Tony-winning ‘Color Purple’ shows poignant power
A timely show for the #Metoo era. And a timeless one for those who follow the gospel of #Lessismore.
The national tour of the Tony-winning “Color Purple” revival — at The Smith Center through Sunday — ably illustrates how a director’s vision can transform a musical, heightening its emotional impact by not trying too hard to make one.
The director in this case is John Doyle, the Scottish-born Tony winner known for his strippeddown, laser-focus approach. In the process, he’s deconstructed — and transformed — everything from Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd,” set in Victorian-era London, to “The Color Purple,” which transports audiences to rural Georgia in the first half of the 20th century.
Despite dissimilar locales, both shows share the same real setting: the rocky territory of the human heart.
The first time “The Color Purple” hit Broadway (and, later, The Smith Center, becoming the very first musical to play
PURPLE
Here’s a look at five characters who might not survive “Avengers: Infinity War” and five who should be safe. because if Stark is the heart of the MCU, Rogers is its soul. Then again, two “Infinity War” characters,
Sam Wilson aka Falcon and Bucky Barnes, already have experience taking over as Captain America in the comics.
Clint’s been trying to retire to spend more time with his wife and kids on their farm since “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Anyone who’s ever seen a cop movie knows the guy on the cusp of retirement always bites it. Of course, that’s assuming Hawkeye’s actually in this thing as actor Jeremy Renner has been conspicuously absent from virtually all promotional materials.
Yes, he brought them all together through the Avengers Initiative. But Fury hasn’t had much to do since he was nearly assassinated during the downfall of S.H.I.E.L.D. in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” shouldn’t be going anywhere other than a bajillion sequels.
He’s a teenager, and he’s brand new. Spidey most definitely should be handled with kid gloves. But it would be a pretty hilarious middle finger to Sony, which still controls the movie rights to the webslinger, for Marvel to kill off Peter Parker after finally rehabbing his image after the dumpster fire that was
“The Amazing Spider-man 2.”
Like Hawkeye, this is assuming Ant-man even made the cut for “Infinity War,” as they’re the only two notable omissions from the publicity machine. Maybe they’re just hanging out somewhere while Hawkeye introduces the relative newbie to the joys of shawarma. Regardless, killing off Scott Lang would put a serious damper on “Ant-man and the Wasp,” due out July 6. mean she’ll survive “Infinity War.” But, even with the ascension of “Black Panther’s” Dora Milaje and the pending arrival of Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, the MCU remains too full of testosterone to let her go.
Chris Pratt is an A-list actor, and his death would destroy the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise. Besides, no one else in the MCU has his sweet, sweet dance moves.
Contact Christopher Lawrence at clawrence@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4567. Follow @life_ onthecouch on Twitter.