Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?

[TennesseeTwang]

Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#0

Posted: 7/2/05 at 6:43pm

The LA Times Calendar section has a interesting piece about the revival of the Tony-winning musical Purlie that's supposedly headed for Broadway.

Will a satirical play about race relations in the pre-civil rights era deep South seem relevant today or will it come across as hopelessly outdated? Perhaps even reactionary?

http://www.calendarlive.com/stage/cl-ca-purlie3jul03,0,5218509.story?coll=cl-stage-top-right

As much as I'd love to see two incredibly talented singing actresses like Loretta Devine and Paulette Ivory in a big shiny Broadway vehicle, I worry that this thing can go seriously, embarassingly, wrong.

The article also brings up some interesting thoughts about the concept of a "black musical" in and of itself.

Should seeing more black musicals be what is aimed for in artistic circles or should employing more black and other performers of color through non-traditional casting be the goal? OR, should both things be the goal?

Any thoughts?

[Mr Roxy]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#1

Posted: 7/2/05 at 6:44pm

If it entertains, it is relavant & has done its job

Poster Emeritus

[gymman]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#2

Posted: 7/2/05 at 6:47pm

I don't know that it was particuarly "relevent" when I saw it in 1972 (?), so I don't think that makes much difference.

[TennesseeTwang]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#3

Posted: 7/2/05 at 7:06pm

I take it that you don't think it's dated piece. So is it entertaining enough for today's audiences? And I also very carefully ask, 'Is it too black?'

By that I mean, will it have any appeal to anyone other than black audiences who as the myth goes, don't go to Broadway plays anyway.

[gymman]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#4

Posted: 7/2/05 at 7:13pm

Check out the "Black" audiences at Raisin in the Sun, Julius Ceasar, and August Wilson's plays, dreamgirls...
"Blacks" as a group do not do anything, just as "Whites" as a group do not too anything...

You probably don't mean to be, but you are bordering on racism here; why wouldn't white folks see Purlie if it is well done? It is certainly not a "message" show, and audiences were mixed the first time around, when it had a successful run. It's not especially dated since it is set in the past, not 1972 (as, for example, something like Hair is inevitably dated.)

[TennesseeTwang]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#5

Posted: 7/2/05 at 7:22pm

I don't necessarily believe that white audiences won't go to see Purlie if it's a good show. Nor do I think that black people are a monolith who avoid Broadway at all costs. I was attempting to be the Devil's Advocate.

[eslgr8]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#6

Posted: 7/2/05 at 8:32pm

I'm seeing it tomorrow and will post my comments then.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#7

Posted: 7/2/05 at 8:40pm

PURLIE was nearly dated when it came out. Happily, it is even more so now. The piece, playing on ancient stereotypes and situations, has virtually no contemporary resonance and doesn't merit a revival, least of all on Broadway, whatsoever.

[BroadwayBaby6]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#8

Posted: 7/4/05 at 11:19am

I saw it yesterday and thought the current production was quite entertaining, very well sung, very well directed, and very funny. Jacques C. Smith was excellent as Purlie and Loretta Devine was wonderful as always. The whole cast was excellent.I definitely recommend seeing it.

"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"

[Michael Bennett]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#9

Posted: 7/4/05 at 11:30am

I don't think we'll see a revival of this on Broadway unless Oprah Winfrey wants to make her Broadway debut. I just don't see where the audience is going to come from.

[TennesseeTwang]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#10

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:02pm

BroadwayBaby6, did it seem dated or quaint? That was the thing I was most concerned about. And you failed to single out Paulette Ivory for special praise. Was she not as good as the others?

[BroadwayBaby6]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#11

Posted: 7/4/05 at 1:40pm

Some of the humor is dated and some of it did resonate better with black audience members. Some of the humor came off (in a good way) as a G-rated version of a David Chappelle skit.I thought the show was pretty funny and that Sheldon Epps' crisp direction really captured the humor.

Paulette Ivory was excellent. I was very disappointed when I heard that Anika Noni Rose dropped out but Paulette made me forget all about Anika. Paulette's portrayal was excellent. Her acting and singing were first-rate. You would never guess in a million years that Paulette is English- her southern accent and mannerisms were perfect.

I don't think the current Broadway climate would let Purlie succeed. NY critics hated Play On, the last show that Sheldon Epps took to Broadway. I thought Play On was absolutely brilliant. I think the show would do well to find a (more economically feasible) home off-broadway and do well on tour to cities such as Atlanta, DC, and Philadelphia.

Most people don't realize that there is a huge market for black musicals and plays. Low-budget tour shows such as "Beauty Shop" and the gospel musical "Your Arms are too short to box with god" sell out auditoriums and halls in major cities.These are shows that are only advertised in black media outlets (mostly on radio stations) and are very popular. If Purlie were marketed in the same way, it could become a huge hit with black audiences.

"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"

[eslgr8]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#12

Posted: 7/4/05 at 7:47pm

I saw Purlie last night, (and had the pleasure of meeting a fellow theater lover, Broadwaybaby6!). I agree with his comments 100%. The production itself is first rate, with all the actors giving excellent performances. Paulette Ivory is absolutely charming and lovely, and sings up a storm, especially in the hit song I Got Love. Loretta is divine, and Jacques C. Smith charismatic as Purlie. Wonderful dancing, and an especially lovely set (expected from the playhouse). As to the show's relevance, it is definitely a period piece, however that is not necessarily a bad thing. Just as often complacent young gay people today would do well to understand a time not so long ago when things were uniformly difficult for us, there is benefit to be gotten from looking back at a time when black people faced flagrant and institutionalized bigotry (ie segration and the hateful attitudes that accompanied it) and the idea of black pride was as much an oxymoron as gay pride was in the 1950s and before. The Playhouse's audience was much more mixed than I've ever seen. Sheldon Epps feels that black people are an untapped audience for musicals, and Purlie definitely has a future with that audience. Hopefully, there will also be more contemporary musicals also developped for an African American audience. Purlie is definitely a step in the right direction, and whatever its potential to be on Broadway, the current production definitely has local hit written all over it.
Updated On: 7/4/05 at 07:47 PM

[Mr. Tuttle]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#13

Posted: 7/4/05 at 8:32pm

This musical and this version is certainly not headed for Broadway. That's just some PR spin.

I think this years dreadful version at Encores put an end to this.

Ignorance is temporary. Stupidity last forever. Watch out BWW... HE'S BACK.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#14

Posted: 7/4/05 at 10:33pm

Absolutely. And a lot of the awfulness has to be attributed to Epps' pedestrian direction.

Captain Bossman
Tuskaloosa, Alabama

[eslgr8]

re: Is the Broadway-bound musical Purlie still relevant?#15

Posted: 7/4/05 at 11:44pm

Mr. Tuttle, please refrain from judging the current full production at the Pasadena Playhouse from the staged reading at Encores. The current production should be judged on its own merits by people who have seen it.