Cynthia Erivo

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 8:40pm

I've been seeing Broadway shows about 25 years now. I've seen some spectacular performances(Raul Esparza in COMPANY, LuPone in GYPSY, Hugh Jackman in THE BOY FROM OZ). But I can't help but think that quite possibly Erivo's performance as Celie is possibly the best single performance I've ever witness on Broadway. Those that have seen THE COLOR PURPLE with Erivo and have seen other standout performances, what are your thoughts? I haven't seen every Tony winner in their role, but I've seen most. Thoughts about Erivo?

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 8:42pm

Erivo's performance, to me, is one of the two or three times in my long theatergoing career where the product not only lived up to the hype, but wildly exceeded it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 8:44pm

I'll honestly never get the hype over this. I think she gave an excellent performance in a good production of an absolutely terrible show. I think her being so much better than the material is really making people use rose colored glasses when they see the show. I'll just never understand why this show has gotten the love it's gotten. 

[Sunny11]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 9:01pm

Celie is an award magnet role. I have never heard of a production of the colour purple anywhere where the lead hasn't at least been nomination for the top theater prize in that region. 

[Dave13]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 9:07pm

I have been seeing Broadway musicals for sometime. I would say Cynthia's performance is definitely one of the best individual performances I have seen.  

When I say best performance, certainly I have seen more talented performers. However, from her voice, to her acting, to her emotion and just her overall performance, not many performances come close. Right now on Broadway, Ben Platt is giving a performance that rivals Cynthia's.

[Dave13]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 9:11pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I'll honestly never get the hype over this. I think she gave an excellent performance in a good production of an absolutely terrible show. I think her being so much better than the material is really making people use rose colored glasses when they see the show. I'll just never understand why this show has gotten the love it's gotten. 

 

"

My simple response, is Cynthia makes the show. Not many actors make a show like Cynthia did for the Color Purple. I wouldn't have enjoyed the show nearly as much without Cynthia. I only saw the show based upon the reviews on this board, and even after reading the reviews,I had a hard time choosing the show over others. Glad I did. 

 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 9:18pm

Well I think that's why her performance was so great. The musical material (tbh) is not that strong. Cynthia's performance and energy made the show/revival so much more than what it might have been with a lesser singer/actress. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 9:37pm

This is alo why the show is closing instead of trying to find a "name" to replace her. This was her show.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 9:44pm

I think she gave we'll be talking about for a very long time. My thoughts on the show are simple: the revival is better then the original, but I really didn't like the original. Errivo's performance made me enjoy the show and view the character differently.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 11:01pm

Cynthia Erivo is one of the finest actresses and singers out there today. Her work in The Color Purple is unparalleled, and I hope the start of an incredibly long and amazing career.

Also, today is Ms. Erivo's 30th birthday, the same day her star turn in The Color Purple on Broadway has come to an end. How amazing is that?

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 11:07pm

Truly amazing.  

She is talented beyond measure.  

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

Posted: 1/8/17 at 11:29pm

And soooo humble at the stage door.  Cynthia is a lovely person!

[teresa2]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 2:47am

I think Cynthia is older than 30. She was one of the main reasons I saw this show as I never saw the original production nor the movie. I had read so much about her performance and how fabulous it was. She totally exceeded my expectations and blew me away. I also went to see Heather Headley, who I have adored since Aida, and I might not have seen Cynthia if Heather hadn't joined the cast. I am so glad I got to see the show with the two of them and  also Danielle Brooks, another amazing lady. All three were amazing in their performances.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 3:01am

teresa2 said: "I think Cynthia is older than 30.

"

...she was born in 1987. She turned 30 today. 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 3:17am

What was amazing about Erivo is that the role (and the musical) is, frankly, a bitter disappointment in comparison to its source material. But she made you feel like the Alice Walker novel was happening in front of you. She got everything into that performance. 

[ggersten]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 10:24am

Scarywarhol said: "What was amazing about Erivo is that the role (and the musical) is, frankly, a bitter disappointment in comparison to its source material. But she made you feel like the Alice Walker novel was happening in front of you. She got everything into that performance. "

This.  And then some.  I had little interest in seeing the show (and not living in the NYC area, little chance) but after reading all the positives about Erivo (and the Tony win helped), and finding myself in NYC in early December, I grabbed a single (discounted) ticket and went. And I was so energized by Ms. Erivo's performance (and Jennifer Holliday and Carrie Compere).  The flaws in the material just drifted away by the power of the performances.   

