The Color Purple Tour

[ChiChi]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:11pm

I just got home from seeing the touring production of The Color Purple. I saw it on Broadway and loved it. It was pretty good today, but is there any reason the scaled it down so much?

[Ivan2]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:28pm

What do you mean scaled it down so much? I've seen the Broadway version, but give me the details about the tour.

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:29pm

Yeah, how did they scale it down? Do you just mean the size or is there less set?

Who are the highlights of the cast?

[ChiChi]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:30pm

The revolve is gone and the set itself seems quite scaled down from what it is on Broadway. I just wondered why. I know that many tours have to scale some things down, but it some of it seemed pretty drastic.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:31pm

Sorry duplicate post. Computer wigging out.

Updated On: 3/15/08 at 11:31 PM

[ChiChi]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:31pm

Computer retarded.

Updated On: 3/15/08 at 11:31 PM

[ChiChi]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:33pm

Jeannette Bayardelle was phenomenal as Celie. Rufus Bonds Jr. was weak as Mister and we did not really care for Michelle Williams who played Shug. Felicia P. Fields was of course MARVELOUS in the role of Sophia. The production value was still good, but I just didn't understand why the production was so scaled down.

Updated On: 3/15/08 at 11:33 PM

[Ivan2]

Posted: 3/15/08 at 11:34pm

That's odd. I know Les Mis toured with the revolving stage floor, it seems weird for the tour of Color Purple not to that. I understand though that some shows don't want to tour with so much.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:10pm

Bump.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:22pm

You answered your own question. The sets are too large to continuously tour the country, so they scaled down for quicker load-in and load-out. The turntable wasn't essential to the direction of the show, and would also reduce the amount of time it takes to install the show deck in each city. Wicked also has a scaled-down set.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:29pm

I was just curious because shows like The Secret Garden and Les Miserables both toured their revolves and could possibly have toured without them.

[Act4ever]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:33pm

Saw The Color Purple on tour -- didn't see it on Broadway -- and I didn't notice anything was missing. I thought the show was wonderful -- really a touching piece, but agree about Williams and Bonds.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:34pm

I didn't think it was bad. It was more a curiosity as far as the set was concerned.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:37pm

Well, in Les Miz the barricades are mutifunctional, and pretty much required a turntable. I don't recall off-hand anything thing in The Color Purple that really necessetated a turntable.

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:38pm

I saw the show in Atlanta pre-Broadway, there was no turntable. So I guess it's not essential to the show.
I can't see Les Miz working w/o the turntable.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 8:46pm

Well the turntable was only one element missing. Other aspects were scaled down as well.

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 9:06pm

Why not just take some flash pictures during the performance and post them here for everyone???

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 3/17/08 at 11:20pm

I'll be looking forward to seeing this show on tour.

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 12:53am

13 sold out weeks in LA I understand.
Very nice for TCP.
Still one of my all time shows for a number of reasons. TCP, Wicked, Rent & Gypsy remain some of my toppers.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 12:45am

Saw the show tonight here in St. Louis and it was fantastic! I never got a chance to see it on Broadway, so this was my first time seeing it. Jeannette Bayardelle was terrific as Celie and Rufus Bonds Jr. did an excellent job as Mister. All in all the whole cast was great. If it comes through your city, check it out!