The Color Purple at the Pantages
May 29 – June 17 2018
Here is what the official release says: THE COLOR PURPLE is the 2016 Tony Award® winner for Best Musical Revival! Hailed as “a direct hit to the heart” (The Hollywood Reporter), this joyous American classic, directed by Tony winner John Doyle, has conquered Broadway in an all-new “ravishingly reconceived production that is a glory to behold” (The New York Times). This stunning re-imagining of an epic story about a young woman’s journey to love and triumph in the American South is hailed by New York Magazine as “one of the greatest revivals ever.”
I have to come clean about something. I was never a huge fan of the 1985 film The Color Purple. I think I saw it too young and was tremendously bored by it, and I’ve never been able to really get into it since, despite recognizing how great the performances are and that Spielberg is basically my favorite director. So, I can’t say I was exactly over the moon about the idea of a musical version of it. At least until I saw a performance on The Today Show and was completely blown away. I went from “meh” to “oh okay” in the span of a few moments.
So, as The Color Purple: The Musical finally makes its way to Los Angeles, I was actually excited to see it. And boy, was my initial ambivalence wrong. This show is spectacular.
Against all odds, it makes me want to revisit the film. This show really is a marvel. The songs are great and the vocal performances are among the best I’ve ever experienced. The cast is just a marvel – every person just did amazing work. I was in from the first note and dreading the last one. The Color Purple is uplifting and heartwarming and exciting and fun and more important than ever.
The themes of race and gender resonate more now than probably ever before. The audience was hooting and hollering at every moment of female empowerment. The energy was a delight to experience and the cast reveled in it. As they should; they brought this show to life with an energy and a passion that is truly inspiring.
If you have the chance to get to the Pantages and see this show, I would jump at it. I want to go again. It’s such a wonderful show and it’s put up flawlessly by this company. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a blu-ray to buy.
The Color Purple is running through June 17.
More PCB Theater (and Theatre) Coverage:
Taboos and Family Secrets Abound in Be Prepared
What’s On at The Pantages this Season?
A Mini-Review of the Provocative Insignificance
Garon Cockrell is the Founder and Editor of Pop Culture Beast and host of The Pop Culture Beast Show. He founded the site over seven years ago to have a place on the internet to write about the things he loved. Since then, Garon has become a best-selling author (Demonic and Other Tales), an award winning screenwriter (Best Screenplay 2013 Motor City Nightmares Film Festival), and a cast member on the top rated podcast, Never Not Funny.