Revisited "Color Purple" Last Night....

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:16pm

.... loved it even more, and all I can say is..... PLEASE let LaChanze win the Tony !!! PLEASE !!!!!

Time for "Sweeney" tonight !!!

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:20pm

I saw it in November during last week of previews. The only problem I had with it was the pacing And Kingsley Leggs, who may have been having a bad night. His Celie's curse was awful! But I want to see it again in June as I am sure everyone is settled into their parts. And I love the OBCR.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:29pm

Totally agree, and dont think was just an off night... IMHO, Mr. Leggs is the only weak link in a great cast.

LaChanze's "I'm Here" is in itself, a reason to go see the show !! Gives me the same chills that Tonya Pinkins used to give me singing "Lot's Wife" !!

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:31pm

The OBCR seems to just have confirmed my beliefs that this is one of the worst scores to ever be sung on a Broadway stage. It is laughable at points. About as good as Brooklyn's. Too bad, because the show deserves better, and La Chanze deserves a better role (she didn't win me over in this one.)

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:35pm

Kidman,

Just my opinion, but if you can compare this score to "Brooklyn's", I think you need to listen to it a few more times. As far as a better role for LaChanze... dont know if you are gonna find one. She is truly incredible as Celie.

[timote316]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:48pm

I will agree that the score of CP isn't the best, but its hardly one of the worst. I can think of at least 3 shows on Broadway right now that have weaker scores than Color Purple's.

As for Kingsley Leggs, I didn't have an issue with him as Mister.

Also, in regards to LaChanze for the Tony, I hope she gets it too. She certainly deserves it, she's a wonderful actress and person. However, I don't know if she'll be able to surpass Patti LuPone (or Tony darling Sutton Foster)

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:52pm

Unless they rewrite the whole show, Sutton will be nominated for Best Featured Actress.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 2:02pm

Terrible score, uneven book, uneven performances, terrible direction. It's a terribly misguided production.

The only think I like about it is some of the choreography, and the sets.

Alice Walker deserves better.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 2:14pm

I very much enjoy the OBCR. It is actually a bit more Lush than the actual live performance. Which is fine. I don't understand what more a person would want from the score. And it does the one thing a score should do, help move the plot along.

[Steve2]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 2:20pm

Thanks for your comments.

I read (on an unnamed web site) that LaChanze does not perform Saturday matinees. Does anyone here know if this is true?

I have tickets to Saturday 2:00 show in May.

Thanks.
Updated On: 3/2/06 at 02:20 PM

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:16pm

"I don't understand what more a person would want from the score. And it does the one thing a score should do, help move the plot along."

I could put the novel to a single note and that would move the plot along, it doen't mean it would have any musicality or lyricism. "Get ready for the big dog" sounds like a rejected song from Starlight Express. "I'm Here" doesn't nearly reach the 11 o'clock number heights it aspires for. My favorite melody in the show occurs in on of Celie's first little monologues and lasts about 45 seconds.
I'm normally a pretty open-minded person that tries to find the good in things and there are very few shows that I go to and get nothing out of, and this was one of them.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:17pm

Munk,

Very respectfully disagree, and I have a feeling that this show is gonna win Best Musical.... JMHO

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:18pm

And the beauty of these boards is that we are all entitled to our opinions!

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 3:31pm

Totally agree, Uncaged.... that why I stated that I very respectfully disagree.... especially regarding the performances... think you have 3 easy Tony noms (LaChanze, Felicia P. Fields, and Elisabeth Withers-Mendes)- IMHO, they all give amazing performances... !!

[C is for Company]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 4:30pm

I want LaChanze to collect her Tony and I pray she can. Otherwise, I'd love for the stretch of Maria to win.
When seeing a show, unless they flare out at me, I personally don't go searching for flaws, just sit and enjoy the show only getting critical later on. However, I just think this is as good as it could have gotten in terms of the writing and I think its a great show. I wouldn't mind if it won best musical

Posted: 3/2/06 at 4:31pm

Beautifully rendered, well sung and acted, sets beautiful, etc....but the score is very weak.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 4:32pm

Just a note about the score...IMO, there has not been an all black show on the Boards for a while with this type of storyline. I think the music captures exactly the feeling they wanted it to. It very much reminded me of "Purlie" as I was watching it. Please don't take offense, but I think they captured the R&B feeling, southern and Gospel feeling all the way down to some of the lyrics and phrasing that was needed and maybe some people just don't like or are not used to hearing this music in, or even maybe out, of the theatre. I am very familiar with past works of the composers (I grew up on their music) and it was wonderful to hear their influence throughout but also hear how they were able to turn it into a wonderful score for a Broadway musical without making it sound too commercial. JMO!

Updated On: 3/2/06 at 04:32 PM

[simplywill2]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 1:04pm

you know who would play mista's role fabulously. my here, norm lewis. i could see it now. i saw the show in december, and all i could think was, what if norm was in it. he'll play mista, i'll make my debut as harpo, everyone would be happy.

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 1:21pm

A bit of a side note. . .does the box office open at 12 on Sundays? I want to try to get rusk tickets this Sunday, would getting there at 11 be good?

[HughE2030]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 1:47pm

I saw the Color Purple in previews. I need to see it again, but I think that Felicia P. Fields (Sofia) should win a Tony. She far outshined LaChanze. I though LaChanze was too soft spoken and meek throughout the first act. I know, I know she is supposed to be oppressed and not make any waves to avoid punishment, but I would liked to have been able to hear her better.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 1:49pm

I could hear LaChanze just fine.

And, yeah...there is a distinction between them.

Besdides, LaChanze and Felicia aren't even in the same category.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 2:06pm

I could hear her fine also. Did anyone see this?

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/98263.html

I guess some people are liking the score!

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 2:07pm

Good news.

If people keep buying it!

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 2:14pm

I suspect they will. Does anyone know whatever happened to the duet Jill Scott and Patti LaBelle did? (What About Love)

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 2:14pm

this show is a trainwreck.