The Color Purple
It was first a book by Alice Walker published in 1982; it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1983; Steven Spielberg made it into an award-winning movie in 1985; and finally, The Color Purple, due to the foresight of Producer Scott Sanders, was made into a Broadway Musical, now touring the country and playing at the Ahmanson Theatre in the Music Center, downtown Los Angeles.
The story is about Celie, a young 14-year old Black girl in the South who lives with her sister Nettie and a man she believes is her father. Over the years, “Pa” has sexually abused Celie and then given her son and daughter away. When “Mister” comes around looking to marry Nettie, “Pa” tells him that Nettie is too young and is going to school to become a teacher, but he can have Celie. Forced to go with “Mister,” Celie and Nettie vow to always love one another. Mister proves to be an abusive, tyrannical husband and Celie, who has a low opinion of herself, is subservient to this terrible man.
As the years pass, she believes that Nettie has died because she never hears from her. Because Pa tried to seduce her, Nettie has left and gone to Africa to become a missionary. She has been writing to Celie on a continuing basis, but Mister has been stowing her letters away without letting Celie know anything about them. Nettie does not stop writing, though, hoping that Celie is still alive and that she will hear from her someday. When Blues Singer Shug Avery, who Mister is in love with, comes back to town, her love and friendship with Celie becomes her escape from her miserable existence. Together they discover all of Nettie’s letters and she and Nettie are reunited. The love and understanding of Shug and the other Black women in her life are an influence that helps Celie to overcome all of the diversities she has faced. It is then that her life takes a new turn.
After reading the book and seeing the film, who would have suspected The Color Purple could have been made into such a wonderful musical? With book by Marsha Norman, choreography by Donald Byrd, music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, scenic design by John Lee Beatty, and under the direction of Gary Griffin, this touring company is wonderful. The music, that features a variety of styles from blues, ragtime, gospel and jazz, is stunning as are the voices and performances of the entire cast. Jeannette Bayardelle is absolutely powerful as Celie. Also starring are Felicia P. Fields as Sophia (the role played by Oprah Winfrey in the film version), Michelle Williams (Shug Avery), Stu James (Harpo), LaToya London (Nettie), Stephanie St. James (Squeak) and Rufus Bonds, Jr. (Mister). Continuing at the Ahmanson Theatre through March 9, 2008.