“The Color Purple”  was one for the record books

by Pat Lindsey

The Hawthorne Players production of “The Color Purple” just finished its successful run at the Florissant Performing Arts Center (July 28-Aug. 6) and it was one for the record books. The theatre was packed every night and most nights were sellouts. I wondered if this production would measure up to The Muny’s that played at that theatre exactly one year ago, and it didn’t disappoint.
I’ve seen many of the Hawthorne Players’ shows, but the enthusiasm for this one was unusually strong for several reasons. First, it had a large, talented cast directed by the amazing Nancy Crouse. Then, it was the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel,       “The Color Purple,” which is a series of letters to God and Celie’s life story. It won the 2016 Tony Award for “Best Revival of a Musical” and a Grammy Award for a score that has something for everyone–gospel, jazz, ragtime and African blues. Added to this was a fantastic set enhanced by new technical capabilities that resulted in an exciting full-blown sensory experience.
Every performer in this show deserves special recognition, but some of the most memorable stars were Saraiya Kalu who played Celie, Bola Adeniran (Nettie), Adrian L. Rice (Mister), Sharee Jones (Sofia), and Victoria E. Pines (Shug Avery). One of the most familiar actors in the cast was Travis Cummings (Harpo), who is an anchor and reporter on 5 On Your Side. The singers in the entire company and the musicians who performed this score were so outstanding that they nearly blew the roof right off the theatre.
Celie’s solo, “I’m Here,” put the spotlight on Kalu’s impressive vocal range and met with thunderous applause. When Celie, Shug Avery, Sofia and the Women sang, “Miss Celie’s Pants,” the audience was immediately uplifted from the sad beginning of this show to the prospect of a hopeful future and a happy ending. The entire company and Celie singing the reprise of “The Color Purple” was the perfect ending to a perfectly wonderful show.
“The Color Purple” was the second of three Hawthorne Players productions that will be gracing the Florissant Performing Arts Center’s stage this 76th season. The first one was Neil Simon’s timeless 1971 play, “Plaza Suite,” a three-act play in which three couples gave the audience a sneak peek of various aspects of marriage and the human condition. The original play was written for only two actors to play all of the main parts, but the Hawthorne Players chose to use a different couple in each of the three acts. Those six principal actors were Carla Brown (Karen Nash), John Reidy (Sam Nash), Todd Micali (Jesse Kiplinger), Nancy Lubowitz (Muriel Tate), Therese Melnykov (Norma Hubley) and Pat Brueggen (Roy Hubley). Supporting actors were Tom Brown (Bellhop), Jamie Linsin (Waiter & Borden Eisler), and Denise Chappell-Nickels (Jean McCormack & Mimsey Hubley).
The third and final show of this season will be “Daddy Long Legs,” Nov. 3-12, starring Stefanie Kluba as Jerusha and Cole Gutmann as Jarvis Pendleton. It’s a heart-warming musical about a winsome young woman and her mysterious benefactor. “Daddy Long Legs” will be directed by Ken Clark and music direction will be by Sean Bippen. For more information and tickets, go to www.hawthorneplayers.com or call 314-921-5678.

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