Book by Marsha Norman
Music and Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray
Based the Novel written by Alice Walker and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment Motion Picture
First of all. Let’s give a nice warm applause and welcome to Theater West End! I am so happy to see another incredible home for live theater in Central Florida. Owner Quinn Roberts is a delightful man, kind and hardworking. I was fortunate enough to meet him when he put a call out for volunteers one night before he opened the doors for the first show. (Check out the light fixtures in the lobby. I helped put those together. #Brag)
The Color Purple tells the story of a young woman, Celie, whose father marries her off to an abusive farmer who had an eye for her younger sister Nettie. Celie leaves her childhood home where she endured life as a slave for a fate worse than death. When her husband tries to rape Nettie, who gets away from his advancement with a knee to his groin, Celie’s husband sends Nettie away, forbidding Celie from communicating with her sister ever again. This is a story about self worth and true love told through the prayers of a poor, black and “ugly” woman who, in truth, is "more beautiful than words."
The Divine Amitria Fanae stars as Celie in this Theater West End debut production. Amitria came into this character impressively . Amitria has the uncanny ability to speak a lifetime of words with only a glance, conveying emotions too painful to speak. While I feel Celie really came to life during Miss Celie’s Pants. Amitira’s entire performance was unrestrained. What’s interesting about Celie is that she is the only one in her life, including her husband, who doesn’t know the power she has. Amitria showed the audience that Celie’s fight was just as much an internal struggle to identify her self worth as much as it was a struggle against outside sources. I love that you get pieces of this actress’s voice through the show but it isn’t until the iconic “I’m Here” that you get the full impact of what she has. Thank you, Amitria, for your beautiful Celie.
Dante’ J.L. Murray portrayed Mister. It’s easy to to label this character “the bad guy” and call it a day. Dante came out with a fire at the top of the show. I felt a strange likability toward him even before the character’s arch. Shug Avery describes the fun times she has had with Mister. It was fun to see the switch between the “bad” Mister and the Mister Shug sees.
Melissa Vasquez gave Sofia a softness I never expected. This actress was able to show Sofia’s strength while never being coarse. She and Terrence Jamison who portrayed Harpo were adorable together. These two actors lifted the audience up just when we needed it, before we were a mess over the return of Celie’s family.
Felichia Chivaughn as Nettie. Felichia had my heart from the moment she came on to the stage. This character needs to be so dearly loved by the audience otherwise we would be left without the relationship we identify with for Celie. Felichia had a dynamic energy about her. The direction to have this character portray the mailbox was brilliant, leaving mixed feelings of hope and dread. Was she still alive? Was she dead? Bravo to this actress especially for her portrayal of this character during the reading of the letters. Felichia did triple duty as co-director and wig designer as well.
Kellie Rhianne is force of nature as Shug Avery. I didn’t even have to hear this girl sing to fall in love with her voice. Kellie’s performance felt so natural and effortless. This performer captured Shug and made her feel familiar without feeling like a copy of another Shug. When Kellie was on stage, you paid attention, my person requirement for this character. When Kellie finally sang I nearly lost myself.
The last performers I am going to gush about carried us through the show with grace, attitude and a joyful noise. Yara Williams as Darlene, Tonya Phillips Staples as Doris and Shonda Thurman as Jarene defined the term "taking us to church" as our Greek Chorus. These Queens gave the audience space to breathe between scenes. I was so impressed with their full characters. These actresses could easily have rested on the gimmick or their remarkable voices but I felt each woman had her own story when coming onto the stage as well as furthering Celie’s story. It was like watching another show within a show.
Thank you to the lovely staff during this production. Bravo to co-director Derek Critzer. See you at the next show.
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