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PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

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#1

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:04am

Tony Award® winner Leslie Odom, Jr. stars in Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, the rousing, laugh-filled comedy by Kennedy Center honoree Ossie Davis that tells the story of a Black preacher’s machinations to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church.

Purlie Victorious originally premiered on Broadway in 1961 and starred Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Alan Alda, Godfrey Cambridge, Sorrell Booke and Beah Richards.

Purlie Victorious opens on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre on September 27, 2023.

#5

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:03pm

NY Observer:

Review: Satire Comes in All Colors in Ossie Davis’s ‘Purlie Victorious’

Led by Leslie Odom Jr. as a conniving preacher with a conscience, this revival of a 1961 satire of the old South has clockwork staging that makes humor a weapon against historic injustice.

https://observer.com/2023/09/review-satire-comes-in-all-colors-in-ossie-daviss-purlie-victorious/

#6

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:05pm

Theatrely is mixed

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Has Lost None of Its Bite — Review

https://www.theatrely.com/post/purlie-victorious-has-lost-none-of-its-bite-review

"Back on Broadway for the first time since its historic 1961 premiere, Davis’ play has lost little of its bite. But under an ill-suited Kenny Leon’s direction, it has received an unevenly paced and tonally confused production that never finds the same delightful boldness as Young’s performance."

#7

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:07pm

Washington Post is a rave:

‘Purlie Victorious’ with Leslie Odom Jr. laughs wryly at racism

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater/2023/09/27/purlie-victorious-leslie-odom-broadway/

"A godawful White character prowls “Purlie Victorious” — the extremely funny anti-racist farce receiving its first Broadway revival — and Jay O. Sanders is having the time of his life playing him. In fact, everyone in director Kenny Leon’s zanily vivacious production — including Leslie Odom Jr. as a dashing preacher, scheming for the money to found his own integrated Georgia church — seems rhapsodically absorbed in the mechanics of Ossie Davis’s wise 1961 comedy."

#8

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:08pm

Holdren in Vulture is positive:

A Vintage Satire That Still Has Sting: Purlie Victorious Returns

https://www.vulture.com/2023/09/theater-review-purlie-victorious-leslie-odom-jr-kara-young-ossie-davis.html

"Happily, I have no need to keep my mouth shut about Purlie Victorious. (Conveniently, too, since my job is to run it constantly.) Fast, fierce, and big-hearted, the show crackles with the verve of its central performances, and the play, at 62 years old, feels wittier, braver, less careful, and more caring than much contemporary writing. Both unflinching and generous, it’s just about as sharp as satire gets."

#10

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:11pm

Variety: ‘Purlie Victorious’ Review: Broadway Revival of the Ossie Davis Satire Is a Delightful Romp Centering Black Joy and the Absurdity of Racism

https://variety.com/2023/legit/reviews/purlie-victorious-review-broadway-1235734487/

"Directed by Kenny Leon, the beauty of the Black vernacular is embedded in the “Purlie Victorious” script. Specificities of Black American life are infused within the jokes as Odom and the cast deftly switch from comedy to drama on a dime. The rapid pacing of the 100-minute show, running without an intermission, means that portions of the audience erupt in laughter at the sharp jokes. In contrast, others sit silently, the countless one-liners soaring above their heads. It presents a stunning contrast. "

#11

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:12pm

Theatremania:

Review: Purlie Victorious Makes a Triumphant Return to the Broadway Stage

Leslie Odom Jr. and Kara Young star in Kenny Leon’s invigorating revival of Ossie Davis’s 1961 satire.

"Naturally, though, it’s Odom and Young who command the lion’s share of the spotlight here. Odom brings both thunderous passion and a mischievous glint in his eye as the blustery yet well-meaning Purlie. But Young steals the show as the naive yet eager Lutiebelle. Neither of her previous Broadway performances in Clyde’s and Cost of Living quite indicated the gift for physical comedy she dazzlingly displays here; the hilariously awkward gait she adopts during her attempt to seduce Ol’ Cap’n Cotchipee, for instance, must be seen to be believed. Beyond the opportunity it offers to discover, or rediscover, Davis’s still-fresh, still-impressive play itself, she is arguably the best reason to catch this excellent production."

#12

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:15pm

Deadline:

‘Purlie Victorious’ Broadway Review: Leslie Odom, Jr. Keeps Ossie Davis’ Groundbreaking Comedy True To Its Title

https://deadline.com/2023/09/purlie-victorious-broadway-review-1235555904/

"Starring a magnificent Leslie Odom, Jr., in the title role, and featuring equally fine performances by an enchanting Kara Young, Billy Eugene Jones, Vanessa Bell Calloway and more, Purlie Victorious – full title (and one of the few signifiers of its 1961-era creation): Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch – has been given an urgent – and, oh yes, very, very funny – revival by Leon and his top-notch creative team."

#13

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:16pm

Daily Beast: Review: ‘Purlie Victorious’ Skewers Racism With Passion—and Laughter

HISTORY LESSON

Ossie Davis’ 1961 play “Purlie Victorious,” revived on Broadway starring Leslie Odom Jr. and Kara Young, is an indictment of white supremacy that uses humor to puncture prejudice.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/review-purlie-victorious-skewers-racism-with-passionand-laughter

#14

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:18pm

NY Stage Review:

Purlie Victorious: Wickedly Funny, Politically Provocative Antebellum Satire

By Steven Suskin

★★★★★ Leslie Odom Jr. and Kara Young in director Kenny Leon's blazing production of the ground-breaking Ossie Davis comedy

https://nystagereview.com/2023/09/27/purlie-victorious-wickedly-funny-politically-provocative-antebellum-satire/

‘Purlie Victorious’ A Revival That Lives Up to Its Title

By Frank Scheck

★★★★☆ Leslie Odoms, Jr. plays the title role in Kenny Leon's revival of Ossie Davis' 1961 racial satire, also featuring Kara Young and Jay O. Sanders.

https://nystagereview.com/2023/09/27/purlie-victorious-a-revival-that-lives-up-to-its-title/

#17

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 10:58pm

Will be incredibly interesting to see if these reviews have any effect and to what degree on the box office.

#19

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/27/23 at 11:57pm

Doing the play instead of the musical certainly didn't hurt them with the critics.

#20

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/28/23 at 12:06am

I am effusively happy with these reviews. I was at the opening tonight and everyone was firing on all cylinders and all they are looking for are people to come and support the show because, now in plain black and white (or digital), it’s clear that this is a show NOT TO BE MISSED.

 

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm
#23

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/28/23 at 10:20am

I’m curious as to where the New York Post is. I don’t think Johnny O. reviewed it - which is probably a good thing as he’s a man who hates everything.

Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!! www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm
#24

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/28/23 at 10:53am

quizking101 said: "I’m curious as to where the New York Post is. I don’t think Johnny O. reviewed it - which is probably a good thing as he’s a man who hates everything."

I thought the exact same thing

There are like 3 other people called Voter on here, FYI. Deleted comment count: 12
#25

PURLIE VICTORIOUS Opening Night Reviews

Posted: 9/28/23 at 11:26am

I think I'm the only person who wasn't enamored with this. Glad for their reviews, though.

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