I think THE COLOR PURPLE was a fabulous musical that, despite its Oprah hoopla, didn't quite reach a level of interest that it deserved. When it opened, there was strong buzz, which died too shortly after.
Now can we PLEASE close MAMMA MIA! so I can have a reason to enter the Winter Garden theatre for the first time where my beloved PETER PAN musical debuted???
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle