From film to stage, ‘Purple’ packs passion

The Color Purple Through June 15 Benedum Center 412-456-6666

Pittsburgh’s CLO Theater… The Color Purple Through June 15 Benedum Center 412-456-6666

Pittsburgh’s CLO Theater Company is bringing Alice Walker’s classic novel, “The Color Purple,” to life onstage this month. The musical won the Tony for “Best Musical” on Broadway, and the show produced by Oprah Winfrey continues to impress audiences in its Pittsburgh performances.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was adapted into a critically acclaimed movie directed by Steven Spielberg in 1985, and the recent musical production that hit Broadway in 2005 lacks none of the book and film’s drama and power.

With a talented cast, fantastic scenery and great musical numbers paired with Walker’s moving and beautiful story, “The Color Purple” is a sure winner that, unlike most musicals, is able to keep its audience captivated for the full two and a half hours.

Walker’s story of the struggles of black women in the South and the obstacles and abuse they faced, as well as their various ways of coping or fighting their oppressors, is acted out beautifully on the Benedum Center’s stage.

The musical aspect doesn’t take away from power and intensity of Celie’s traumatic but beautiful story. In fact, by the end of the last act many people in the audience were shamelessly and openly crying.

The cast of “The Color Purple” is dually talented in its acting and singing. Jeannette Bayardell, who plays the main character Celie, performs the role of a meek, submissive and victimized girl who transforms into an outspoken and strong old woman with grace and skill. Her background as a gospel recording artist is evident in her strong and soulful voice.

But Bayardell isn’t the only outstanding character in this gifted cast. Felicia P. Fields steals the show playing her role as Sofia. Her headstrong character brightens up the stage and brings humor to the play.

Angela Robinson as Shug Avery and Stu James playing Harpo also turn out spectacular performances and bring energy and excitement to Walker’s characters.

Even Rufus Bonds Jr. makes the initially despicable Mister likable by the final act. The chorus has spectacular voices, and each could have clearly carried his own role. Their dancing and choreography was equally impressive and backs up the leads to create the actual feel of a small community in rural Georgia.

Surprisingly, the cast occasionally breaking into song and dance doesn’t take a toll on the impact and strength of the play. The soulful and heart-wrenching songs sung by Celie only improve the mood of the scene.

Though some of the musical numbers are upbeat and “Oklahoma”-esque, like the costumes and the scenery, all the songs are infused with the styles of the time periods, starting with the gospel numbers and long, conservative dresses and suits of 1909 in Celie’s childhood. The play progresses through the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s, changing its music and fashion accordingly and giving the audience a better feel for the span of Celie’s lifetime.

The impressive scenery captures the essence of a rural Georgia town with colored skies as well as shabby log cabins and the forests of Africa. The furniture, trees and buildings are smoothly moved on and off stage through the scenes without having any negative impact on the scene.

Overall, “The Color Purple” is a visual, musical and emotional triumph with a fantastic cast and is, beyond a doubt, worth your time to see.