#1
Posted: 7/31/09 at 9:37pm
I just got back from DC, where I saw The Color Purple starring Fantasia at the Kennedy Center this past Thursday, June 30th. I sat in row D First Tier on the right. It was my second time seeing the production, as I saw it on tour over a year ago in Cleveland starring Jeannette Bayardelle, who I loved in the role.
Let me just start by saying that I already was a huge Color Purple fan going into this. I read and loved the novel, saw the movie, and then loved the show the first time I saw it. I had been dying to return to the Kennedy Center after seeing Shear Madness there a few years back. I was really glad that Fantasia was going to be in it, since I had heard so many great things about her in the role. What I saw on stage at the Kennedy Center was, I believe, something quite rare. Fantasia's performance as Celie is, I believe, one of the strongest theatrical performances I have ever witnessed. I had my doubts about her at first, and it was immediately apparent that she did not have the vocal prowess of LaChanze or even Bayardelle, as she did not hit all of the high notes and couldn't hold all of the notes out for their originally intended lengths. Then the acting began, and the wow factor kicked in.
The fact that some of the struggles in her early past mirrors those of Celie must've given her some kind of deeper understanding of the character, because every single line, every facial expression, every moment was spot on. She would turn her head and get a laugh. The audience was increibly receptive, laughing at all the right times, and the cheering was actually, for the most part, only at the end of the songs.
The rest of the show was pretty much in as good of shape as it was a year and a half ago when I saw it last. Felicia P. Fields is still brilliantly comic as Sophia, LaToya London sang beautifully in the small, forgotten role of Nettie, and Angela Robinson abosolutely nailed Shug Avery's raw sexual energy, with a voice to match.
This time around, since I was in the First Tier/Mezz as opposed to the orchestra, I was really able to notice the fluidity of the sets and choreography. I never realized how great the dancing was, when it made an appearance. The production really has hit its stride as far as keeping the show moving. The score, to me, has always been very strong, and the singing voices were phenomenal, right down to the ensemble. The book continues to be too overloaded and somewhat problematic, but that is completely erased every time a new song starts.
Fantasia continued through the show, growing as a character completely believably from age fourteen all the way to old age. In the end, her big song, "I'm Here", captures the audience with sheer emotion as Fantasia sings her heart out, almost to the point where she is crying and short of breath. I can easily see why she would've missed so many performances, as she pours 110% of herself into the role the entire time. I left the theatre on a completely joyous high, with a huge grin on my face, and a group of extremely pleased people.
The Color Purple continues to inspire audiences, and charm even the most unlikely of audience members. It is worth it to see it at the Kennedy Center, or to see it at select other tour stops where Fantasia is in it, only to witness her star performance in the show. Overall, it was a wonderful evening that was both moving and highly enjoyable.
Let me just start by saying that I already was a huge Color Purple fan going into this. I read and loved the novel, saw the movie, and then loved the show the first time I saw it. I had been dying to return to the Kennedy Center after seeing Shear Madness there a few years back. I was really glad that Fantasia was going to be in it, since I had heard so many great things about her in the role. What I saw on stage at the Kennedy Center was, I believe, something quite rare. Fantasia's performance as Celie is, I believe, one of the strongest theatrical performances I have ever witnessed. I had my doubts about her at first, and it was immediately apparent that she did not have the vocal prowess of LaChanze or even Bayardelle, as she did not hit all of the high notes and couldn't hold all of the notes out for their originally intended lengths. Then the acting began, and the wow factor kicked in.
The fact that some of the struggles in her early past mirrors those of Celie must've given her some kind of deeper understanding of the character, because every single line, every facial expression, every moment was spot on. She would turn her head and get a laugh. The audience was increibly receptive, laughing at all the right times, and the cheering was actually, for the most part, only at the end of the songs.
The rest of the show was pretty much in as good of shape as it was a year and a half ago when I saw it last. Felicia P. Fields is still brilliantly comic as Sophia, LaToya London sang beautifully in the small, forgotten role of Nettie, and Angela Robinson abosolutely nailed Shug Avery's raw sexual energy, with a voice to match.
This time around, since I was in the First Tier/Mezz as opposed to the orchestra, I was really able to notice the fluidity of the sets and choreography. I never realized how great the dancing was, when it made an appearance. The production really has hit its stride as far as keeping the show moving. The score, to me, has always been very strong, and the singing voices were phenomenal, right down to the ensemble. The book continues to be too overloaded and somewhat problematic, but that is completely erased every time a new song starts.
Fantasia continued through the show, growing as a character completely believably from age fourteen all the way to old age. In the end, her big song, "I'm Here", captures the audience with sheer emotion as Fantasia sings her heart out, almost to the point where she is crying and short of breath. I can easily see why she would've missed so many performances, as she pours 110% of herself into the role the entire time. I left the theatre on a completely joyous high, with a huge grin on my face, and a group of extremely pleased people.
The Color Purple continues to inspire audiences, and charm even the most unlikely of audience members. It is worth it to see it at the Kennedy Center, or to see it at select other tour stops where Fantasia is in it, only to witness her star performance in the show. Overall, it was a wonderful evening that was both moving and highly enjoyable.
"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."-Stephen Sondheim
Updated On: 7/31/09 at 09:37 PM
