December 02, 2005

'The Color Purple' opens on Broadway

The Oprah Winfrey-backed musicial of Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" opened on Broadway last night, drawing mixed reviews and predictions of a long life on the stage.

"This show is blessed with a surfeit of performing talent," the New York Times' Ben Brantley offers, but only after admonishing the production for trying to cram in too much narrative, not enough song.

More reviews:

Daily News - "'Color' it a letdown"

Newsday - "It also is awfully nicey-nice for an epic about racism and black-on-black sexual abuse in Georgia in the first half of the 20th century. The show loses its way in the second act and, ultimately, leaves no cliche unturned. But this is not merely the first new old-fashioned American musical of the season. It may well be built to last."

Washington Post - "Like a stone sent skipping across a pond, the musical version of "The Color Purple" frenetically skims the surface of Alice Walker's bestseller -- and then sinks under the weight of its own worthiness."

USA Today - "Purple can be sappy stuff. But it's the kind of sap that seems to come from a pure heart instead of a cynical desire to exploit audiences' emotions with a lot of sentimental bells and whistles."

Associated Press - "Fans of Walker's novel most likely will not be disappointed in this reverent stage retelling and will embrace it heartily as a live souvenir of the original. Others may crave a little more theatrical excitement."

"The Color Purple" is playing at the Broadway Theatre at 1681 Broadway.

Earlier: 'Color Purple' playing to 80-pct full house in previews
'Oprah Winfrey Presents' added to 'Color Purple'

December 2, 2005 12:45 AM in Broadway

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