Purlie

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:12pm

I saw Purlie at Encores this afternoon, and I was quite surprised at how thin the plot is. Did anyone else have that impression?

[Yorkie1276]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:14pm

I haven't seen the Encores production, but yeah, the plot is thin. Some good tunes, though.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:17pm

I think what's missing is there needs to be a subplot between Gitlow and Missy.

[Yorkie1276]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:18pm

That could work.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:19pm

I felt that their characters stood around and didn't do much.

Updated On: 4/2/05 at 10:19 PM

[Yorkie1276]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:22pm

How was Anika?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:23pm

I agree, goth. I'm not that familiar with the show aside from this performance, so I actually blamed it on that and the nature of the production rather than on the plot, but here's what I said:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=844160&dt=040205010101

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:40pm

Remember that this is an Encores production and as such they cut out roughly a half an hour of the book -- that's why the plot seemed thin.

I enjoyed it, though the actors were directed to play what is supposed to be a VERY BROAD comedy way too subtly. With the exception of Doug E. Doug, none of them seemed to understand that this is supposed to be a comedy. I was especially disappointed with Anika Noni Rose. That she couldn't belt out Luttiebelle's music with the same multi-octave bravura that Moore brought to the role wasn't surprising (few could) -- though she did OK. That she underplayed the comedy so much (and lost dozens of laughs in the process) was mystifying.

Lillias White was also too subdued, at least in Act One. Thankfully she came to life and she and Rose stopped the show with "He Can Make It" in Act II. Underwood cut a dashing figure and was a pretty decent Purlie (though, I'd be lying if I didn't say I wished Norm Lewis would have taken off the week from Dessa Rose to do the role). Cullum was Cullum, a little lost here and there with the lines, but still a pleasure to watch. The ensemble and orchestra were terrific.

We'll see if the national tour of the show that starts in a few months ends up on Broadway. I just hope they get a director who understands the style necessary for this piece and a cast of powerful singing comedic actors (Doug E. Doug, who stole every scene he was in, and maybe White would be the only ones I would retain for a Broadway mounting).

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:41pm

I also have to say that the Encores adapter, David Ives, IMO didn't understand the material. In the talkback after the show, he spoke about Ossie Davis writing it from a place of anger. A few minutes later Ossie's daughter stood up and said that it wasn't from a place of anger, but humor. In fact, in the Playbill they have a quote from Davis: "The purpose of Purlie is to point a mocking finger at racial segregation and laugh it out of existence."

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:47pm

I have to agree with MargoChanning. I can see how this would have been much better if it were played broader. After the show, the director said something about taking the time to examine the material. I think that was the problem. He was trying to make it too much of a thinkers play.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:51pm

I saw this show last night. I knew absolutely nothing about this show until a few weeks ago when I came upon it doing research.

I enjoyed it more than you guys seemed to, probably because I'm in love with Lilias and Anika and was just so thrilled to see them share the stage. The story did leave a lot to be desired but those voices I thought were heavenly and more than made up for it.

But hey, that's just me. :)

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 10:54pm

Sorry, I keep thinking of things to add.

I also think some of the music had an early 1970's feel to it. Don't know if they could correct the orchestrations for a Broadway run. That's just my opinion.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 11:02pm

Regardless of the 'place' it came from, the piece is hopelessly (if thankfully) dated and doesn't merit revival. Considering the assimilation of black culture in the mainstream, neither Purlie's cry for revolution nor the intentionally stereotyped characters carry much of a political charge 35 years later.
In addition,the material is pretty much second-rate throughout. Though the score has its bright spots in its title tune, I GOT LOVE and HE CAN DO IT, it isn't particularly distinguished or memorable and never catches fire, not even in the opening number. Not surprisingly, the audience response was peremptory for most of the evening.
Blair Underwood makes no impression whatsoever. Throwing away punch lines, garbling the rest, singing under pitch, and having all the charima of a wilted collard green, he is totally wrong for the role and provides a compelling example of how a career in television can spoil the actor for the stage.
Lillias White does the best she can with her material but it's hardly a showcase for her talent.
Anika Noni Rose is more problematic, however. Though she has a lovely stage presence, she does not rise to the occasion in the show-stopping way that Melba Moore must have done in the original production. Though her delivery of the song PURLIE was charming, I GOT LOVE lacked the electrifying excitement Moore brought to the song. Her soprano voice doesn't seem well-suited to this kind of material which requires a grittier, down-home and more "soul"-ful approach. Lutiebelle is, after all, a country girl.
Though the music direction by Linda Twine is fine, the lacklustre direction and embarassing choreography only serve to compound the problems mentioned above. Regarding Mr. Epps' statement mentioned above, shouldn't he have examined the material BEFORE he went into rehearsal? It would take a much sharper vision and a more compelling, charismatic cast to pull off this material and make it worthy of revival. But, honestly, why bother?



Updated On: 4/2/05 at 11:02 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/2/05 at 11:49pm

To get an idea idea of just how funny this show can be, I recommend the 1981 taping of it (for Showtime, I believe) starring Melba Moore, Robert Guillaume, Sherman Hemsley, Rhetta Hughes and Linda Hopkins. Moore is so caroonishly over-the-top in her Prissy-like southern character that her every line reading is greeted with howls of laughter. It may seem to be a "bit much" to some, but it's exactly what Ossie Davis wanted when he created this material. Perhaps Rose was uncomfortable with the stereotypes the show trades in and wanted to pull it back, but in so doing, she lost the character and much of the comedy.

Beyond that, check out the OBC album -- Moore, Hopkins et al are in exceptional form. This isn't a great show, by any means, but when well-performed it can be a very entertaining one.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 4/3/05 at 1:21am

Honey, that still ain't it.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/3/05 at 4:36am

Honey,

as if you would know ........ ANYTHING.

[Jon]

Posted: 4/3/05 at 8:12am

I hadn't heard about a tour, but there is a production coming up in the fall at The Goodman in Chicago, co-produced by Pasadena Playhouse - I don't know if they do it before or after Goodman. It will be directed by Sheldon Epps, who did the Encores version. One wonders if any of the Encores cast will come along.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 4/3/05 at 8:44am

I know how to push your buttons, Margo (tee hee).

[Glebb]

Posted: 4/3/05 at 8:50am

'Purlie' is coming to The Goodman?
Keeping fingers crossed.
The last two muscials I saw there were 'The Visit' and 'Bounce'.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/3/05 at 10:33am

Thank you Margo ! It is basically "concert" form, which is why the book might seem thin. Not seeing the original, I dont know.. maybe the book actually is lacking, but it's an "Encore" production. That is the way they are. Personally, we loved it !!!

Anika can sing the phone book, and I would enjoy it !!!

Love her !!!

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/3/05 at 11:15am

Going tonight.

[sparky310]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 10:27am

hey margo..who told you they cut half the book? do you have an inside source?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 12:06pm

Margo didn't say they cut half the book, but rather that they cut half an hour of the book, give or take some. You don't need an inside source to know that. Encores! productions are not full-fledged revivals of musicals, they're staged concerts, so the focus is on the score, not the book, and the book is almost always partially abridged for them.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 12:23pm

"who told you they cut half the book? do you have an inside source?"

At the talkback Saturday afternoon, the Encores adaptor, David Ives, said he cut about half an hour out of the show. This is expected at Encores. They routinely cut the book down, because the object of the series is to listen to the music.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 12:25pm

That's basically what I just said, but there's sparky's "inside source," then.

Updated On: 4/4/05 at 12:25 PM