The Color Purple

Since we weren't rushing around as much on our 2nd trip to NYC, we had some time to plan some activities.  On Tuesday night we went to Shea to see the Mets and Wednesday it was off to Broadway.  Quite the straight-gay itinerary... and not that unusual to see two guys sitting next to each other in the crowd.

We didn't plan it that way, but our hotel ended up being just around the corner from the theater.  We could even see edge of the marquee from our window... was a quick walk to The Color Purple... so a sharp contrast to our crowded, standing the whole way 35-minute subway trek on the 7 Train to Shea... now that was interesting.

Another coincidence was going to this particular theater... the Broadway Theater.  Which is slightly confusing when you are trying to have a conversation with someone not familiar with the Great White Way.  It turns into a "Who's On First?" type of verbal exchange.  Which theater is the show at?  The Broadway Theater.  I know, it's a Broadway show, but what's the theater's name?  The Broadway Theater, etc, etc). 

It was one of those full circle moments. This was the very first Broadway theater I ever went to (Evita in 1980) and now here I was, nearly 30 years later, taking my boyfriend / partner / significant other to his first Broadway show (well, Broadway show on Broadway... at the Broadway Theater).  Also, pretty neat in that time span that I made it down from the upper reaches of the balcony down to the 8th Row.

Anyhow, as you may remember the main reason we chose this show was to see something we haven't seen before and to see a "star"... in this case, it was American Idol Season 3 Winner Fantasia Barrino.   While stunt-casting is common these days on Broadway (Chicago: The Musical has turned into grad school for Dancing With The Stars "stars"... Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna jumped in after Joey Lawrence's recent stint)... in this particular instance, it seemed like Fantasia was, as they say, "born to play" the lead role of Celie... the poor, abused, young, unwed, awkward looking mother who rises from the ashes.  She had some big shoes to fill as well since the original star of the show won the Tony for the role... but Fantasia, in a limited 6-month run, has won raves for her Broadway debut and gave the box office a multi-million dollar boost.

Ok, so what did we think of the show?!   Well, we loved it.  I wondered whether I was just giving some slack to show since it was "Broadway"... but I honestly don't think it got any bump just because we were seeing it in NYC.  Having seen so many national tours, we did seem to think everyone was just incredible... as 'Ole Blue Eyes sang "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere"... and that certainly seemed to be the case.  We felt even one of the supporting players from this show could easily be a lead in a touring production.

Besides the cast, the whole show was very high quality (sets, lighting, costumes)... that we really  wondered how this show could have possibly not won the Tony for Best Musical (quick research shows it lost to Spamalot... so I'll reserve judgment until I have seen that one).  Although neither of us are terribly religious, we do tend to like shows/entertainment that have the feel of going to "church"... and this one had our toes tappin' and smiles on our face from the opening number.

And Fantasia certainly didn't let us down either.  I would say "a star is born"... but again, this just seems like a case where the stars and planets aligned perfectly for a singer/actress and a role... but she certainly is not hurting her chances of more stage and screen work in the future.  I have already mentioned how much I was moved by her performance of Purple's show-stopper "I'm Here" on talk shows and at this year's Tony Awards... so what a thrill to hear her sing it live... and just a few rows away.  Folks were cheering in the middle of the song... and dare I say, there likely wasn't a dry eye in the house by the time she finished it.  An electrifying moment of live theater... ain't nothing better!

So if you are in NYC or plan to go, I highly recommend the show... and by all means would suggest getting there to see Fantasia (she started in April, so October-ish would be the end of her six-month run).  We are certainly looking forward to seeing the show again when it hits Arizona in March 2008... if anything, just to compare/contrast it with the Broadway version.

Comments

[nookie]

I have been hearing a lot of great reviews of Fantasia in CP and I couldn't be more happy for her.
Also I heard through the grapevine that Fantasia has extended her stay till January 08.