[yasr_overall_rating]
Discover the review of the musical The Color Purple. The show, produced and performed at The Leicester Curve in England, is available to stream until March 7, 2021.
A musical that is talked about a lot
The musical has been talked about a lot in recent days because of the Seyi Omooba affair. In 2019, this actress was to play the main role of Celie, a character who has a lesbian relationship. But following the resurface of homophobic Facebook posts, she was fired from production. Deeming this decision unacceptable, the actress took the production to court. The verdict of the trial was delivered on the day of the first performance. The young actress will not win the £ 71,000 in compensation she hopes for. It must be said that her argument was that she did not know that the character was in a homosexual relationship because she had not read the script, although she had already signed the contract.
A musical adapted from Alice Walker's novel
The Color Purple follows 35 years of Celie's life. Of her adolescence with her abusive father and her sister Nettie for whom she would do anything, on the arm of an even more violent husband. Treated like a slave in her own home, Celie dreams of being reunited with her sister and the two children she had from her father and was forced to give up. She begins a relationship with Shug Avery, a jazz singer. But the latter thirsts for freedom. Celie finds herself once again alone in her loveless home. Although her course is riddled with obstacles, fate will turn for Celie. The impact she will have on those around her is only positive. She never loses hope because she is a survivor and she is there.
A staging thought with the camera
To begin this review of The Color Purple, we must speak of the fluid and energetic use of the camera. We feel that the show was designed with the camera, which is rarely the case for filmed shows. It allows close up and also allows to focus on the one character during scenes of chaos.
Another ingenuity was the use of the camera as a confidant. With a glance cast at the camera, the spectator becomes accomplice, omniscient. However, there were a few image overlays which were not very useful.
A rhythmic show
Both in the musical numbers and in the staging, the show does not leave time to be bored. The musical is basic very well built and, on the turntable, the scenes are linked. We barely have time to wipe away our tears when another breathtaking number has already swept us away.
Let us mention the very funny trio of gossips who, like a Greek choir, come to narrate the situation and allow themselves to make sharp comments. This allows for moments of comedic interludes that work especially when there is no applause to allow for transitions.
A fantastic cast
What a distribution! Each actor comes to bring his stone to the building to tell this story. We obviously notice T'Shan Williams in the role of Celie and Carly Mercedes Dyer in Shug. The young Danielle Fiamanya performs Nettie brilliantly: remember her name!
Although I know the musical, I rediscovered the role of Mister. Actor Ako Mitchell gives him an arc and an emotional path that is as precise as it is overwhelming. Well done !
A sublime score
Each number is stronger than the last and increases in intensity to reach the climax "I'm Here".
The “Push Da Button” number brings rhythm, a strong moment of dance, immediately followed by the heartbreaking “What About love? The same goes for the frenzied duo "Any Little Thing" followed by the incredible "Celie's Curse". The score is superb with jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues accents. We listen to it again with even more pleasure once all the intricacies of the plot are understood.
A Covid-friendly staging
For this filmed version, the director Tinuka Craig reimagines her staging of 2019. It is therefore a very refined staging, without physical contact but no less intense and interesting.
There is one point I want to stress. I didn't realize until the last minute that the staging respected social distancing. (This is proof that theaters can very well reopen!) This constraint became an opportunity, an angle of play.
However, this distancing did not make it possible to fully enjoy certain moments of the show. Like for example the relationship between Celie and Shug or a reunion scene where we hoped for hugs.
To end this review, let's talk about the final number "The Color Purple" which gives chills to the legs: on stage, all the actors are gathered, perfectly spaced and behind them, we see the empty room.
A show that reminds us how much we miss the theater and remain essential.