Fun Home or Color Purple?

[Adair Haywind]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 11:49am

Hey guys!

 

So it's looking like I may be able to squeeze in a small trip to NYC during my visit to the east coast this summer and am planning on seeing two shows. School of Rock is first on my list, but for the second I'm really trying to decide between Fun Home and The Color Purple. I realize Fun Home is going on national tour this season, but the main reason I want to see it in New York is because Michael Cerveris has been an inspiration to me for so long and we both happen to be originally from West Virginia. Still, I would really like to see The Color Purple because I've been told Cynthia Erivo's performance is one for the ages. 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 11:53am

Both great options, but I absolutely have to go with Color Purple.

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 11:53am

In my view, Fun Home is a great musical with a great cast and great direction. The Color Purple is an average musical with a great cast and great direction. Although Fun Home is going on tour, there will be nowhere as good to see it on tour than at Circle in the Square and as you said, you love Michael Cerveris. I'd go for Fun Home.

Updated On: 5/27/16 at 11:53 AM

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 11:55am

The Color Purple.  Hands down one of the best evenings of theater I've ever seen.  Saw the original and this is an entirely different production. It's like going to church.  I mean, Im jewish so its like I would imagine what it would be like going to church

 

Fun Home was exceptional - saw it at the Public - its touring so perhaps you can see it on the road?

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 11:58am

I personally enjoyed the color purple more, but I know there are many others who love fun home more than I did. (I liked it a lot but wasn't as in love with it as everyone else.). The circle in the square really is such a great place to see a show, though. 

 

The good news is you really can't go wrong. 

[slumdogdelaware]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 12:00pm

Honestly either is a fantastic choice, but if you really want to see Cerveris then that's what you should go with, because who knows how much longer he will be in the role.

But yes, Erivo's performance is everything everyone has said and more. So it's a win-win situation.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 12:06pm

This is a win win - you can't go wrong with either choice but also a loss because if you can only see one show, you will miss the other both of which still have a good majority of the original casts and the replacement actors are phenomenal.

I might choose Fun Home because it's really so unique but I would not fault you for either choice. I would pick both of those over School of Rock (which I really enjoyed) but you will have a wonderful weekend of theater regardless.

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 12:48pm

I would choose Fun Home simply because Purple will likely last longer if you make frequent stops. I'd honestly see Purple and Fun Home and forget about School of Rock, but if you have your heart set on it, go forth.

[Adair Haywind]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 2:03pm

Thanks for the input, guys!

 

 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 7:13pm

Having seen both, I would go with The Color Purple.

Posted: 5/27/16 at 8:18pm

I've seen both and while either would be great choice, see The Color Purple if only to hear Cynthia Erivo sing "I'm Here". Truly one of the best performances of the decade so far.

[BroadwayPeasent]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 8:35pm

OMG they are both must sees.

[playbill-love]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 11:14pm

I would not want to experience Fun Home for the first time in a touring house. At least where I live, the theatre that houses the national tours has something like 5500 seats, and in anything but very front orchestra you feel miles away from the stage. Fun Home is a tiny, intimate, quiet show that is perfectly housed in the small space of the Circle in the Square. I would not factor in that you can see it on tour because it is going to be a COMPLETELY different (and likely worse, and less easy to get invested in) experience on tour than on Broadway. So, I would go with Fun Home. My impression is that Color Purple is likely to stay open in NYC much longer than Fun Home as well so if you return to the city you'll likely have another chance to see it.

[Mike66]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 11:19pm

Color Purple -- IF you can see it with Cynthia Erivo.  Fun Home was fabulous.  I loved every wrenching moment.  But Erivo's performance is one of the finest I've ever seen.  The second half of the show I had to remind myself to breath --

If the choice was between the opening night cast of FH vs. the opening night case of CP, it would be impossible to choose -- they are both that good.

But that's not the choice right now.

Please, if you have a chance -- see this company perform Color Purple.  As Brantley said about Hamilton -- "Yes, it is that good."

One more thing -- School of Rock can wait. You gotta do what you gotta do -- but these three shows -- Purple, Fun Home, SoR -- OMG -- it's not close. (remember -- they convinced Lin Manuel Miranda to wait until August to open Hamilton on Broadway so that Fun Home could win the Tony -- and boy did it ever).

Unless you have already bought tickets, please, please try to see FH and CP. You'll send everyone a thank you note, I guarantee. Updated On: 5/27/16 at 11:19 PM

[BroadwayPeasent]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 11:26pm

I agree its a musical that restores my faith in musical theater . As much I can like Disney Musicals. Fun Home was a breath of fresh air. I truly believe it deserved the Pulitzer it did not get.

 

playbill-love said: "I would not want to experience Fun Home for the first time in a touring house. At least where I live, the theatre that houses the national tours has something like 5500 seats, and in anything but very front orchestra you feel miles away from the stage. Fun Home is a tiny, intimate, quiet show that is perfectly housed in the small space of the Circle in the Square. I would not factor in that you can see it on tour because it is going to be a COMPLETELY different (and likely worse, and less easy to get invested in) experience on tour than on Broadway. So, I would go with Fun Home. My impression is that Color Purple is likely to stay open in NYC much longer than Fun Home as well so if you return to the city you'll likely have another chance to see it.

 

"

 

Updated On: 5/27/16 at 11:26 PM

[playbill-love]

Posted: 5/27/16 at 11:37pm

Also I agree with what others have said. I had a great time at School of Rock but I would see Fun Home AND Color Purple rather than choosing between the two to accommodate seeing School of Rock.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/28/16 at 10:35am

The Color Purple.