By Chris Heide
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, is one of the most uncomfortable, visceral shows I have ever seen and that is absolutely a good thing. As much as I can, I like to go into a show with little-to-no prior knowledge of what I am about to see. Of course, I am familiar with Tina’s iconic catalogue, and the bits and pieces of her life that I gleaned from that exclusive interview years ago, but beyond that, I did not know what to expect.
On the surface, this appears to be a standard juke box musical. Many of Tina’s songs are peppered into the biographical narrative of her life, illuminating the struggles that she faced as a black woman in an aggressively white era of music. While the breath of her discography is covered in the show, with all of her biggest hits bombastically performed, it is the gritty and unabashed details of her personal life that make the narrative so gripping.
This show does not shy away from the toxicity of her relationship with Ike Turner. Instead, the show leans into visceral and painful moments of domestic violence and abuse. Numerous scenes contain depiction of physical violence, verbal abuse, derogatory speech, gaslighting, and emotional terrorism. As someone who has been a victim of domestic violence, this was a difficult show to watch. I found myself being triggered multiple times throughout the show, as many scenes brought to life experiences I have also had. While it was difficult to watch at time, the show would not have had the same power without those scenes.
The entire show was well cast, with the players slipping easily into the shoes of the real life figures they were portraying. Filling the biggest shoes of all was Ari Groover, as the titular Tina Turner. Her performance in Seattle was her opening night and she gave everything to the role. Her vocal inflections, technical vocal choices, and mannerisms evoked the essence of the iconic singer. At times, especially during the encore of the show, it was as if Tina herself was on stage.
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is an important piece of art. Not only does it celebrate the legacy of an iconic black woman, but it peels back the layers and insidious nature of domestic abuse that forces the audience to perhaps confront their own demons and experiences. This is art- it is elevated beyond a simple jukebox musical and transcends into a reflection on the human condition.