photo by Jason Sullivan/Dupla Photography
The last version I saw of the musical “The Color Purple” was the one Whoopi Goldberg did on film (I saw it on TV). She was great, but I loved that one mainly because we San Diegans like to claim Whoopi as a native because she acted here for several years before she moved to the Big City.
The show has been around since the 1985 film production. Since then, it went to Broadway, where it got eleven Tony nominations. Last year, the musical adaptation was made as a film. It’s been a while since I saw it onstage.
Now you can see it in a sparkling live production at New Village Arts in Carlsbad, wonderfully directed by Kandace Crystal and choreographed by Alyssa “Ajay” Junious. Leigh Scarritt handled the musical direction and Janet Pitcher contributed the often-amazing costume design.
You remember the plot. It’s about Celie (Nio Russell), a young black girl in Georgia in 1909, who is given by her dad Pa (Kevin La’Marr Coleman) to a mean s.o.b. called here “Mister” and played at my performance by Zack King.
Celie isn’t just mistreated and alone; she also loses track of her sister Nettie (played at my performance by Kiara Hudlin), so Celie must truly learn to fend for herself.
It’s a sad story, but a wonderful show with excellent songs, brilliantly played and sung by all involved. The terrific score is by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.
The show starts with Celie and Nettie just before all the mess, singing about “Blueberry Pie,” followed by the whole company singing a lovely piece about (God moving in) “Mysterious Ways.”
Then the girls are separated, and I began to wonder whether their faces will be the “color purple” after all the mistreatment they will endure.
But they will meet others (like the delightful singer “Shug” (played by Hadiyyah Noelle), and the song titles include these: “Big Dog,” “Hell No!” and “Too Beautiful For Words.”
And NVA has added a terrific singing-and-dancing piece at the top of Act 2 called “African Homeland,” which features African costumes and dances.
As the producer’s note puts it: “The Color Purple” is about forgiveness, acceptance, sisterhood, strong-ass women and finding God in everything.”
What more can you ask?
The details
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Select Wednesdays at 2 p.m. Through July 21.
Where: New Village Arts, 2787 State St., Carlsbad
Tickets: $33 and up
Phone: (760) 433-3245
Online: newvillagearts.org
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