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The WMC really out did themselves, by debuting Alice Walkers, epistolary novel, The Color Purple. The adaptation by Marsha Norman, was unambiguous in relation to the onscreen version, where poor Celie’s abuse is dramatised and more explicit. The on-stage version still told the story of abuse, and of a mother’s broken heart, as a result of being separated from her babies, but it was more palatable and, in some ways, although secretly hidden in full view, you could sense the rawness of her pain masked throughout the songs, sung by Me’sha Bryan, Bree Smith and Aaliyah Zhane, and the rest of the extraordinarily talented cast.
If you have ever seen the 1985 onscreen film, by Stephen Spielberg you will know that the story is set in the deep south where, historically, women where often given to other households as maids, and child bearers, disguised as wives. This is the part where Celie’s life takes a left turn, as her father sends her off to marry a man, without a name, or at least such important information was not given to her. Why would it be?, this is not a partnership based on love, but pure self-indulgence for the man of the home and a convenient child minder of his children. Considering her father’s incestual activity, this must be the lesser of the two evils. In good-hearted context of a musical, the church choir trio keeps the audience entertained with their impromptu, curtain entrances, clapping and snapping their elbows to the gospel songs adorning the sounds of the theatre, used to narrate the events with humour as they grace across the stage, fanning themselves, sometimes exhibiting the southern heat and other times, gesturing the heat between Harpo and Sophia during their passionate expressions of admiration for one another.
As the story unfolds, there are more chuckles, from the audience, particularly when Celie’s husband’s, name is revealed by the glamorous and sultry house guest, Shug Avery, who seduces Celie into loving herself, in awe of Shug’s independence and disinterest in being a submissive woman of servitude. However, Shug helps herself to the man of the house. Which is a welcomed gift for Celie, who is surprised that anyone would ever enjoy such an encounter.
As the scenes develop, Celie, grows in strength throughout her encounters, with the formidable women, who help her find her voice and form her opinions openly, particularly about the entrapment of the marriage union and hunger, for communication from her long-lost sister. This critically acclaimed Made at Curve and Birmingham Hippodrome production won Best Regional Production (what's on stage awards), which is most deserving as it is a story that is rich in depth and integrity. Thank you, Wales Millennium Centre, for bringing an all-Black cast to Wales, representation and historical narrative, played with such excellence and humour, is definitely art in its highest form, all I had to say was – Encore!
The Colour Purple is a story about, family disfunction, sexual violence, empowerment, resilience, and HOPE!
In a triumphant scene, Spielberg concluded his finest love story with Celie and Nettie reunited: both some what older yet playing childhood patty-cake
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