We had a wonderful evening yesterday, thanks to a very generous friend. They had tickets for a show at the Hippodrome in Bristol but unfortunately was not able to go and very kindly gave them to us. The Bristol Hippodrome is a marvellous building, first opened in 1912 – I must write about it some time. The show we went to see was The Magic of Motown – this is the blurb:
Seen by over a million people, now in its 20th year! It’s no surprise that this show is one of the biggest success stories in British theatre history. Get ready for the biggest Motown party of the year. You will be going loco down in Acapulco as we take you back down memory lane with all the Motown classics from artists such as: Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, and many, many more. Celebrate the sound of a generation with one very special night of The Magic of Motown!
Motown and Soul is my music, I spent nearly every weekend in clubs and discos when I was a student and through my twenties, and my friends and I had so many Motown LPs, they were constantly playing on our Dansette record player in the grotty bedsits and ‘flats’ we lived in as students and young teachers. My husband was always in bands at that time, so he played music in clubs for others to dance to, and I’m not sure his bands played much Soul. So, having tickets to a show which celebrates Motown was just wonderful.
“The Magic of Motown” – unlike tribute shows for just one artists where the performers are trying to be as close to the original artists in looks and costumes, these amazing singers/dancers were giving a flavour of the originals, concentrating on catching the energy, sound and showmanship, and gosh they were brilliant!! They segued from one song to the next, looking as if they were enjoying every minute of the act – they projected talent, class, energy, fun!! It was as if they were each having the time of their life and the audience responded, and before long most of us (all 2000 or so of us) were on our feet, dancing, clapping singing along!
I’m sure everyone had huge grins on their faces as they left the theatre, there was a buzz of excited happy chatter and laughter, our heads and heart full of music and memories. What a night!!
Lois Elsden 