Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – until 29th October 2022
Reviewed by Sally Lumley
5*****
The Color Purple is based on Alice Walker’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same name. It tells the story of Celie (Me’sha Bryan) a young woman oppressed and abused first by her father, then her husband in rural Georgia at the start of the 20th century. It is an uplifting musical, showing the power of hope, sisterhood, courage and finally forgiveness, in this story of a woman finding and fighting for herself, and her place in the world.
This musical has some difficult themes and is at times a challenging watch. However, for this reason the audience finds themselves completely invested in Celie’s journey, and there was spontaneous cheering in the moments when she found the courage to stand up for herself. The pivotal moment comes in the second half, with the show stopping number “I’m Here” which was perfectly delivered by Me’sha Bryan, bringing the house down.
It is the quality of the performances that make this show stand out. The vocals were perfection throughout from the whole cast, with beautiful soulful harmonies, and soaring solos showcasing their talents. Me’sha Bryan delivers a raw and vulnerable Celie, managing to convincingly portray the character across four decades and through a difficult emotional journey. Analisa Lamola was an audience favourite as Sofia; with commanding stage presence, she showed incredible range in her character’s journey. Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah was outstanding as the gutsy Shug Avery whose note perfect performance of “Push Da Button” was a real highlight. The cast more than do justice to the rich score, packed with 30 songs ranging from soulful blues to uplifting gospel and bar room jazz.
The set design, by Alex Lowde, creates the sense of Celie as the centre of her world. The size of the scenery feels oppressive and helps to create the feeling that she is trapped by the world around her, as she fights to reclaim her life. The use of lighting, and in particular projection, (Joshua Pharo) is particularly effective in bringing in one of the play’s themes of nature and it’s feeling of freedom and spirituality.
The Color Purple is an empowering and uplifting show that received a well-deserved standing ovation in Southampton last night. Flawless soulful vocals and emotive performances, showing the triumph of the human spirit against all the odds, make this a show that will stay with the audience for a long time.