Touring cast of 'The Color Purple' brings more than a few surprises to town
The main reason to catch the Chicago return engagement of "The Color Purple"? One word: Fantasia.
The 2004 winner of the FOX reality TV series "American Idol" shows that she not only possesses a powerhouse voice tinged with a touch of Billie Holiday-like raspiness, but is also a poised and confident musical theater actress as well.
Fantasia previously triumphed on Broadway as a celebrity replacement in this 2005 Broadway musical based upon Alice Walker's award-winning 1982 novel (and in part on Stephen Spielberg's 1985 film adaptation).
Playing Celie, the sexually and physically abused heroine of "The Color Purple," Fantasia shows quite a range from fatalistic weariness to a woman who finds an industrious inner-strength as she learns from the confident women around her.
Fantasia injects a welcome touch of celebrity star power to the already talented cast under Gary Griffin's strong direction.
Yet, the musical itself still suffers from cramming in too many iconic situations from the novel (Marsha Norman's script plays like she's speedily crossing off a checklist of plot points).
The score by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray also doesn't offer as much introspective depth as it could, though it certainly is serviceably crowd-pleasing and uplifting.
If you caught this tour of "The Color Purple" back when it opened for a five-month stint in Chicago two years ago, you'll be surprised to find much of the supporting cast still attached to the production.
La Toya London (an "American Idol" finalist alongside Fantasia) is still playing Celie's long-separated sister Nettie, while Chicago-native Felicia P. Fields continues to get cheers and whoops as the indomitable Sophia (the character played in the film by the musical's famed co-producer, Oprah Winfrey).
Stu James continues on strongly as Sophia's husband, Harpo, while Rufus Bonds Jr., still makes for a nasty and conceited Mister. Providing welcome bits of comic relief are the trio of gossipy church ladies played by Kimberly Ann Harris, Virginia Ann Woodruff and Lynette DuPree.
Masterfully taking over the role of the loose honky-tonk singer Shug Avery is Broadway veteran Angela Robinson (Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child fame was the previous "star name" in the tour). Robinson inhabits the role more comfortably than Williams did, and makes for a more vivacious presence.
If there's one complaint to lodge against the touring cast of "The Color Purple," it's that some of the performances have been broadened perilously close to caricature. But playing in the hulking 4,249-seat Arie Crown Theater, that's probably a necessity.
And speaking of the Arie Crown, it must be said that the theater was woefully understaffed on opening night. There were long lines of people still trying to pick up tickets from the box office at curtain time, plus slow-moving lines just to enter the theater (I missed the overture and a chunk of the song "Huckleberry Pie").
If the Arie Crown wants to compete with the more easily accessible Broadway in Chicago theaters downtown, the management will have to address this problem soon. And if you do decide to see Fantasia's acclaimed performance in "The Color Purple," be sure to work in extra time to pick up tickets and to get to your seat.
<p class="factboxheadblack">"The Color Purple"</p> <p class="News">three stars</p> <p class="News"><b>Location: </b>Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago</p> <p class="News"><b>Showtimes:</b> 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4-5, 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6</p> <p class="News"><b>Running time:</b> About two hours and 40 minutes, with intermission</p> <p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> $47.50-$83</p> <p class="News"><b>Parking:</b> Pay garages</p> <p class="News"><b>Box office:</b> (800) 745-3000 or ariecrown.com</p> <p class="News"><b>Rating: </b>For adults: strong sexuality </p>