I need to chat with someone who has read The Color Purple, and remembers the relatively-major details of the story. I only saw the movie, which is not the same thing in this situation.
Tonight I saw the touring production--pretty good--and there are a few issues I'm not sure were in the original story.
If by "someone" you mean random person from the internet, I can help. I did a whole big research paper on the novel not too long ago. And also saw the musical...which I didn't care for that much, but that's a different story.
Posted by: WarOnTara | October 27, 2009 at 10:55 PM
The lady-on-lady lovin' is in the novel. In fact, Shug and Celie have a longer, more committed relationship in the book.
Posted by: CEK | October 28, 2009 at 12:04 PM
I enjoyed the singing a lot, but the show as a cohesive story was rather lost. It was just a collection of moments. First it was a gospel opera; then there were lesbians kissing; then we were DANCING IN AFRICA!, then she's making pants?...and then Mister gets hit by lightning and everyone has a group hug.
La Toya London was great, however. Thank God for American Idol, or this show would have no one to play the roles.
Posted by: dan renzi | October 28, 2009 at 01:14 PM
Dan - its been a while since I've read it, but I think the book is EXCELLENT. However, it is an epistolary novel made up of Celie's letters to her sister and to God, as well as (later on) Nellie's letters to Celie. There are certainly times it is a collection, but in the novel, that collection becomes a cohesive whole story. You really get into Celie's head which is important to the cohesiveness.
I actually admire those who have attempted to translate the novel to other mediums. I read the book first (how I got through it at 13 years old, I'm not sure) and then saw the movie and I think it colors how you think of the movie - I have to believe its the same for the musical.
Posted by: Erica | October 28, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Yeah, the whole trying to fit that much plot into a musical thing was NOT a good call.
I am so jealous you got to see Latoya London! I have seen the show twice, once with the original cast (which was nice) and once with Fantasia (which I hated, in spite of all the hype she was painful).
The musical is weird. Mister does come back around to hang out with everybody in the book (unlike in the movie where he's just last seen out ina field somewhere alone), but there's more of a progression to that point. With most things, there's a build that you just do not get in the musical. It's just too much plot to be set to song and dance, IMO. It comes off like a "greatest hits" where everyone is just waiting for their favorite line from the movie.
Posted by: WarOnTara | October 28, 2009 at 10:49 PM
OUT the Zoe project. I am tired of the BITCH!
Posted by: Torin | October 29, 2009 at 07:25 AM