Review: 'In the Name of Love - The Diana Ross Story' (23/06/23)

[As published on Facebook]

'In the Name of Love - The Diana Ross Story’ - SPA PAVILION | SATURDAY 23 JUNE, 2023

A Review by Laura Locke, of Felixstowe Radio

It was a wonderful way to spend a summer seaside evening - at the Diana Ross Show. The production had all the class and culture of the retro Motown shows, depicting the original original Supremes and Diana Ross in the early stage of their careers and her evolution to a solo career.

An informative narrative and old stills plotted the story of Diana from her origins with the Supremes.

In the first half Cheri Jade played the young Diana Ross with The Supremes, and Tameka Jackson was her later solo persona. Both had invested time in research of the character and style of the singer at different stages of her life and had great voices. Cheri's Diana was less expansive and reflected the early stage of her development and Tameka's was all the Diana the crowd wanted, posing for selfies with them in the auditorium while still singing one of Diana's classics.

An incredible repertoire, including:- Where Did Our Love Go’, ‘Baby Love’, ‘Stop in The Name of Love’, ‘Reflections’, ‘You Keep Me Hanging On’, ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’, ‘Stoned Love’, ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, All of My Life’, ‘Touch Me In The Morning’, ‘Upside Down’, ‘My Old Piano’, ‘I’m Coming Out’, ‘Chain Reaction’, and so many more.

The show band was excellent with a woman MD on the keyboards and a very talented female saxophonist/ flautist which the listeners to my Laura Unlocked woman's hour on Felixstowe Radio won't be surprised to hear went down a treat. Speaking to the producer and creator of the Diana Ross show Colin Jones afterwards, he was keen to ensure that women had a large part in the production, not just as singers. A musician himself, he had suffered a serious accident and had been unable to work for some time and he had developed his passion for Motown then and during the pandemic, curated and this and other shows. After more than a year of touring, his enthusiasm was undiminished.

Beautifully costumed, the backing singers were all highly skilled soloists in their own right. Soaring voices and big characters they kept on going over the costume changes

The evening culminated with a rousing anthem - ‘I Will Survive' - which seemed to be highly appropriate for many in the audience.

Thanks to Tameka Jackson for chatting to me on the phone on my show yesterday. The sound suffered a bit in places but she was charming. Listen again - Friday www.felixstoweradio.org.uk at 1.13