Why is it called The Color Purple?
Why is it called The Color Purple?
fiyero8132
Broadway Star Joined: 4/27/05
#0Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 5:11pmI know nothing about this musical. Please explain the title. I'm not afraid of spoilers. Thanks!
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
fiyero8132
Broadway Star Joined: 4/27/05
#2re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 5:13pmIf I wanted to read it I would. All I'm asking is a simple question.
MusicAndPassion
Broadway Star Joined: 9/14/05
#3re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 5:21pm
It represents the beauty in the color purple and how it can appear in the life & destination of anyone or anything.
It's got a great impact when the movie or musical is seen, and when the book is read.
#4re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 5:22pmThere is a line in the book where the character of Shug says that "God gets pissed off if people walk by the color purple and don't notice it."
#5re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 5:22pmIt also is connected to God, and Purple has always been associated with God and Royalty.
#6re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 5:39pmBesides, green was already taken by Wicked.
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BWW regional writer "Philadelphia/South Jersey"
#7re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 5:46pm
LaChanze now starting in "The Color Green: A New Musical" I love it! :-P I love Shug's line regarding it...man it's poignant and just fits sooo well.
Cheers,
Christopher
www.christopherviolett.com
CurtainUp
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/9/04
#8re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 5:50pm
Purple - royalty - worth. Finding self-worth and also noticing beauty.
Please read the book, it's stunning.
Rosencrantz: "Be happy - if you're not even HAPPY what's so good about surviving? We'll be all right. I suppose we just go on."
- from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#9re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 6:20pmI've always wondered that as well. I thought maybe they'd explain it in the song, and I guess they do, but it is a really powerful saying. I can't wait to read the book. It's on my list of things to read (behind Bright Lights, Big City).
erinrebecca
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/29/04
#11re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 6:48pm
Here's my own take on it:
Celie's had a horribly difficult and ugly life up to that point. She's basically a lost soul, searching for something... and she's not much more than an observer of life, as opposed to a participant.
Shug says the line (noted earlier) as they walk through a field of purple flowers, showing Celie that there are beautiful things all around you. You just have to notice them and look for them. They're already there.
Celie needs to find her own "beauty" within her, and in her surroundings. She needs to look for "the color purple."
Her life begins to change after that.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 6/1/06 at 06:48 PM
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#12re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 6:51pmYeah, best12bars - I like your interpretation.
#13re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 7:09pmthe novel is really a quick read, as it is written as a series of letters
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#15re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 7:37pmMy observation is that the color purple is the color of bruises.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#16re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 10:42pmAh, but of course, I know i'm always thinking the sky looks like...one big bruise...and really a sunset is just God kicking the Earth in the crotch.
So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.~Office Space
#17re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 10:51pm
Very well said, best12bars!
muscle23ftl, next time you're on your way to the gym, stop, turn around, and go to school.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#18re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 10:59pm
=(
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
Updated On: 6/1/06 at 10:59 PM
faithanytwo
Stand-by Joined: 5/19/05
#19re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 11:00pmLike mentioned before, if anyone hasn't, definitely pick up a copy of the book. It's hard for me to get into the classics sometimes, but I couldn't put this one down. I haven't seen the show yet but I would imagine it would be better to see it after reading it.
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#20re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 11:11pm
Andy, don't be a jerk. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions.
Nic, ignore them. Celie lead a very bruised life, so if you want to look at it that way, then go right ahead!
Best12Bars, I completely agree. It's really a beautiful idea when you think about it, eh?
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#21re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/1/06 at 11:12pm
I am sure you could have found this out by Googling it.
Excellent response as always b12b.
It's an amazing book and you really should take the time to read it. Out of curiousity, why don't you want to read it?
Updated On: 6/1/06 at 11:12 PM
meggsison
Broadway Star Joined: 7/4/05
#22re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/2/06 at 12:16am
You must read the book. It's possibly the most amazing piece of literature ever written.
And the movie is actually very good, so I would watch that also.
But not until you've read the book. 
The course of true love never did run smooth.
#23re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/2/06 at 8:53amOh Celie you're too beautiful words.
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#24re: Why is it called The Color Purple?
Posted: 6/2/06 at 9:34am
Flyero will probably read the book now that someone has dubbed it "amazing."
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