color purple starting previews today.- Page 2

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 2:02pm

Ah! I really want to see this! It looks marvelous.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 2:05pm

Are they selling anything? T-shirts maybe? Everyone is asking me to bring something back to Denver from the show.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 2:17pm

I think I remember seeing t-shirts and maybe hats as well. They definately have posters and copies of the book available.

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 2:18pm

Yes, they sell T-shirts that say "The Color Purple" (purple of course) and "HELL NO!" They also sell window cards and lovely purple coffee mugs.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 2:21pm

Theatreguy and bwaylyric, thank you! Guess I better get that Visa card out when I am there!!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 2:23pm

Anyone know if this is getting recorded and when in November they'll be on the Oprah show?

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 2:27pm

The date I heard at first was that they would be on her show on the 11th. I have been checking the show's website but haven't seen anything.

[dReAmiNgAwAkE]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 3:43pm

RUN AND SEE THIS SHOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!! INCREDIBLE I'll have my review done soon but go catch it! WHOWWWWWWW!!!!what a great night of theater...great singing,acting,DANCING, amazing set....wow! more to come.......

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 3:51pm

My parents went and called it the most gorgeous show theyve seen in a long, long while. They said not once does it drag, and while the melodies arent memorable and hummable, they are really hairraising. They said the entire cast was amazing and LaChanze was beyond incredible. Theyre really harsh theater critics, but they cannot stop talking about it.

God, I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THIS SHOW!!

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 4:45pm

I have one question....should I bring tissues with me?!! Am I going to cry at any point?!

[Princess Tam-Tam]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 5:04pm

I am SO excited about this show! I'm going on November 19th and I can't wait! I loved the book, but wasn't too thrilled with the movie. For those who have seen it, how does it compare to both?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 5:48pm

uncageg, the ending is definitely a tear-jerker. As well as several other scenes in the show.

[Kicks8567]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 6:43pm

I was also at the 1st preview last night. The show was great. The cast was phenomenal and unbelievably energetic. It is a truly emotional show. And I preferred the show to the movie because it focuses on the "relationship" between Shug Avery and Celie that is discussed in the book and not in the movie. The audience was also amazingly energetic which truly added to the experience. It was a great time and although I did not get home until 1:15 AM, it was worth it! I don't know how well received the show will be, but it should have a decent run. In addition, Felicia Fields and LaChanze are amazing and stood out!

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 6:47pm

now i'm even more excited to see it tonight!

[ellenoshalom]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 7:07pm

I loved the book as well...however I was more emotional with the movie...

"you told Harpo to beat me" ...man, all I can say is wow. I want to see it...will the production be traveling to other cities?

[Princess Tam-Tam]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 8:51pm

If the show is successful on Broadway, it will mostly likely have a tour later.

The only downside to a tour is it usually doesn't have all (or any) members of the Broadway cast.

[Popular]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 8:55pm

That's pretty offensive statement to all the AMAZING touring performers out there but I kind of understand what you meant by it... just don't knock it till you've seen it, k?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 11:32pm

I saw tonight's performance of the show and can say that it truly is a gorgeous piece of theatre. This is one hell of a great show and I have a good feeling it will be around for quite a while.

The only thing I had a problem with was the way Mister's character was handled in Act 2. His "realization" rang extremely false and was way too sudden. And his song talking about building a birdhouse and holding a child's hand was a bit strange after seeing him beat his wife a few minutes before. I always thought his character's coming to terms with himself and his actions was a long time coming and a very internal struggle. Here it just seems like after 30 years he decided he was in the mood for a change. It didn't seem right. Did anyone else feel that way?
Updated On: 11/2/05 at 11:32 PM

[Blue J]

Posted: 11/2/05 at 11:36pm

I am SO EXCITED to see this show! I won't be in New York until Christmas-time in December, but I'll definitely be seeing it then. Does anyone know if an exact date been announced for when Renee Elise Goldberry is leaving the cast?

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 12:03am

I saw tonights performance. I do think this show has the potential to be spectacular, however, as it is right now, a lot of work still needs to be done.

Main issues - the music. The score was strong, the lyrics were not. A lot of it felt very forced, making scenes awkward. It seemed the characters were suddenly thrust out of the moment by having to sing all of their feelings. A lot of what could have been dialogue was forced into song in an almost unnatural way. It ruined what could have been a nice, smooth flowing scene into a choppy mess.

Also, in relation to the score, most of it was forgettable. Yes, it was nice and was era appropriate, but it was not catchy or memorable. As I sit here typing this, I honestly can't recollect any part of any one song. When music has the power to carry over off the stage and into your minds and stick with you, it has truly suceeded. Maybe I'm the only one who felt this way, though.

I wish there was more focus on Celie and her character's struggles. Partially because LaChanze truly is remarkable and all her talent should be capitalized on (without taking focus off the story, of course), but also because Celie is such a central, foundational character that without it being well developed, so much is lost in the understanding of her journey and her will.

A smaller issues I had was the muffling of the sound and the dialogue. A lot seemed mumbled. The people around me at intermission agreed that they wished they could understand more of the dialogue and hear better. But those are just little things I'm sure will be fixed as previews continue.

There are a lot of elements the show has going for it. The ENTIRE cast was very strong, very talented. Not a weak link in the bunch. The choreography was indeed fantastic. I especially loved the African dancing, though the breast revealing costumes and the thongs took me a moment to take in (family show?). I expected to walk away really remembering LaChanze, but it was Felicia as Sophia that stole the show for me. Every moment she was on stage, she commanded your attention.

Right now, i'd say it is an amazing production which suffers from a poorly developed book and sloppily thrown together character expose. In trying to translate every element of the story onto the stage, something was a lost. A feeling, a rawness, something I can't quite put my finger one. But with some pulling tightening and focusing, it can go very far. I do definitely encourage all to see it, and I will be going back to see it after it's set to see how it has come along. Maybe it won't be 3 hours by then!

Updated On: 11/3/05 at 12:03 AM

[Princess Tam-Tam]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 12:11am

"That's pretty offensive statement to all the AMAZING touring performers out"

I can see how that statement could be offensive. I wasn't trying to discredit the touring performers, it's just I sometimes associate the shows with the original cast.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 12:13am

Thank you Littlewing for a balance and thoughtful analysis. I hope the creative team is going online and reading what people are saying. It's too easy to let the standing ovations go to your head and think that you have a "hit".

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 12:29am

I hope others chime in... I'm interested to hear what other people think.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 12:35am

I agree LittleWing. It certainly needs some work but all the basics are there.

I did think it would've been nice if LaChanze had more of an establishing number at the beginning and that her almost 11 o'clock number (I'm Here? I don't have the proram with me) gave her a little more chance to let loose.

I agree that Felicia Fields as Sofia stole the show. Her "Hell No" was a highlight.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 12:57am

I liked it a great deal more than I expected to, but there are some problems, most of which have already been noted. For starters, it's too long...but that can be fixed. I also thought that it got too bogged down in the Celie/Shugg relationship. Show it once. Allude to it later, but it got in the way. I resented the changes made to Mister at the end of the show. It totally alters the essence of Alice Walker's book, and it seeme trite and patronizing. The African sequence, as presented, felt out of sync with the tenor of the rest of the show and wasn't necessary to the story, but the dancing was so damn good that I'm inclined to overlook it. Some scenes felt a little forced and choppy to me, but with some tweaking here and there, there's an awful lot to like. LaChanze is terrific. Actually, the entire cast is good. I'd happily go back to see it again.