A Review of the new MUSICAL:
The Color Purple
By Venita Johnson, 12th Grade, The Beacon School
The musical opens with the main character’s simple words to God, “Maybe you can give me a sign. Letting me know, what is happening to me.” The letter on the stage as you walk into the theater poses questions to all of us: Who are we? Why do we turn to God to find out? This is Celie’s quest in the musical rendition of The Color Purple, now showing at the Broadway Theatre. From page to screen and now on stage, author Alice Walker tells the fictional yet truthful story of Southern black women fighting the odds and finding a way to love themselves and others.
The story begins in 1909 and spans forty years, following its lead character, Celie, from age 14 to age 54 in rural Georgia. The set moves from smoky Southern landscapes and a setting sun to the tropical heat of Africa. The show plays back and forth from both ends of the earth as you follow the journey of Celie and her sister, Nettie.
The singly-named LaChanze, the star of a number of musicals, plays Celie. She is an optimistic, yet weak, individual who has given up on love and identity because her self-respect has been stripped away. Co-starring is Elisabeth Withers-Mendes as Shug Avery, the hip-swinging soul singer. In the Steven Spielberg-directed film version of The Color Purple, Oprah Winfrey played Celie’s friend in crime, Sofia. Now, backstage, Oprah plays the role of producer as she brings this production to life on stage. Felicia P. Fields plays Sofia on stage and brings majesty to her character. It quickly becomes clear who wears the pants in her marriage—she does.
What sets this musical apart from the film and book versions is that it’s the same story, but at its liveliest—and is so real, you can touch it. Theatre brings instant energy; you’re connected to the actors at all times. The book engages the mind; the movie, your eyes. But the stage brings you into the depth of this tale with your soul, too. This show stays true to the book’s message, showing the intimate and passionate relationship between Shug and Celie. Shug sings “Push Da Button,” a throwback to the original text, symbolizing Celie’s need to find physical pleasure and the necessity to speak up and demand respect. And Sofia brings a similar power and strength in her opening song, “Hell No!”
What brings such life to these characters are the actors. Not just because they’re talented, but also because they have personal connections to their parts. In an article in The Daily News, many of the performers spoke about their roles. Fields says, “Sofia fits me just right. When Sofia says ‘Hell, no!’ she means it. So do I.” Lachanze experienced grief after loosing a loved one after Sept. 11th, she says, “I desperately wanted to play Celie. I understand her feelings of grief… her inner strength.”
What The Color Purple brings to the theater is not just grief, love or music. It is a realistic, yet extraordinary view of a world that has passed; it is a piece of history. To see early twentieth century Southern life through the lens of black women is a new thing for many theatregoers. It’s a story rarely told or cared about. What this show gives you is magic. It makes you believe in the power of self-love. It transcends time and hate. And is an all-encompassing love.
A Review of the new play "Back of the Throat"
Politics, Profiling and Comedy
BY Artur Jaglieski, 12th GradeEleanor Roosevelt HIGH SCHOOL
In the world we live in today, filled with terrorism and racism, Arab-American playwright Yussef El Guindi depicts these issues in Back of the Throat, his new play that has premiered at the Flea Theater in downtown Manhattan. This dark comedy begins with the interrogation of an Arab-American writer, Khaled, in his own home. Though the interrogation process begins in a friendly manner, with the men asking basic questions, the situation very soon escalates into a racist and biased scenario. Khaled is accused of having ties to terrorists who have committed a heinous act a few days earlier, and his behavior has suggested that this may or may not be true. His suspicious actions lead to confusion and tie Khaled up in a hostile situation.
"Back of the Throat very strongly depicts
the situation that our nation deals with today"
There is a twist at the end of this political, yet comic, show, shedding light on how misperceptions that exist between people can bring racial profiling into play and can spark conflict between targeted groups and the government. Back of the Throat very strongly depicts the situation that our nation deals with today, yet this play is also humorous—by giving the interrogators amateur qualities that then make the audience question the conclusions they make.
By adding humor and comedic aspects to this political story, this serious play also becomes enjoyable and easy to understand. It also shows that rushing to conclusions and misjudging facts may lead to false accusations, which then lead to even greater conflicts. This seventy-five minute play is a brilliant one, and I could see it more than once because of the great acting, well-written script, and simplistically complex storyline that begins with one idea and stretches it out into a whole new in-depth meaning.
Have you ever felt trapped in your life and see no escape out? Though written over a hundred years ago, this play has proven again and again that it is timeless. Hedda Gabler, one of the most famous female characters in theater, is married to a man she does not love and life she does not want. In the play, Hedda Gabler, we watch her thoughts and decisions slowly spin out of control. For the month of March, an acclaimed production of Hedda Gabler comes to Brooklyn from Sydney, Australia, and features two stars of stage and creen—
Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving.
NEIGHBORHOOD THEATRE
Pregones Theater, The Bronx
Do you live in the South Bronx? Or have you ever thought about spending some time there, say, right around Yankee Stadium? Pregones Theater recently inaugurated a new multi-million dollar theater space, just blocks away from that notorious stadium. Pregones has a long-standing reputation, having been around for 26 years. They produce new and original musicals, plays and performances that are rooted in Puerto Rican/Latino culture. If you spend an evening or an afternoon with Pregones, be prepared: their productions seek to challenge the human experience—you might see things a little differently when you walk back out onto Walton Avenue.
Pregones Theater has student tickets to many events for $20. 571-575 Walton Ave., Bronx. (718) 585-1202 www.pregones.org