullock also has some energetic songs.
Phyllida Lloyd directs with a sure hand and the Anne Shuttlesworth conducts the fine local six-person band.
“Tina” is a great show. Don’t miss it.
“Tina” plays through Sunday at Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown
Performances Friday and Saturday at 8 pm.; Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: contact Ticketmaster
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