HALLELUJAHS AND AMENS
A 10-minute standing ovation greeted the musical ‘The Color Purple’, writes Jennifer Platt
Yass Queen! You tell him! Amen! Were just some of the heartfelt shouts from the audience. You know you are watching transcending theatre when there is that kind of interaction ending with a 10minute standing ovation in the Joburg Theatre. Maybe it’s because The Color Purple is a musical, which allows audiences to relate easily to the characters penned by Alice Walker in 1982. Oprah Winfrey is involved in this, just as she was in the 1985 film directed by Steven Spielberg, in which she played Sophia.
It’s one of her most beloved roles — one that earned her a nod for a best supporting actress Oscar. Twenty years later, she was part of the team that produced the version on Broadway.
This show is different — it’s a pareddown version of the Broadway one; stripped of its bloated, massive sets and fancy costumes. This set is sparse — a few planks and wooden crates — which allows the drama to unfold without any obscurity.
The story still resonates deeply. It doesn’t matter that it takes place in Georgia in the US, between 1909 and 1949. The audience feels all the emotion of the harrowing story of abuse that black women face, which becomes a punch-in-the-gut tale of resilience and redemption.
Mostly thanks to the talented cast. Didintle Khunou shines as Celie. You can see her angst as a 14-year-old when her daddy takes away her second baby (just as he did the first); as you learn of her unrelenting abuse from her father and then Mister — her so-called husband who uses her basically as a slave. Her sweet and clear voice cements the innocence of Celie. You cannot help but root for her. Her sister Nettie (Sebe Leotela) is also taken away from her. She feels isolated, hated and ugly.
Then along comes Shug Avery. The undeniable presence of Lerato Mvelase in her star turn as the flashy and hedonistic woman that Mister and Celie both fall in love with. The power in her voice fills the theatre, as she becomes the catalyst of change. The chemistry between these two leads is evident in their song, What About Love, which at times did feel a bit too Disney-like although Mvelase and Khunou do their utmost to elevate it into a heartfelt ballad.
The crowd favourite was the irrepressible and ferocious Sophia, played with depth and spot-on comedic timing by Neo Motaung. Sophia takes no prisoners as she belts out the declarative Hell No!.
She and the Women (the chorus) face the abuse of their men head-on in the song. Sophie will not allow it in her house and makes it known to her husband, Harpo (Yamikani Mahaka-Phiro).
It’s not easy playing the villain but Aubrey Poo plays Mister with viciousness and a booming voice. A man the audience loves to hate.
Mister has a change of heart in the last act — and with this and Celie’s perseverance and goodness, Shug’s charismatic boldness and Sophia’s humour and power, the Joburg Theatre was transformed into a space filled with justified Hallelujahs and Amens.
The audience feels all the emotion of the harrowing story of abuse that black women face
On until March 4 at the Mandela at the Joburg Theatre. Book at Webtickets.