If Oprah's Name Wasn't Attached...

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 3:54pm

would The Color Purple be flopping right now? I can't help but thinking, despite the great material, that it would be at about 40-50 percent capacity without Oprah, and only the mediocre reviews to ride on... Updated On: 1/14/06 at 03:54 PM

[neomystyk29]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 3:57pm

Yes

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 4:04pm

totally! it'd be a huge flop.

[cudramacat]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 4:28pm

Well, I haven't seen the show so I can't say for sure but everything seems to do well when her name is attached so probably.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 4:33pm

Well, the reviews for the show were about as good as Ragtime's and Wicked's reviews, so I don't think it would flop.

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 5:17pm

Yea, I don't think it would flop but it wouldn't be doing as well as it is.

[starsprite]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 5:19pm

Definitely.

[Attendthetale331]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 5:23pm

Yes I would totally agree that Oprah has saved the Color Purple but besides Oprah it has had very good word of mouth and people who have seen it has seemed to like it.

[PJ]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 5:28pm

Without Oprah that show would be a flop. Definitely.

[Corine2]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 5:30pm

I loved the Color Purple. The performers, give the performance of a lifetime.
People should go and see it. It has so much heart.
Felicia Fields and La Chanze made the show exceptional.
Oprah, is smart to be behind such a wonderful piece of art.
Go and see The Color Purple.

I will admit that Felicia Fields made every second she was on a joy ride. HELL, YES!

I have seen it twice. Additionally, it was among my favorites this season.

Updated On: 1/14/06 at 05:30 PM

[Anakela]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 5:46pm

eh- I went to see it in spite of the huge "Oprah Winfrey Presents..." tag, and I haven't seen her tv show in years, and I *love* The Color Purple, planning a third trip soon. But I'm probably the exception here.

[BroadwayRandy0711]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 5:52pm

I purchased my tickets before Oprah put her name on it. I think that it would have been successful but not as much as it has turned out to be. IMO. I loved this show. I got really, really sick during the second act and just wanted to crawl up and sleep, but it kept my interest.

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 6:32pm

I would have seen it regardless, but I am also a avid theatre goer so I love to see everything that comes out. But mainstream audiences might have avoided it or overlooked the musical if they didn't see that Oprah was somehow involved.

She was also a great publicity tool. Think of all the women that watch Oprah and are slaves to her every whim. They are most likely flocking to NYC right now.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 8:18pm

It will only carry it so far. The music is terrible with or without Oprah's name attached.

[TLKfan]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 10:30pm

Actually when I heard about the musical I was more excited about the actors and the story. When I think that Oprah's name is attached that makes me NOT want to see it. So, maybe I'm the only one on the other side, but I really don't care if Oprah is behind it because I wanted to see it for other reasons.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 11:00pm

But WE aren't the general public. Most people are seeing the show because Oprah is attached.

[iliketheater]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 11:18pm

I disagree with all of you. I think that the majority of people are going to see this show becuase it's THE COLOR PURPLE. A movie (and a novel) that's very close to the heart of many Americans. It dosen't matter if her name was on it or not. People would see it becuase of the show that it is - didn't you see the urn-out for opening night... they weren't all there just to support Oprah, they were there for the story, and that's why I went as well.
Updated On: 1/14/06 at 11:18 PM

[ajayspak2]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 11:25pm

I agree with iliketheater, the book and the movie has millions of fans, Oprah's name of course doesn't hurt but it would still not be a flop if her name was on it regardless if the show sucks, because of the following of the source material.

[chernjam]

Posted: 1/14/06 at 11:26pm

In a theatre the size of the Broadway - they have to be thanking Oprah day and night that she has been plugging it to all those couch potatoe mom's at home who haven't seen a play/musical in decades, but buy every book the mighty Oprah deigns worthy that she got involved when she did. Please, she's given them the equivalent of national commercials with her show (and more promised - no conflicts of intrest there!). I doubt a year or two from now it will be doing as well as it is.

The film is a masterpiece, but the musical of it was a bad idea on paper.

Jim

[Lamc16]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 1:14am

Without a doubt

[Urban]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 3:19am

People expected the next 'Ragtime' but instead got the next 'Wicked'.

Meaning even without Oprah, it still proberly would be a success because the book/movie isn't exactly some obscure work, but big and well remembered and it would draw the tourists regardless.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 9:04am

All Oprah's doing is encouraging people from all over the country to come see a gorgeous piece of theater. Go, O! She rocks. Unlike many deserving shows that have trouble drawing in an audience, thanks to O, this one is actually getting the props it deserves to succeed. That's awesome.

Updated On: 1/15/06 at 09:04 AM

[Rebekah]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 11:05am

This is really interesting that Oprah backing The Color Purple is found as a positive while ALW is found as a negative for his work with Woman in White???

Does that mean The Color Purple will be the next longest running musical?

[Flahooley]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 2:56pm

Following this logic, BELOVED would have been a BIG hit film.

[soapguy17]

Posted: 1/15/06 at 3:59pm

She put it out there and this was something that people who feel in love with the book and the movie both wanted to see.
It had very, very little to do with her name. It's the base material that made it a hit, and Renee Goldsberry