I was saddened this week, but North Shore Music Theatre’s announcement about their season being off.
What cheers me is still seeing great musicals in the area. And they are still coming to town. Recently saw “The Color Purple” at the Citi Center (formerly the Wang) in Boston.
Show was great. I will confess I never read the original Pulitzer Prize-winning Alice Walker novel, but I did see the movie. I remember thinking it was a sad, sad tale.
The musical deals with some harsh subjects — physical abuse, rape, racism — yet somehow it remains uplifting and hopeful. Might have something to do with its awesome score, which features rollicking numbers like “Hell No” and “Any Little Thing.”
The story follows the life of Celie, played by the hugely talented Kenita R. Miller. Celie is abused by her father — baring two of his children before her 15th birthday.
Her one solace is her sister, Nettie (“American Idol” finalist LaToya London), whom Celie loves above all else. This relationship is put in jeopardy when her father marries Celie off to an abusive farmer named “Mister.”
Celie is separated from Nettie, and after years believes she is dead. Meanwhile she lives with the physically abusive Mister in a loveless marriage.
As she gets older, Celie learns to stand up for herself. Eventually she becomes mistress of her own life and is reunited with family she thought she’d lost.
My favorite character in the Tony nominated show was Sofia, the wife of Celie’s stepson Harpo.
This is the character Oprah played in the 1985 Steven Spielberg movie. Sofia, played on stage by Tony nominee Felicia P. Fields, added much needed comic relief in what can otherwise be a very sad story.
I totally recommend this musical. It will be here in Boston through June 28. For tickets, visit www.citicenter.org.
