By this point, Stage West has established the fact that they know how to put on a musical revue. While it may seem simple as it unfolds on stage, having to choose from at times thousands of songs, figure out how best to lay out the show, take care of casting and choreography – it takes a lot of effort.

That is not to mention the challenges that come with a specific genre - the Detroit Motown sound. Creators Howard Pechet, Timothy French, and the Stage West creative team certainly had their work cut out for them. Luckily, Canada has a diverse range of talent that can capture the heart and soul of Motown and bring it to life 50 years after Berry Gordy Jr. started Motown Records.

Your enjoyment of the show will depend on a few factors: the first, of course, being whether you like musical revues. If you do, then Motown Gold is what you would expect, a fun evening revisiting classic songs, much like past revues British Invasion, California Dreaming, Canadian Explosion and others.

Motown Gold is a definitive who’s who of the genre. The 10 performers swiftly change costumes, voices, and mannerisms to capture the performers they portray. The highlights include Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Jackson 5, The Temptations and The Four Tops - all fitting tributes that, in some cases, exceed the originals.

That said, personally, this show lacked the connection that I have had with past musical revues. Perhaps it was the generation gap that left me cold compared to One Hit Wonders and California Dreaming 2 - the most current songs to make the list for Motown are Brandy & Monica’s The Boy Is Mine and Remy Shand’s Take a Message To My Love. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed myself and the performers themselves were as good as any past revue.

Those who are familiar with songs like Stevie Wonder’s My Cherie Amour, Mary Wells You Beat Me To The Punch, The Temptations My Girl, or Smokey Robinson & The Miracles The Tears of a Clown will thoroughly enjoy themselves. Others may develop a new appreciation for these classics.

That said, the show is just part of the reason why people go to Stage West. The buffet this holiday season will certainly leave guests satisfied. I was ecstatic to see one of my favourite staples - Caesar salad - return to its original form after an attempt to change it last show. I really enjoyed the Indonesian Beef Short Ribs and Southern Fried Chicken Breast. In honour of Christmas, they are also serving up tender turkey with fixings.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for the music lover in your life, or want a fun evening out for yourself, Motown Gold could be the perfect choice. I’d suggest you get tickets early, as word of mouth last year sold out British Invasion and may do the same for Motown.