‘Super Freak: The Rick James Story’ is thoroughly entertaining

Super Freak: The Rick James Story presented by Je’Caryous Johnson and Ty James invaded Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, for multiple shows, with the final performance on Sunday, April 14. The show’s star, singer, actor, songwriter and musician Stokely Williams, best known as the lead singer of the R&B group Mint Condition, plays the talented and troubled James.

Part musical, part play, part comedy, the show was very entertaining throughout. Actor and singer Kobe Brown plays the younger Rick James, born James Ambrose Johnson Jr. and actress and singer Chontelle Moore is amazing in her role as Momma Johnson, the mother of Rick James.

The highlight of the show is clearly Williams, whose versatile vocals bring the catalog of the deceased funk legend to life with soul-stirring renditions of “Give It To Me,” “Mary Jane,” and of course, “Super Freak.” Arguably, the vocal highlight of the show is the performance of James’ debut with singer Teena Marie.

Other highlights of the show included the many performances and appearances of some of the contemporaries and collaborators of James, including Prince, the Mary Jane Girls, Lionel Ritchie, and MC Hammer, who sampled James in his ubiquitous 1990 hit “You Can’t Touch This.” Appearances by Stevie Wonder, Ashford and Simpson, Diana Ross, Charlie Murphy, and Marvin Gaye are also included. 

“Thank you so much for supporting Black theater,” producer Je’Caryous Johnson, who was joined by Ty James, the daughter of Rick James, told the audience after the performance, adding that James was more than sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. “Black theater is absolutely necessary. We need to be able to tell our stories, so we don’t get erased from history.”

Super Freak: The Rick James Story will hit theaters in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New Orleans before closing at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta.