The “Best Party in Town” has arrived in Sheffield for two nights only. (Three performances including a Saturday matinee) Featuring hit after hit, all killer no filler, of the chart-busting hits originally made famous by The Four Tops, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Martha and the Vandellas, Lionel Richie, Edwin Starr and many more.
From start to finish the evening is full of energy with the occasional soul smoothie. The audience were dancing in the isles; even some of the cast came to join in at parts of the performance, which was a lovely touch. Although I am too young myself to remember the height of Motown music I recognised more or less every song and was able to sing along and tap my foot along to the music. 
The talented cast, comprising of four males and three females, and fantastic live band bought to life the infectious, toe-tapping, booty swaying melodic songs with a touch of soul and style which was a huge hit with the audience making the atmosphere simply amazing!
Motown is credited with helping break down race relation barriers. Smokey Robinson recalls “into the ‘60s, I was still not of a frame of mind that we were not only making music, we were making history. But I did recognise the impact because acts were going all over the world at that time. I recognised the bridges that we crossed, the racial problems and the barriers that we broke down with music. I recognised that because I lived it. I would come to the South in the early days of Motown and the audience would be segregated. Then they started to get the Motown music and we would go back and the audiences were integrated and the kids were dancing together and holding hands.”
Including hits such as You Keep Me Hanging On, I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Please Mr. Postman, Reach Out (I’ll Be There), Baby Love, Stop (In The Name of Love), Up Tight (Everything’s Alright), Tears of a Clown, Tracks of My Tears, Dancing in the Street and many more. The song list was long (approx forty) and impressive with a variety of suitable costume changes. The highlight of the evening for me has to be the Supremes tribute, which was utter perfection! The only negative thing, which kind of impacted on the performance was the band often drowned out the singing and introductions/audience interaction, making it very difficult to hear what was being said/sung. Hopefully this technical issue will be resolved for the 3pm Saturday matinee and Saturday evening show at 7:45pm.
The tour itself, like the hits within the show, are back to back dates covering everyway from Edinburgh to Cardiff, Birmingham and St Albans, which started on 7th May and is set to play its final show in Liverpool on the 19th June (Fathers Day). If you are a fan of Motown this is an evening not to be missed! Further details can be found on their website www.flyingmusicBOXOFFICE.com.
A simply fabulous night out!
Reviewer: Lottie Davis-Browne
Reviewed: 3rd June 2016
North West End Rating: ★★★★
