Purlie at Pasadena Playhouse- Page 2
Purlie at Pasadena Playhouse
Understudy Joined: 9/6/04
re: Purlie at Pasadena Playhouse#25
Posted: 7/28/05 at 3:13pm
Saw it last week. The only reason the first act felt long was because the show was miscast. Some cable channel back in the '80's televised a production of Purlie in which Sherman Helmsely and Melba Moore recreated their original Broadway roles. (Robert Guilluame played Purlie) I videotaped it and still watch it fairly often. The guy who played Gitloe at Pasadena made the role his own and was terrific.
Melba Moore left poor Paulette Ivory in the dust. Almost every line Melba Moore uttered was met with screams of laughter. Seriously, this one was of the all time great comedic performances. She completely elevated the material. There's a reason she became a mainstream star (albeit briefly) off of a supporting role in a relatively minor Broadway musical. Paulette Ivory didn't find a tenth of the humor or the heart. Plus that voice. Melba's "I Got Love" stopped the show. It even had a built in encore. I'm not saying no one else can do the role justice. Just that Paulette Ivory didn't.
As for Robert Guillaume, before seeing the show in Pasadena, I thought he was only passable. Now I think he actually did a very good job. If nothing else, he had charisma. Loved Loretta Devine. The woman who played Aunt Missy on the videotape did a nice job, but barely registered because everyone else around her was so good.
re: Purlie at Pasadena Playhouse#26
Posted: 7/28/05 at 3:22pmThere was a full house last Sunday - and they've extended the run.
re: Purlie at Pasadena Playhouse#27
Posted: 8/6/05 at 10:09am
I am really torn on this. I am considering either going tonight or tomorrow for the matinee to see this production, but for some reason I am hesitant to commit.
I saw Jacques C. Smith as Benny in Rent on Broadway and felt the same thing about him that people are saying here. Technically, he is fine - but he lacks any sort of spark that you'd see in an actor in a high caliber performance of a show.
A side note - any idea why Pasadena Playhouse has a 9:00 pm curtain on Saturday nights? That seems a bit late. Is it because of the archaic parking laws in Pasadena?
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