The Color Purple (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
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CD Details
Performer: Brenda RussellPerformer: Allee Willis
Performer: Stephen Bray
Edition: Music CD
Format: Cast Recording
CD Release Date: 2006-01-24
Music Label: Angel Records
Soundtracks:
- Overture
- Huckleberry Pie/Mysterious Ways
- Somebody Gonna Love You
- Our Prayer
- That Fine Mister
- Big Dog
- Lily Of The Field
- Dear God - Sofia
- A Tree Named Sofia
- Hell No!
- Brown Betty
- Shug Avery Comin' To Town
- All We've Got To Say
- Dear God - Shug
- Too Beautifull For Words
- Push Da Button
- Uh Oh!
- What About Love?
- Act I Finale
- African Homeland
- The Color Purple
- Church Ladies' Easter
- I Curse You Mister
- Celie's Curse
- Miss Celie's Pants
- Any Little Thing
- What About Love? (Reprise)
- I'm Here
- The Color Purple (Reprise)
Music reviews of The Color Purple (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
Music Review: It's Just Nice That This Finally Got Made...
Rating: 3 Stars
Over the years, I've always thought that my favorite film of all time, Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of Alice Walker's "The Color Purple," would make an excellent stage musical... at least, when you follow the blueprint of the film. It's practically a movie musical already (thanks to some wonderful gospel and blues and even some African percussion). So when I heard Atlanta was staging a pre-Broadway run of the new musical, I was so excited. Now that it's on Broadway, with backing by Oscar®-nominee Oprah Winfrey (who should have friggin won for this movie), it's just nice to know that it got made. I hope it tours.
But... the music... It certainly has several wonderful moments ("Hell No," "Mysterious Ways," "Push Da Button," the title song), but upon first listen, it's sooo obvious the composers are not seasoned Broadway people, nor do they show signs of aspirations to become so. Love me some Brenda Russell... but here (along with Stephen Bray and Allee Willis), some of the lyrics are so amateurish that I'm totally hoping, juxtaposed against the rest of the drama on stage, that they work and move me. On their own, these other songs would make nice, safe album fillers for Anita Baker or Vanessa Williams, but as part of a grander story, most of the songs are just teetering on blah. The songs *do* sound improved from the few songs heard from the Atlanta run, however, so at least there's some awareness of weak spots.
I'm not sure why they didn't stick in some of the wonderful compositions from the film (couldn't get the rights from Warner Bros. maybe?), especially since the producers are acknowledging that they were inspired by the film. This method certainly worked for adaptations of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Lion King and Mary Poppins. It would have been great to hear (mixed in) "Makidada," "The Dirty Dozens," "Maybe God's Trying To Tell You Something," and, of course, "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)." All excellent songs from the film. Too Bad.
The cast, though, is quite good. LaChanze and Felicia Fields are outstanding... and it's nice to hear Renée Goldsberry's pipes without having to hide behind whoever was that week's musical guest on "Ally McBeal."
All in all, a good effort by all. By the way... where's the Jill Scott/Patti LaBelle duet?
Description of The Color Purple (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
SONGS INCLUDE : Act 1. The Overture / Act 1. Huckleberry Pie / Mysterious Ways / Act 1. Somebody Gonna Love You / Act 1. Our Prayer / Act 1. That Fine Mister / Act 1. Big Dog / Act 1. Lily of the Field / Act 1. Dear God - Sofia / Act 1. A Tree Named Sofia / Act 1. Hell No! / Act 1. Brown Betty / Act 1. Shug Avery Comin' to Town / Act 1. All We've Got to Say / Act 1. Dear God - Shug / Act 1. Too Beautiful for Words / Act 1. Push Da Button / Act 1. Uh Oh! / Act 1. What About Love? / Act 1. Finale / Act 1. African Homeland / Act 2. The Color Purple / Act 2. Church Ladies' Easter / Act 2. I Curse You Mister / Act 2. Celie's Curse/ Act 2. Miss Celie's Pants / Act 2. Any Little Thing / Act 2. What About Love? (reprise) / Act 2. I'm Here / Act 2. The Color Purple (reprise)On paper, this adaptation of Alice Walker's best-selling novel has all the markings of a hit. It makes Oprah Winfrey's debut as a theater producer, the libretto is by Marsha Norman (Night Mother), and the lyrics and music are by a trio of seasoned pop pros: Allee Willis (the eccentric woman behind "Neutron Dance" and the theme from Friends), Stephen Bray (who worked on such Madonna hits as "True Blue" and "Express Yourself"), and Brenda Russell (the smooth soul-jazz songstress behind "Piano in the Dark"). That team has put together a series of fairly catchy songs that may lack depth but adeptly handle various idioms like gospel ("Mysterious Ways"), R&B ("Push Da Button"), and African rhythms ("African Homeland"). Though the inspirational vibe can get a bit much, softening the edges and preventing genuine artistic complexity, The Color Purple is a great showcase for its cast. As Celie, LaChanze delivers one of her usual sensitive performances, but watch also for Elisabeth Withers-Mendes's Shug--who sings a passionate paean to Celie ("Too Beautiful for Words")--and Renée Elise Goldsberry's Nettie (duetting with LaChange on "African Homeland"). The chance to hear these women strut their stuff almost makes up for the show's weaknesses. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
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