DRAFT REVIEW
Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
An absolute MUST SEE
Explosively electric, high-performance with soaring emotional energy, Tina’s life story will make you cry, angry about what life can bring to someone, and at the same time jumping with joy, singing and dancing along with energetic iconic songs of Tina Turner. This show blew away all my expectations. Hurry and get a ticket, there is only one Tina, and the show is in Hollywood for only a very few days.
She came into this world as Anna Mae Bullock, grew up with her mother rejecting her, and ended up with her grandma raising her. As a child her voice was huge, and from the moment she hit the stage, she gave it all. Then she married Ike Turner phenomenally portrayed by Monty Kane, who helped her become someone, but was cruel, would take all her money and beat her. An incredible story of struggle, abuse and rejection. It was actually her voice that carried her. When she finally got away from Ike, she had nothing, all she had was her name. She started from zero at the age of forty. But, her determination raised her from ashes like a phoenix, with the immense strength of someone who is bigger than life, even though could’ve been destroyed by the abuse. She claims that only by chanting the Buddhist chant ‘Nam Myoho Renge Kyo’ by the Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist group – saved her. She walked away with scars that no spotlight could hide but survived and ended up with her iconic songs and as a top-notch performer.
The show is constantly moving with captivating performance by all ensemble and the backdrop is changing so fast behind them with all the incredible visuals. With effortless, top notch singing and dancing the queen of rock’n roll is born. Darilyn Burtley, with her bigger than life voice turns into wild Tina Turner with the stage presence, the pitch, the power, the emotions. What an energy, what a voice, she literally does not stop. She deserves every award we can give her. What energy, what a voice! She is simply the best!
The little girl performing Tina as a child is fabulous, already showing her talent and a powerful voice. Strong performance gives us Katrina Mayddit, who plays her mother, Zelma Bullock, and she is as cruel as she can be. Eva Ruwe is the beautiful gran Georgeanna. I can’t express enough how absolutely perfect everyone is. And the costume changes, my Goodness, in front of our very eyes she was transformed in no time. And how very wonderful all the costumes are. Bravo to everyone involved in any capacity!
The audience was wild. Some were singing along, some were jumping and some were screaming. Everyone was rocking and I don’t know how anyone could sleep that night, not the audience and especially not performers, the adrenaline of icon Tina Turner was all around us.
The production of TINA stays at Pantages, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., for only a few days. It opened on April 14 and it goes until April 19 only. Hurry and get your ticket. You will not be sorry, but rather see the performance of a lifetime.