OrdinayJukebox1's review of "The Color Purple."
OrdinayJukebox1's review of "The Color Purple."
OrdinaryJukebox
Featured Actor Joined: 6/7/06
#0OrdinayJukebox1's review of "The Color Purple."
Posted: 7/18/06 at 8:03am
So, I've read nothing but wonderful things about this show. I saw LaChanze and the woman who plays Shug perform on "Broadway on Broadway," and I enjoyed it. I watched the Tony performance, and though I thought LaChanze should have had more to do, I enjoyed that too. So, this past Sunday morning, I decided to wake up at 7 in the morning (on my only day off, mind you) to wait in the Rush ticket line. I got to the theatre a little after 8, to find a line already formed. After a few people said they were there for tickets to the evening show, I felt better knowing I was sure to get a rush seat. However, the word was getting around that LaChanze doesn't do matinee's. At first, this really annoyed me. I mean, I was there to see the show, but I really wanted to see if that Tony was justified. Who the hell am I, I know, but still...
Minutes before they opened the box office, five hours later, a fight broke out over who was in line first, and where were all of these people in the front coming from, and blah, blah, blah. There was someone with a camera filming this, it was just tacky. Anyway, the rush policy was two tickets per person. My boyfriend and I needed three tickets, one for each of us and one for our friend who joined us. The asshole at the box office was such a pri*k that he didn't give us tickets together, although he had them, I SAW them through the window, and he just rushed me out of line saying, "I'm not making my job harder so you can sit with your friends." What exactly would have made his job harder is beyond me, but he's an idiot. The girl right behind us in line was very sweet and switched her tickets with us so we could all sit together.
Wow, this is really long already. Anyway, the show was AMAZING! Everything I read was totally right on, and I just loved every minute of it. The best part was there were about five under-studies that day. All of the under study slips came tumbling out of the program, and I was rushing like a mad person to see if LaChanze was one of them, and she wasn't!!!
Man, oh man, did that little lady ever so deserve that freakin' tony award!! She took my breath away with every scene, every song, she just nailed it, and I LOVED every minute of it. The cast was amazing, and the show is just...there were no words. My boyfriend and our friend, and I were all crying like idiots! It was well worth the 5 hour wait in the heat. I'm going again...soon!
-Vincent
#1re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/18/06 at 9:25amGlad you enjoyed the show as much as I did.. What understudies did you see?
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#2re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/18/06 at 9:45am
I'm eager to hear which understudies you saw too. Glad you loved this glorious show! 
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#3re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/18/06 at 9:59amGlad you liked the show! I can't wait to see it.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
OrdinaryJukebox
Featured Actor Joined: 6/7/06
#4re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/18/06 at 8:52pm
Mister was an understudy...as was Squeek, the preacher, and the father...all of the lady leads were in (thank God because they were ALL amazing))...ugh...this show should have won far more Tony's than it did...
-Vincent
#5re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/18/06 at 9:01pm
When I saw the show for the second time it was with those same understudies in. I was dissappointed with both Mister's and Squeak's understudies, but it didn't affect the show much. And LaChanze is phenomenal so I'm glad you got to see her but her understudy does a great job in the role too!
Oh! And the second time I rushed an argument broke out..not a fight..thankfully! But yeah, it can get pretty tense. My advice to anyone who rushes for this show in the future: stake you place in line and stay there and know the rules before you go! The people who work at the box office can be quite mean....probably because they have had to deal with things like fights quite a lot!
Updated On: 7/18/06 at 09:01 PM
gustof777
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/8/04
#6re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/18/06 at 9:01pmoh yay i'm so glad you had a good time. LaChanze is incredible!
RIP Natasha Richardson. ~You were a light on this earth ~
#7re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/18/06 at 9:52pm
"...ugh...this show should have won far more Tony's than it did..."
Thank you!!! I've been saying this ever since Tony night, and very few people agree with me!
When I saw it, I was crying like an idiot, too, pretty much for all of Act II. Wasn't "African Homeland" beautiful? It brought tears to my eyes, just because it was so amazing. I don't see how ANYBODY could not appreciate that.
"I believe that art does not exist only to entertain, but also to challenge one to think, to provoke, even to disturb, to engage in a constant search for the truth."
- Barbra Streisand
#8re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/18/06 at 10:00pm
I forgot to mention in my write-up of the show...
Those that saw the OBC, go back and see it again! Darlesia Cearcy is a fantastic replacement as Nettie, and she was one of the many in this production who astounded me.
Just wanted to give her a mention.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#9re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/18/06 at 11:06pmi also got the understudy for mister, and i didn't like hime at all...oh mah god- i cried the whole time during "african homeland"- one of the most beautiful songs i have ever seen performed. wasn't elisabeth withers mendes incredible?
broadwaybelter
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/26/04
#10re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/18/06 at 11:22pm
nice! Glad you and your boyfriend enjoyed yourselves
#11re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/19/06 at 5:01am
jaesdare, yes, Elisabeth Withers-Mendes -- along with LaChanze -- carries that gorgeous show. I love Beth Leavel, but I honestly believe Best Featured Actress in a Musical should have gone to Elisabeth Withers-Mendes and Best Score should have gone to THE COLOR PURPLE. THE DROWSY CHAPERONE still would have won Best Book, Scenic Design, and Costume Design. But in the end, I'm just happy that LaChanze won. THE COLOR PURPLE has one of the most talented, hard-working casts on Broadway.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
Updated On: 7/19/06 at 05:01 AM
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
bwayondabrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/05
#12re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:23am
i hope i can get rush tickets for this on Sunday
ill get there like 9...i hope that is early enough!
i want to see this soooo bad!!!!!!
:/
#13re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:28amTry and get there earlier if you want to ensure that you will get a ticket! Good luck!
#14re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:38amWord on the street is you need to be there at around 7am for Sunday performances to ensure you get rush tickets.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#15re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:55amWow. I am so glad you enjoyed the show as well as LaChanze's performance. She totally deserved her Tony win and I hope that after her run in TCP ends, she will get another job on Broadway soon. Truly an incredible talent!
bwayondabrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/05
#16re: OrdinayJukebox1's review of 'The Color Purple.'
Posted: 7/19/06 at 10:06am
wow, 7! earliness
i dont know if i can be there then, but ill try
and if i dont get rush tickets this trip, ill just try and get tickets for another time i go to nyc :P
wish me luck!
:)
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