HIPPEST TRIP the Soul Train Musical World Premier in San Francisco

'"Soul Train"' the African-American focused music/dance show first premiered on Saturday mornings in Oct. '1971.  The groundbreaking show brought the dance styles, music and fashion of the African-American community to the forefront.  The show was created by Don Cornelius with the intent to present a positive image of black culture as cool and vibrant.  The popularity of the show drew in  audiences of mixed races and ethnicities while contributing to the growing prestige of Black culture and Black artists.  The world premier for the musical based on Don Cornelius and the hip, hit show "Soul Train"  was in Sept. of this year with designs of moving it to Broadway.  All the makings for a major musical hit would seem on board with a winning soundtracks of the 70s from which to leave your worries behind, funky styles to express yourself and the world's "greatest dancers."  Helping recreate the dances the way they were and the way we like it, uh huh, is three time Tony nominated choreographer Camille Brown.  The Oscar and Emmy nominated Brown received the 2020 Obie for Sustained Excellence in Choreography.  HIPPEST TRIP is relying heavily upon the dancing for giving us GOOD TIMES and A NIGHT to REMEMBER.  The dancin keeps  on groven thanks to Brown's choreography that captures the look and feel of the original SOUL TRAIN dancers.   Original show footage mirrors the live staging providing a  fun comparison and authenticity.  Smart use of musical numbers moved the storyline along with lyrics as in "Smiling Faces" and "I'm so Tired of Being Alone."  The high energy of the first act falters in the second.  The show's playwright, Dominique Morris is a Tony nominated and two time Obie winner.  Unfortunately, the second act runs off track as Cornelius' vision for the show runs against a mighty BRICK HOUSE of shifting trends in music and dance.   Although he fights the power of current influences Don yields begrudgingly as you gotta move on with the times.  The conflicts in the drama only  smolder.  Don and his steadfast assistant plow through problems without major resistance. The dancers' squabbles felt mostly frivolous. The climatic confrontation between Don and his youngest son felt construed.   Don Cornelius (Quentin Darrington) had a spectacular singing voice but delivered all his lines in a singularly, stentorian registered as cliche.  For HIPPEST TRIP to make the trip to Broadway, Morris will need to tighten up the drama.  The muddled second act gets a rousing finale with SOUL TRAIN's iconic line dancing and dancing in the aisles. It get's introduced as a footnote by Don Cornelius returning posthumously for an encore. The show is worth resesitating.  It needs some polishing before being presented for a broad audience.  I wish for peace, love and Soul Train to ride again.