THE COLOR PURPLE Previews — Page 10

Just posting after a brief trip to NY where I was fortunate enough to have tickets to last Friday's performance. I had been blown away by the production at the Menier and very interested to see how this had taken up a new life on Broadway, particularly having read everyone's comments on the Board.

Firstly, the set. The Menier was, as here, stripped wood and chairs on pegs. However, the audience was seated on three sides. This made for a real intimacy (but one drawback being the inability to hide your tears from those sitting opposite) and I was keen to see how that would translate to a bigger house. I felt that Doyle managed this perfectly and what it lost in intimacy, the height of the set added something very special to the production. The more functional/practical aspects of the chairs at the Menier were maintained, but I felt they also worked on a very different level here. Reaching up to the heavens, they spoke of the ages, ancestors, family, memory and the passing of time; generations of Celies have sat on those chairs and lived and worked and struggled and now, here she is - the representation of all those who had gone before her.

This production represents Doyle at his best - everything created and suggested before us. Sheets, baskets and chairs taking on different lives; everything else stripped away to leave these characters telling their story. Nettie, present at key moments keeps the focus on sisterhood, memory and connection which then, of course, makes the final moments of the show overwhelming.

Regarding the performances, this is truly a company show. Doyle gives everyone their moment; every single member of the cast makes their impression - and the vocals were wonderful. I really liked Hudson; for a Broadway debut, this is an excellent vehicle. She makes an impact without having the responsibility of carrying the show. Whilst not a great actress, her throwaway delivery served the character well and she is given the opportunity to show off that voice whilst maintaining great control. This cast must give her great confidence; she is given a very safe place to fall and I really think she will learn and grow. I was moved by Danielle Brooks; excellent timing and a real honesty to her performance. She was genuinely overcome by the audience reaction at the curtain.

However, the evening really belongs to Erivo. She gives a sensational central performance taking everyone on her incredibly emotional journey. I found her performance literally overwhelming. Honest, raw, layered and with a true ability to connect with and hold an audience. There were moments when the audence held our collective breath. Vocally she is sensational - I have never heard a reaction mid-song like that to the simple line, 'I'm beautiful'. The wall of sound that went up at that point let her know she was just that - and the tears flowed. This is a peformance that has to be seen and treasured. To have seen her at the Menier was a joy; to have seen her on Broadway - a privilege.

I'm so pleased to see the numbers for this have started strong, because I don't think I can get over to see it for a couple months. And this production sounds stunning. Even their performances on talk shows have moved me - and how often does THAT happen?

I would love to see this. It looks great!!!

I was looking through my Spotify and found an album of Ervio singing Scot Alan Song's (They must have been written for her? One says "the purple lights of Broadway" ...?) And she sings with some man who is both beautiful and beautifully voiced. I have to say, vocally, she's got a gorgeous voice but it's unique enough to stand on its own. However, in performance she's breathtaking. I think that's a great quality. That you need the whole package to truly understand how great her work is.

The final reprise of the song "the color purple" does Celie still sing the lead solo of the song or did they turn it into a duet with Shug Avery? I am only asking because all of the promotional performances I have seen the two ladies are both singing the song as a duet.

Saw the evening performance last Saturday.

The whole show is already pretty tight. They do their best with what amounts in some scenes to a very, very weak book. That's not to say the message of the show or the performances are bad. Hudson was given a bright spot for 'Push The Button' and ended things on a nice high belt. It's clear they've worked with her on turning the song into a real showstopper, but she's still finding footing in being the sex symbol that Shug is characterized to be. Other than that, she blends into the cast well. Not standing out in an odd way and easily standing back to give Ervio the show.

Ervio is a gifted actress and a fantastic singer, but there was something off about the lead up to her big number. I suppose I'm remembering LaChanze, who made such different choices with Celie. Ervio sings her songs beautifully, but I wasn't as emotionally devastated as I remember feeling with LaChanze, Jeannette Bayardelle (Chicago company) or even Fantasia.

Brooks was sensational as Sophia. She landed the lines, she played the drama well and she sounded great. It was a natural performance from a very gifted actress.

Orchestra sounded great. On a center aisle, about 5 rows back. Nothing sounded piped in. Rich and complex. The simple set was perfect, as focusing on anything but the story and music would be a shame.

Lovely performance of The Color Purple on Good Morning America in case folks missed it.

See, I thought Brooks was the weakest link. Everything she did seemed the obvious choice. Her "marching" after Celie told Mister to "beat her" seemed so obvious and Acting 101 that I found it laughable compared the other natural performances happening around her. I actually thought her and Mister were the worst of the night. I felt nothing for them.

RippedMan said: "See, I thought Brooks was the weakest link. Everything she did seemed the obvious choice. Her "marching" after Celie told Mister to "beat her" seemed so obvious and Acting 101 that I found it laughable compared the other natural performances happening around her. I actually thought her and Mister were the worst of the night. I felt nothing for them.

"You obviously haven't seen the show recently to say anything about anyone marching. Because there is no such marching. And I'm not sure what show you saw to say either of those 2 actors are the weakst link. You didn't say that 30 post ago. And now a sudden change? When's the last time you saw this?

PalJoey said: " That just makes me weep all over again."

Me too, Pal Joey. Their voices are just glorious.

I walked past the theater one day last week around 8:45-9:00 and there was a line of about 20 or so people.

She is just wonderful. Lovely article.

RippedMan said: "Of the three leads, I think she's the weakest, yes. I'm not changing my mind, I just was on a high after seeing the show when I wrote the initial review.

Right after Celie tells Harpo that he needs to beat his wife, Brooks does this like diagonal march towards her. It was very basic Acting 101. She was emoting instead of just being. I was just surprised since she went to Julliard. She does the same thing on Orange is the New Black, but people lover her, so whatever. I thought by the end of the show she did a commendable job. Her Act 2 duet is a lot of fun.

"

And like I said you obviously haven't been back recently to know there has been changing. And also how ALL of the actors are now more grounded in the roles. Compared to what you saw in the first few days of previews.