Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

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Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 6:18pm

Ok, I know this is a bit early but this will be the thread to post links to reviews for the "The Color Purple: The Musical"

I suspect all raves!

"I knew this was probably going to happen." - Rathnait62

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 6:18pm

A work of art is an invitation to love.

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 6:20pm

.................................................................................................................................

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 6:21pm

Unless they do some serious revision during the workshop this summer, this show is going to be trashed. It's like one of those black gospel shows they bring into the Beacon Theatre. They should have called it:

SING CELIE SING, YOUR ARMS TOO SHORT TO BOX WITH THE COLOR PURPLE.

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 6:25pm

Ohhh. I get it. Took some time to register there...

Grace: I just gave a quarter to a homeless man. I think it was Johnny Depp.

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 6:29pm

michael bennett, THANK YOU!!!!! i've been saying this since october and no one agrees at all...i had a MISERABLE time when i saw this in atlanta. HATED the show, and i adore the book & the film...it's nice to know i'm not alone :)

"I'll eat some breakfast then change the world." "I hate you, and I hate your ass face!"

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 6:42pm

wait? I thought it was opening like next year?

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 6:42pm

wait? I thought it was opening like next year?

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 7:08pm

Oh, I'm definitely with you Will, and the crime is all the more egregious when you take into account what potentially great source material this is. But this version isn't rooted in what most of us would call the fundamentals of musical theatre writing.

The book is thin. The songs, written by a committee of composers tends to shop the show cold (in the wrong kind of way)rarely if ever advancing the story. And the characterizations were out of Jim Crow's old vaudeville act. I would have been less offended had the cast been in black face.

The show may have been popular in Atlanta, but the powers that be who saw the show in NYC were quick to realize that the show needed major work, which is obviously why it didn't head straight to Broadway.

#10

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 8:16pm

I just joined this site and am proud to say that I saw The Color Purple in its regional production in Atlanta. I know Marsha Norman, the show's librettist and have studied under her at Julliard. While I (as did an entirely sold out run of audiences at the Alliance Theatre) loved seeing this new musical in its early stage of development, everyone involved knew that it was a work in progress. VARIETY gave the show a very positive review, while pointing out areas for improvement. Audiences of all ages and races cheered night after night. I know the authors have been working diligently since last fall and the new work is stunning and theatrical. I have heard that even Quincy Jones (who composed the film score) has been so blown away by the music on this show that he asked to join the producing team. I don't think he has ever done that before on Broadway? Of course everyone will have to form their own opinion about this production when it comes to Broadway. But if I were a betting woman, I would say that The Color Purple will be one of the highlights of next season!

#11

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 11:18pm

How does the musical handle the Celie/Shug love story? Is it clear that they are lovers or do the writers "Spielberg" it?

#12

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/4/05 at 11:57pm

"If I were a betting woman..."

I'd put my money not on THE COLOR PURPLE but on ABYSSINIA at Goodspeed. I saw it more than a decade ago in workshop and have never forgotten it. I can't wait to see it again. It is simply one of the greatest musicals I have ever seen. Why it hasn't been produced on Broadway is a mystery.

#13

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/5/05 at 8:31am

The Color Purple musical largely adheres to Alice Walker's original novel in its story lines. It is much closer to the book than the film.

#14

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/5/05 at 8:50am

Are there plans to bring it to Broadway? When?

#15

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/5/05 at 10:23am

yes it was known that it was a work in progress, but it needs a LOT of work...i'd can a good 3/4 of the score (there were a few VERY lovely tunes, several were embarassingly bad & the rest were so bland, run-of-the-mill, obligitory gospel numbers that simply didnt register), start from scratch with the book (book? what book?), and replace AT LEAST one principal cast member who was ABYSMAL (no, not LaChanze, who was glorious).

on a different note, i loved the sets & costumes & lighting.

oh, and PLEASE get rid of that damn "greek chorus." if i see one more show with a black "girl group," i think i'm gonna go crazy....at least they kinda sorta worked in Little Shop, Hairspray & Caroline....they were ridiculously out of place here...was like watching Crystal, Ronnette & Chiffon from LSOH playing the "Pick-a-Little" ladies from The Music Man!! HATED IT!!!

"I'll eat some breakfast then change the world." "I hate you, and I hate your ass face!"

#16

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/5/05 at 1:23pm

Am I crazy, or aren't Celie and Shug lovers in the Spielberg movie? I remember the kiss. Maybe it was PG-13ed.

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

#17

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 5/5/05 at 1:33pm

There was a kiss in the movie (Shug kisses Celie, Celie laughs shyly and covers her mouth), but I don't think there was any suggestion of a physical relationship beyond that (unlike the book).

#18

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 12/1/05 at 6:22pm

FOR THE RECORD.... I started this thread on May 4th.

"I knew this was probably going to happen." - Rathnait62

#19

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 12/1/05 at 10:40pm

well there are obviously different opinions on this show, VERY mixed, some think its Horrible others think its gorgeous, I for one just wish it the best of luck and hope it can stay on Broadway as long it should

#20

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 12/1/05 at 11:21pm

Sorry--hadn't seen the other thread

Updated On: 12/1/05 at 11:21 PM

#21

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 12/1/05 at 11:23pm

AP Review. It's mixed.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/THEATER_THE_COLOR_PURPLE?SITE=TXHAR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

#22

re: Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Posted: 12/1/05 at 11:25pm

Check the other thread. That review has been up for a while.

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

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*Official* The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread

Official The Color Purple: The Musical Review Thread