To See or Not to See: The Color Purple

The Bernard B. Jacobs Theater in Manhattan was practically bursting with love for The Color Purple and its fantastic cast. Starring Jennifer Hudson, Danielle Brooks, and a stupendous Cynthia Erivo, this Broadway revival is one not to miss.

I was not familiar with the story going into the performance. I only knew that The Color Purple involved some really sad, heavy, and terrible moments involving abuse in a poor, black woman’s life in the South in early 20^th century. Needless to say, I was missing a lot of the story. Without going into too much detail (since I think seeing the musical without knowing much about it is a journey you should take), the basic plotline is about the transformation of Celie (Cynthia Erivo).  The show begins with her, a young, timid, and selfless girl who is pregnant at 14 by her father. It ends 40 years later after many trials and tribulations.

Her life is full of a wide variety of characters that you root for and against. There is Mister (Isaiah Johnson), Celie’s abusive husband. There is his son, Harpo (Kyle Scatliffe)–who you desperately hope does not turn out like Mister. Then, there are the main females in Celie’s life. All of them are bright beacons of light in her otherwise dark world, and their distinct voices weave together to make beautiful musical numbers. Danielle Brooks plays Sofia, a firecracker of a woman, who won’t stop fighting for herself or back down from confrontation, wonderfully. Her strength of character and—at times—comic spirit buoy not just Celie and Harpo, but the audience as well. Jennifer Hudson as Shug Avery is a stunner. Her sensuality (especially evident in her rousing song, “Push Da Button”) and unapologetic air help Celie believe in herself. Finally, there is Nettie (Joaquina Kalukango). Nettie is Celie’s sister, and Kalukango’s quiet and melodic voice and spirit made the bond between the two sisters evident. The supporting cast—from men who work the fields to the Church Ladies—were all quite good as well.

The set and costuming of The Color Purple was in sync with the arc of the story and the emotional growth of Celie. Most of the set pieces used are plain wooden chairs. Not only are they used as chairs to sit upon, they are also used at shovels, as prison bars, and as steps. The backdrop of worn wood walls and hanging wooden chairs evokes the small slightly-worn houses that the characters would have inhabited. Shades of brown and earth tones in the clothes explode into color once Celie comes into her own.

My only complaints about this production are easily brushed aside. The actors did not seem to age throughout the production, so the forty year span of the storyline was easily forgotten. In turn, that made some things harder to grasp (i.e. knowing how many years had passed would have made the abuse she lived with even more tangible to the audience). Additionally, details of the story were glossed over a bit in favor of focusing on the emotions of the characters (i.e. a scene that occurs later in the show where you learn more about Celie’s father). Overall, though, the performances overshadowed any minor issues I had with the production.

Cynthia Erivo was downright phenomenal. Her rendition of “I’m Here” is a show-stopping performance. The audience literally leapt to it’s feet mid-song, and the gratitude and happiness she (and the actors) responded with only made me love the performances even more. Erivo’s voice even changes over the course of the show. She has a delicate, slightly subdued singing voice to start which only grows as she grows into her own skin. By the end, her voice is belted across the theater and into the hearts of each audience member.

The Color Purple is a show that is about loving yourself and finding the beauty and life in the world around you and in you. The audience could feel that because the production was so strong. Audience members were vocal with empathy, agreement, or disapproval of the awful—or good—things that happened. In short, the entire theater felt alive. It is a moment that I doubt anyone will forget anytime soon.

Photo Credit: Menier Chocolate Factory Productions