The Color Purple-How Was The Original Broadway Production Received?

[Soaring29]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 3:45pm

The current  Broadway production   of The Color Purple that is going on tour right now has made an extremely large impact on the theatre community- having won the Tony for Best Revival Of A Musical and Best Leading Actress In A Musical for Cynthia Erivio's performance two years ago. 

But let's go back and take a lock at the original Broadway production that ran a respectable two years on Broadway, got it's investment back, and went on tour, but I remember when it first came out that the community seemed slightly mixed on it as a whole and despite LaChanze's Tony win,  the show failed to take home anything else. How do you think the production was received when it first came out? Were people burdened with high expectations and ended up disappointed? Why do you think the Revival had more positive reception(from my perspective anyway) then the original production? 

Updated On: 6/12/18 at 03:45 PM

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 3:51pm

I always wanted to do a poll to see if people preferred LaChanze or Erivo as Celie notwithstanding how some here feel about Erivo personally now.

[Soaring29]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 3:56pm

Can we do polls on here? 

 

I'm currently intending on listening to all of the songs from the Revival, but from what I've heard so far, I just am partial to LaChanze. I wasn't able to see either in person, but having listened to that album since around the actual show came out, LaChanze is just too close to my heart. 

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 3:58pm

Believe it or not, I saw the original run with Fantasia as Celie and it's one of the most genuine and raw performances I've ever seen. SOBBED at "I Am Here."

 

Hate on it haters. 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 4:06pm

ucjrdude902 said: "Believe it or not, I saw the original run with Fantasia as Celie and it's one of the most genuine and raw performances I've ever seen. SOBBED at "I Am Here."

I agree with this 100%. I didn't see LaChanze, but I was at Fantasia's final performance, and it was transcendent. She inhabited the role in a way that I don't think Cynthia Erivo did. Don't get me wrong, I adore Cynthia, but Fantasia was a more organic fit, in my opinion. As a whole, I enjoyed the revival more, but, if we're comparing Celies, I can't imagine a better one than Fantasia.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 4:08pm

I thought the revival was absolute crud x

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 4:11pm

CT2NYC said: "ucjrdude902 said: "Believe it or not, I saw the original run with Fantasia as Celie and it's one of the most genuine and raw performances I've ever seen. SOBBED at "I Am Here."

I agree with this 100%. I didn't see LaChanze, but I was at Fantasia's final performance, and it was transcendent. She inhabited the role in a way that I don't think Cynthia Erivo did. Don't get me wrong, I adore Cynthia, but Fantasia was a more organic fit, in my opinion. As a whole, I enjoyed the revival more, but, if we're comparing Celies, I can't imagine a better one than Fantasia."

 

Transcendent is a perfect way to describe it. The way she embodied the role and honestly, I felt, took on the pain of a lot of black women and "Celies" of the world was remarkable. 

 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 4:19pm

I liked the original production a lot when I first saw it, particularly the brilliant first half. (The songs descend into contemporary pop territory about halfway through, which I thought was a huge shame.) La Chanze was lovely and heartbreaking, but the original Shug was a weak singer and weak partner for Celie (one could have missed the amazing lesbian love story at the show's heart if you weren't paying attention), and not a single other performance stands out in my memory banks from the show that night. The sets by the great John Lee Beatty were only halfway there, lots of skeletal doorways against black and white images of cotton fields as I recall. Still, the CD from the OBC got plenty of repeat plays until about 2016.

What the revival had that the original was missing was this: a huge visual IDEA! Now the show was all about a specific community telling a story almost as sacred as a Church Service. The unit set of diagonal planks and mismatched chairs was effortlessly evocative. And the new performances by every single blessed member of the company, now stripped of all the white characters, along with all the cliches of a standard broadway staging, just blew the roof off of the theater and made the hairs on our neck stand on end. 

And Cynthia Erivo? Where La Chanze was beautifully sympathetic, Cynthia was a FORCE OF NATURE. Her every movement and note commanded your attention, long before her earth shattering "I Am Here" finished up the evening. Her performance, along with LuPone's Evita, Streisand's Fanny and Angela Lansbury's Mrs. Lovett, will go down as one for the ages.

