Parris Lewis performing ‘River Deep — Mountain High’ (Photo by Matthew Murphy for Murphy Made)
The most effective scene in telling Tina Turner’s story takes place just a couple of miles from Fair Park Music Hall, where Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is playing through Feb. 4 before moving to Bass Hall for a week.
To escape Ike Turner’s brutality, Tina left her room in the Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas and ran barefoot across I-30 to the Ramada Inn, now the Lorenzo Hotel, where an understanding hotel manager gave her a room for a few days until she could arrange transportation back to family.
Brianna Cameron, who plays young Anna-Mae (Tina), has the most surprising voice among the cast. The 4th grader can belt out a song and hold her own against any of the adult cast members, who all seem to love her. She won over the audience in the opening scene and received a stand ovation through the encore.
Parris Lewis as adult Tina does a great job vocally as well as with Tina’s dance moves but never resorts to parody. She tells Tina’s story with the interpretation of a skilled actress (and singer and dancer).
Deon Releford-Lee’s Ike is also spot on. Tina and her mother had been abused by her father. Ike carried on the tradition. When Ike began battering Tina just like her father did, why didn’t she leave? They had a complicated relationship. Ike controlled the money. There were her two sons. And, despite how unfaithful he was, there was love. Releford-Lee’s interpretation of Ike brings out all the facets of a complicated person.
A funny part of the story comes through as Tina begins her solo career. She never quite says it, but she must have hated the song “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” At least until she finally gave in to all the coaxing and made the song her own. But, as presented, the song was written as a dreary love ballad that the audience laughs at. Tina proves what an original she was when Lewis belts out Tina’s version.
And finally, revenge against the audience members who refuse to applaud, but race from their seats to their cars. They missed one of the highlights of the show — the encore. And what an encore it is. I won’t spoil it, but don’t race out of the theater. If you love Tina and miss Tina, Lewis and company finish the show in satisfying Tina style.
Tina Turner fans shouldn’t miss this one.
— David Taffet
