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‘Color Purple’ tour delivers goods
DAYTON — A cast sprinkled with Broadway veterans brought the musical “The Color Purple” to Dayton for the first time Tuesday, April 21, at the Schuster Center.
Among the notables was Kenita R. Miller in the role of small, but indomitable Celie, who evolves from humble and downtrodden to become the gracious, confident center of her extended family over two acts and about 150 minutes, including intermission.
Like a cord threaded through the various elements, sublots and moods of the narrative, Miller’s clear voice and steady delivery pulled everything together by the conclusion of the surprisingly and consistently funny, but still endearing stage version of the Alice Walker novel.
She was at her best in “I’m Here,” the most important, but not necessarily best song in the show. “Hell No!” by the deserving audience favorite Lynette DuPree as no-nonsense Sofia, may have been more frivolous, but it came early when the show needed some fireworks.
“The Color Purple,” by Angela Robinson as juke joint singer and man-magnet Shug Avery, was another vocal highlight. The dances in “African Homeland,” choreographed by Donald Byrd, lifted the storytelling at a perfect time for imaginative embellishments.
The men in”The Color Purple” never earn much esteem. In the musical, they do redeem themselves a bit by the time the happy ending arrives in the form of Celie’s reunion with her long-lost sister Nettie (LaToya London).
Bad as his character was to 14-year-old Celie after grudgingly accepting her from her abusive father as his wife and servant, Rufus Bonds Jr. gave an impressive performance as the eventually humanized Mister. Brandon Victor Dixon was also vital as Harpo, who had no chance to follow his father’s example. Sofia made sure of that.
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