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 10:28am

AC126748 said: "Erivo's performance, to me, is one of the two or three times in my long theatergoing career where the product not only lived up to the hype, but wildly exceeded it."

This.

 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 10:33am

I read the book again last week, and I have a bit of a deeper appreciation for both the musical and the film after having done so. Alice Walker's book is beautiful but extremely impressionistic: the tone of it could never truly be faithfully captured in any theatrical medium. But I was impressed with how the lyricists for the musical pulled phrases and descriptions - I remember thinking when I first heard the title song , for example, how strange the lyric "like a blade of corn" is - but its right there in the book.

I will be most curious to see Cynthia Erivo in another musical -- I think understandably part of her success here was the role itself - which people deeply respond to on a personal level.  I know what I responded to was really her singing voice and I do think she has a star presence. It will be interesting to see what she does next for an encore.

[SarahNYC2]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 1:55pm

I've posted on other threads about The Color Purple-I seriously cannot stop raving about Erivo. I was adamant about not seeing The Color Purple-I was very disturbed by the book and movie in high school. However on Christmas Day I was in NYC and realized I had nothing for the evening. I looked on TKTS and saw that there was Beautiful, Waitress and The Color Purple. I had been reading the raves about Erivo. I asked opinions on which one, and almost everyone said The Color Purple. 

89 dollars for a center, 2nd row mezzanine (I could have gotten orchestra but being short I prefer mezzanine), and I was blown away. I also found it amazing to be surrounded by others who were seeing it for their 2nd, 3rd time. It was such a moving experience and Erivo lived up to the hype.

[BroadwayBrat]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 7:00pm

Great performance...brought me to tears and chills at the same time.   And as another poster mentioned, so gracious and pleasant at the stage door.    

[tja928]

Posted: 1/9/17 at 7:29pm

No doubt. It's been almost a year since I saw it for the first time (and went another 4), and her performance still sticks with me. One for the ages for sure.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 1:14am

Jordan Catalano said: "I'll honestly never get the hype over this. I think she gave an excellent performance in a good production of an absolutely terrible show. I think her being so much better than the material is really making people use rose colored glasses when they see the show. I'll just never understand why this show has gotten the love it's gotten. 

I have to agree that I agree with this assessment.  I thought it was pretty good when I saw it, but was not even remotely bowled over.  I admit that I have been attending the theatre a lot longer than many participants here, but I can think of dozens of performances off the top of my hat that I thought were superior to hers.  

Just in the 60s alone, off the top of my head: Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey in Hello, Dolly; Angela Lansbury in Mame and Dear World (the latter may have been flawed...she was amazing); Barbara Harris in The Apple Tree; Patricia Rutledge in Darling of the Day; Richard Kiley in Man of La Mancha; Hershel Bernardi in Fiddler (I thought he was bette than Zero, who was already ad-libbing when I saw it the first time); Tommy Steele in Half a Sixpence; William Daniels in 1776; Leslie Uggams in Hallelujah, Baby.

Skipping past the 70s to the 90s to more current times...

in the 21st century, Nathan Lane in The Producers; Hugh Jackman in Boy From Oz; Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens; Patti Lupone and (if it opened post 12/31/99) Bernadette Peters in Gypsy; Alice Ripley in Next to Normal; Donna Murphy in Wonderful Town; Idina Menzel in Wicked; Kelli O'Hara in  South Pacific; Billy Porter in Kinky Boots; both Daniel Jenkins and Genna Russell in Sunday in the Park revival.

This is not intended as anything more than one person's immediate reaction -- also, I did not have the good fortune to see some incredibly acclaimed performances, e.g., I was unable to see Light in the Piazza -- just to say that I thought she was fine, but I have personally seen a lot more memorable performances and continue not to understand all the hyperbole around her performance.  I think the main reason is probably not in her control...I still think the material she had to work with was mediocre.  

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 2:20pm

What Queen Alice said.

Also, I enjoyed the original and LaChanz's performance. Erivo is a force, no question about it. I too want to see what she does next. I also think this scaled down production pulled you more into the story than the original and being done in a more intimate theater is what made Erivo's performance, and the entire show, so electrifying. JMO

[rjm516]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 2:50pm

I got to see Cynthia a few years ago in London in Songs for a New World, so the barest stage, no book, just 4 people taking turns singing songs with a little bit of blocking. It was clear to everyone in that audience that she was pure magic, just as it was to audiences at the Color Purple. So I have high hopes for whatever she does next. 

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 3:19pm

Any idea wha's for her next? Her Twitter seems to indicate something is coming down the pipeline...