REVIEW: 'Color Purple' is honest, uplifting and well-produced in national tour

By PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer | Thursday, December 4, 2008 9:09 AM PST ∞

When books make the transition to movies and Broadway they usually lose their edge to appeal to the masses, but the musical version of Alice Walker's novel "The Color Purple" is a rare exception.

The 2006 Tony-nominated musical, playing through Sunday at the San Diego Civic Theatre, is an inspiring, moving and very human story that embraces all the grit, sensuality and earthiness of Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1983 novel. That honesty may keep "The Color Purple" from being embraced by the broad masses, but for theater-lovers looking for an original, uplifting and memorable evening, this show more than fits the bill.

The well-produced touring production doesn't soften any punches. In the first moments of the show, we meet Celie, a poor, homely black 14-year-old in Depression-era Georgia ready to deliver her second child, incestuously fathered by her widowed stepdad. Suffering is a way of life for Celie, whose father gives away her babies, then sells her off into marriage to Mister, a philandering abuser who beat his first wife to death, separates Celie from her beloved sister, Nettie, and openly cheats with the sexy honky-tonk singer, Shug Avery.

So where's the uplifting part? Shug helps Celie discover her inner beauty and talents and they fall in love. Many more years of hardship will test Celie before she finds her happy ending, but the musical's message is one of self-acceptance, faith in love and God, and the belief that no good deed goes unrewarded.

Gospel singer/actress Jeannette Bayardelle is remarkable as Celie, believably maturing from awkward teen to cowering wife, to adoring middle-aged partner, and ultimately to confident, self-respecting businesswoman. And her stunning vocals bring down the house, especially in the roof-raising solo "I'm Here."

Serving as Bayardelle's perfect counterpoint is Angela Robinson, who oozes warmth, sly wit and sexuality in her bluesy, sassy performance as Shug Avery. All of her songs are show highlights, especially her confidence-builder to Celie, "Too Beautiful for Words," their duet "What About Love" and the sexually suggestive nightclub number "Push Da Button" (which leaves little to the imagination).

The musical's not without its flaws. As in the book, men come off poorly. They virtually all cheat, beat and control women and only redeem themselves when they're subservient to their womenfolk. Fortunately, the musical's bookwriter Marsha Norman and director Gary Griffin handle this preachy theme with humor, especially in the love-hate-love relationship between Mister's son, Harpo, and his big, proud wife, Sofia. This could come off cliched, but the remarkable chemistry between sweet, likable Stu James (as Harpo) and the amazing force of nature that is Felicia P. Fields (as Sofia) makes it believable.

At three hours, the musical's also feels about 20 or 30 minutes too long, a situation that could be remedied by cutting in half the overlong African homeland sequence that opens the second act. And Mister's second-act soul-searching number, although well sung by Rufus Bonds Jr., feels melodramatic.

The rest of the supporting cast are excellent, including sweet-voiced LaToya London (yes, that LaToya, from "American Idol") as Nettie and the three gossiping church ladies, hilariously played by Kimberly Anne Harris, Virginia Ann Woodroof and Lynette Dupree.

"The Color Purple" doesn't shy away from its literary roots and the adult themes of lesbianism, sexuality, incest, teen pregnancy and violence. And yet, there's an overriding theme of religious faith, triumph over adversity and love. These may not be enough to appeal to the masses and the grown-up issues it addresses may not be suitable for small children, but it's a moving human story and it's told well in the national tour.

"The Color Purple"

When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4; 8 p.m. Dec. 5; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 6; 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 7

Where: San Diego Civic Theatre, Third Avenue at B Street, San Diego

Tickets: $18-$79

Phone: (619) 570-1100

Web: www.broadwaysd.com