The Color Purple (2024)

The new musical moment continues with another 'theatrical version of the stage-show musical version of the original, non-musical, theatrical film based on a novel (also non-musical).' Got that?

The Color Purple follows hot on the heels of Mean Girls and is another glorious endeavour that, strangely, hasn’t really been advertised as sitting within the musical genre.

Not sure why this is, surely musicals still appeal to a wide audience base? And, surely, it’s important to make it clear to avoid bad word of mouth? But that’s irrelevant anyway as anyone watching will leave feeling uplifted.

I’ve shamefully not read the novel or watched Steven Spielberg’s original but it’s a moving story that spans the life of Celie in the American South in the early 1900’s. Celie experiences some true hardship but emerges triumphant.

Despite some of the horrors on show, it works surprisingly well as a ‘feel good’ musical with the songs channelling the emotions and offering insights into the characters.

Each song is memorable, expertly performed by a great cast (all with strong musical backgrounds) and impeccably and originally staged.

Director Blitz Bazawule does a fantastic job of making the film almost ‘feel’ like a stage show by keeping his sets fairly small but really elevating each musical sequence.

Two characters dancing on a gramophone and being transported into a cinema screen being just a couple of memorable examples.

The story moves along at a pretty quick pace, initially feeling a little rushed but thoroughly settling into a groove and propelling you to the moving finale which may be predictable but is no less emotional and heart-warming for that.

Another great musical remake/refresh/stage show adaptation. Let’s have more of these.

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