THEATER REVIEW: 'Soul Mates' give voice to Motown hits

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The music of Motown has an infectious sound that transformed popular culture when the songs first emerged from Detroit and began to dominate the pop charts in the 1960s.

Luke Minx, left, and Jordan Craig in "Soul Mates: A Journey to Hitsville." MATTHEW HOLLER PHOTO/PROVIDED BY FST

Luke Minx, left, and Jordan Craig in "Soul Mates: A Journey to Hitsville." MATTHEW HOLLER PHOTO/PROVIDED BY FST

Now, with a slight nostalgic glow lingering from years of radio play, that music gets people dancing at weddings and has audiences whistling and cheering for the four singers starring in the world premiere of “Soul Mates: A Journey to Hitsville” at Florida Studio Theatre’s Court Cabaret.

The show is a lively salute to the music itself and its broader cultural impact as it is performed by four white guys who discovered Motown during breaks from high school choir practices in Wichita and decided to devote their careers to the sound they love. They called themselves the Soul Mates.

It’s a story inspired by the real life experiences of Human Nature, a quartet of Australians who have been singing together since high school and now star in Las Vegas. The show, directed and choreographed by Bill Castellino, uses Human Nature arrangements and orchestrations.

The arrangements and harmonies are often invigorating even if they’re not yet as tightly performed as they could be by the talented foursome of Ryan Connolly, Jordan Craig, Andrew Mauney and Luke Minx. They are accompanied by pianist Jim Prosser and some electronic support that is, sadly, a poor substitute for a real band. Without the band, the show lacks the real vibrancy you regularly get in Motown revues performed by the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.

From left, Luke Minx, Ryan Connolly and Andrew Mauney star in "Soul Mates: A Journey to Hitsville." MATTHEW HOLLER PHOTO/PROVIDED BY FST

From left, Luke Minx, Ryan Connolly and Andrew Mauney star in "Soul Mates: A Journey to Hitsville." MATTHEW HOLLER PHOTO/PROVIDED BY FST

The show has a distinctive 1960s look with the matching shiny grey or blue suits designed by Susan Angermann and a wall of color-changing circles that look straight out of a TV variety show.

The singers sound strong in their solo moments, but they don’t always blend smoothly or even move in tight unison with the kind of choreography reminiscent of the glory days of the Supremes, Four Tops or the Temptations.

Minx sings with a genuine ease and a wide-ranging vocal quality, while Connolly has a powerful sound but seems to be exerting more effort than necessary. As the base, Mauney stays more often in the background, though the show plays with his flirtatious personality in “Let’s Get it On.” Craig is goofy and eager-to-please, if occasionally too much so with moves that grew more exaggerated as the show progressed Friday night.

While some of the songs lack the sense of soul that the group’s name suggests, it’s hard to deny the appeal of a show that features fun performances of “Tracks of My Tears,” “Shop Around,” “Stop! In the Name of Love” (including an overly long audience participation segment), “My Girl” and more favorites.

THEATER REVIEW
SOUL MATES: A JOURNEY TO HITSVILLE
Written by Bill Castellino with Human Nature and David Rudder. Directed and choreographed by Bill Castellino. Reviewed Oct. 16, Florida Studio Theatre Court Cabaret, 1247 First St., Sarasota. Through Feb. 7. Tickets are $30-36. 366-9017; floridastudiotheatre.org

THEATER REVIEW< BR> SOUL MATES: A JOURNEY TO HITSVILLE
Written by Bill Castellino with Human Nature and David Rudder. Directed and choreographed by Bill Castellino. Reviewed Oct. 16, Florida Studio Theatre Court Cabaret, 1247 First St., Sarasota. Through Feb. 7. Tickets are $30-36. 366-9017; floridastudiotheatre.org
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Jay Handelman

Jay Handelman is the theater and television critic for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he has worked since 1984. He also is President of the Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association and a two-time past chairman of the association's executive committee. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4931. Follow him at @jayhandelman on Twitter. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
Last modified: October 28, 2015
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