Steven Spielberg had a hit on his hands with his 1985 film version of Alice Walkerยs Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple. Now Oprah Winfrey (who played Sofia in Spielbergยs film) has turned the complex tale about a brutally oppressed black woman trying to survive in the early twentieth century into a splashy Broadway musical. Domestic violence, racism, infanticide, rape, mind-numbing anger ย all these troubles are part of Walkerยs rich tale that spans four decades. The Color Purple gives us such wonderful characters as Celie, Shug and Sofia, who all come to musical life in a book by Marsha Norman (of Pulitzer Prize-winning ยnight, Mother fame) and songs that have been called ยtasty melodies adorned with spicy regional accentsย by The New York Times. Despite its somber themes, The Color Purple manages to capture a relentless sense of hope. See Celie make her life her own at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Through September 28. Hobby Center, Sarofim Hall, 800 Bagby. For information, call 713-558-8887 or visit www.tuts.com. $32 to $80.50.
Sept. 16-28, 2008
This article appears in Sep 11-17, 2008.