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 4:23pm

I was just talking about this with a friend the other day. I loved the original production and don't understand why stripping down the sets, costumes, and choreography all of a sudden made people who didn't care about the original at all suddenly go crazy for it. I also disliked some of John Doyle's directorial choices, especially how he decided to do the reunion between Celie and Nettie at the end. In the original, as evidenced on the OBCR, the reunion between the two was a raw, visceral explosion of love. In the revival it was.....not that. I didn't feel the joy I wanted to feel seeing these two sisters finally reunited. I guess Celie was supposed to be in shock? I don't know. I mean, Celie hasn't seen her sister in DECADES. Why wouldn't she be screaming for joy?

I personally believe people took to the revival so quickly simply because it was directed by John Doyle who is looked at as a visionary director. I also suspect that Cynthia Erivo being British had something to do with it as well, as we Americans tend to think of British actors as being better somehow. I enjoyed the revival for what it was, but it honestly kind of irked me that the original didn't receive the same kind of love back in the day.

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 4:28pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: 

"And the new performances by every single blessed member of the company, nowstripped of all the white characters, along with all thecliches of a standardbroadway staging, just blew the roof off ofthe theater and made the hairs on our neck stand on end.

And Cynthia Erivo? Where La Chanze was beautifullysympathetic, Cynthia was a FORCE OF NATURE. Her every movement and note commanded your attention, long before her earth shattering "I Am Here" finished up the evening. Her performance, along with LuPone's Evita, Streisand's Fanny and AngelaLansbury's Mrs. Lovett, will go down as one for the ages."

 

The original didn't have any white characters either. It was an all black cast. But yes, I'd say that the supporting actors were stronger in the revival, minus Jennifer Hudson's acting. Wish I could've seen it with Heather Headley!!!

 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 4:32pm

The original Broadway production itself was a rather generic show with little creativity.  It looked more like something you might see at a regional repertory company for musical theatre (Theater Under the Stars, 5th Avenue, Walnut Street, etc) with the book and direction replicating much from the film.  I think half the score is distinct and strong while the other half a reivative of the R&B Broadway musicals of  the 70s (Raisin, The Wiz, etc), especially in the orchestrations (I have to skip the Overture on the CD).

I remember the reviews being mixed with little to rave other than for LaChanze.  But Oprah sold the HELL out of the show.  I'm glad it returned to Broadway in a more creative and distinct production.  I'm looking forward to seeing the tour.

[binau]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 4:35pm

Is this the first time John Doyle's work has ever been spoken of positively on this forum :P?

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 4:39pm

I'm just gonna put these here. Fantasia is channeling something that the others aren't, which makes it feel much more authentic, in my opinion. Honestly, I don't think there's any contest here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNKgBEGCnOw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKtFfqinmWo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1NlOygpVYk
 

Updated On: 6/12/18 at 04:39 PM

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 4:56pm

"Is this the first time John Doyle's work has ever been spoken of positively on this forum :P?"

Let's take stock, shall we? Doyle got raves here and elsewhere for his B'way revivals of SWEENEY TODD (tuba-playing Mrs. Lovett), COMPANY (Bobby learns to play the piano), and THE COLOR PURPLE (no onstage instruments). Off Broadway, he got raves for his revival of PASSION at CSC.

On the debit side, BWW posters were mixed for THE VISIT on Bway, as well as for ROAD SHOW Off Bway. His PACIFIC OVERTURES at CSC was pretty much panned everywhere, right?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 5:01pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: "Let's take stock, shall we?Doyle got raves here and elsewhere for his B'way revivals of SWEENEY TODD (tuba-playingMrs. Lovett), COMPANY (Bobby learns to play the piano), and THE COLOR PURPLE (no onstage instruments). Off Broadway, he got raves for his revival of PASSION at CSC.

On the debit side, BWW posters were mixed for THE VISIT on Bway, as wellas for ROAD SHOW Off Bway. His PACIFIC OVERTURES at CSC was pretty much panned everywhere, right?"

And no one here seems to have attended the first preview of Carmen Jones at CSC so the verdict is still out on that one.

[Huss417]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 5:15pm

Having seen LaChanze , Fantasia and Ervivo. All were great in their own way but Fantasia just had the rawness and the guts that for me brought the character to another level. But like I said loved all three.

[broadway86]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 5:38pm

ucjrdude902 said: "Believe it or not, I saw the original run with Fantasia as Celie and it's one of the most genuine and raw performances I've ever seen. SOBBED at "I Am Here.""

Agreed, Fantasia was incredible. Frankly, I was astonished at how good she was.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 5:48pm

I’ll never understand the love for this musical. Even through the audition process, hearing most of the mediocre music sung over and over, myself and so many others were amazed that it was actually going to be on a Broadway stage. The first few performances were just laughably bad and then things got cut and trimmed and it became less laughably bad and just boring. It lacks any warmth and emotion that made the book one of the best ever written and the film, one of the best American films of all time. As for Fantasia, she was (and I use this word very selectively) a revelation. She was outstanding and showed that someone could take that horribly written role and do something great with it.

As for the revival, the casts were all very good and unfortunately that still proves that a good cast can make people not realize the immense flaws in this musical. If you just look at it for what it is, it’s an AWFUL musical that really gives people the opportunity to shine.

Updated On: 6/12/18 at 05:48 PM

[kasim]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 6:50pm

It was pretty popular when it came out if I recall, I never saw it or the tour but I didnt really like the movie so thats probably why. Dunno.

Feels soo weird when there is already a revival 7 years later, I assume that more has to do with the theatre no longe wanting it and another theatre does?

Was much changed between the musical and the revivaL? 

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 7:36pm

I saw the original production either towards the end of previews, or shortly after it opened, and disliked it immensely.  As someone who has always liked LaChanze, I found her performance forgettable.  The one thing I liked was the set and costume design.  I absolutely hated the church ladies, and that might be why I found myself disengaged in the evening's proceedings early on.  They were so over-the-top obnoxious.  One of my high school classmates was a replacement, but I could not bring myself to return to see the show.

I saw the revival with trepidation, and was surprised at how taken I was with the show.  So much so, I saw the production several times including the final performance.  Cynthia Erivo was wonderful each and every time I saw her. I found myself teary-eyed as if it were the first time seeing this production.

After seeing the tour in Baltimore in October 2017, it reminded me just how special the revival cast was.  Some of the leads paled in comparison to their Broadway counterparts.  I thought Mister (Gavin Gregory) was excellent.  All that being said, I have tickets to see the touring production again when it plays the Kennedy Center this summer.

Updated On: 6/12/18 at 07:36 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 7:56pm

I saw the original production on tour as well as the revival. I vastly preferred the original production.

[Soaring29]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 10:48pm

kasim said: "It was pretty popular when it came out if I recall, I never saw it or the tour but I didnt really like the movie so thats probably why. Dunno.

Feels soo weird when there is already a revival 7 years later, I assume that more has to do with the theatre no longe wanting it and another theatre does?

Was much changed between the musical and the revivaL?"

 

Well, 10 years at least on Broadway. 

 

[Soaring29]

Posted: 6/12/18 at 11:05pm

I like the score- I think it could be stronger though in terms of complete songs, there is too many "bits and pieces" songs in the score to me. 

 

What is there though is of good quality. The best songs in the score to me are: 

1. I'm Here 

2. African Homeland 

3.  Our Prayer 

4. Too Beautiful for Words 

5. Push Da Button 

6. Somebody Gonna Love You 

7. Hell No(I'm kinda mixed on this one though, although it is memorable)

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/13/18 at 1:47am

The show has a lot of moments that allow for showing off. That said, it was and it is an awful musical. It is obviously imagined for the page, not the stage.

I saw both and still wonder why the "by the numbers" adaptation is so liked, aside from these women belting their souls out. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/13/18 at 1:59am

I prefer production value over anything, but I did find myself taken with this revival. I know the music is "basic," but I love it. The voices are excellent. I didn't love the staging as I think the storytelling suffered - I didn't even know Celie aged - as I've never seen it before.