“THE COLOR PURPLE” A MUSICAL ABOUT LOVE: A DREAM COME TRUE FOR NVA

 When people think of “The Color Purple”, the first thing that comes to mind is the movie with Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.  But long before the movie entered the picture, Alice Walker, the first Black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction, wrote the novel “The Color Purple” about a queer Black heroine set at the beginning of the twentieth century, in rural Georgia. The musical adaptation came out in 2005. Her Pulitzer Prize was awarded in 1982. 

Now, in the midst of racial, identity (even after celebrating Juneteenth) and religious tensions, the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center in Carlsbad is mounting a beautiful, colorful, thoughtful and meaningful production/musical of Ms. Walker's novel through July 21st.

Cast 

Every cast member is black and on opening night several of the cast members were understudies; but no matter, they were excellent and but for the fact that the changes were in the program, no one would have known, least of all yours truly. 

Marsha Norman wrote the book for this musical with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray with deft directing by Kandace Crystal. 

Taylor Renee Henderson and Nio Russell

The story traces fourteen year old Celie (Nio Russell) through her growing up, years to her-self -realization of her becoming a woman, to her trials and tribulations as a young girl trying to protect her sister, Nettie (Taylor Renee Henderson) to being forced into an abusive marriage to Mister (Kirk Brown) by her cruel ‘Pa’ (Kevane La’Marr Coleman) to meeting entertainer Shug (Hadiyyah Noelle) who Celie nurses her back to health after being run down from some 'nasty woman's disease'. Both find comfort and love with and for each other. The story takes place over a time period from 1909 to 1947

Jasmine January is perfect as a defiant Squeak along with the chorus of churchgoing ladies (somewhat like a Greek Chorus) led by Juanita Harris who shows up with her other church ladies to give us information about the comings and goings of the good the bad and the ugly.   

Nio Russell and Hadiyyah Noelle

Celie’s sister in law Sofia (Erin Vanderhyde Gross) who has the balls to be aggressive in her marriage to Harpo (an excellent Kingsley Jackson), is worn down by society and incarcerations. Celie befriends her as well. In case you hadn’t noticed, Ceile has the patience and character of a saint. The story is uplifting and forgiving. However, if the musical or novel came out today in theatres it would most likely be banned as it was when first was published. 

Ebony Muse, Kingsley Jackson  and Jasmine January

New Village Arts  technical and creative casts are to be congratulated for outstanding performances including Leigh Scarritt’s musical direction and Alyssa ‘Ajay’ Junious choreography, and especially Janet Pitcher’s amazing costume designs in the second act depicting the colors and fabrics of Africa. (I’m jealous).  Pitcher who has been designing costumes for years is also responsible for showing the passing of times as the characters get older and settle in to themselves. Between Jacqueline Dennis’ wigs, Kevin ‘Blax’ Burroughs lighting design and Reiko Huffman’s outlined set design and Marc Akiyama’s sound everything looks and feels picture perfect.

Nio Russell and Taylor Renee Henderson

Celie, who has a right to be bitter with what the world has thrown at her, shrugs off the negative and finds the good in everyone and is able to finally reap the rewards of finding happiness. Russell is able to come across as that woman in both vocal acumen and  sincere acting. The tunes from the musical including “Huckleberry Pie” “Mysterious Ways”, “Somebody Gonna Love You”, “Too Beautiful For Words”, “What About Love”, “The Color Purple”, “I’m Here” are among the musical numbers that speak to the characters in ways that almost want to make you up and dance. 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker has been challenged and banned from school libraries and classrooms in the United States since its publication in 1982. The book has been criticized for its "depictions of violence, sexual abuse, and other issues, including: Racism, Sexism, Poverty, Explicit language, Sexual scenes, Incest, Drug abuse, Troubling ideas about race relations, Man's relationship to God, African history, Human sexuality, Religious objections, Homosexuality.” 

Unfortunately, we have not come a long way Ms. Walker.

Let’s just say  “The Color Purple” is a dream come true for the cast and crew of New Village Arts and now more than ever must be seen. 

Enjoy.

See you at the theatre.  

When: Opens June 22 and runs through July 21. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. 

Select Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

Where: New Village Arts, 2787 State St., Carlsbad

Tickets: $33 and up

Phone: (760) 433-3245

Photo: Daren Scott

Online: newvillagearts.org

“BALLAD OF JOHNNY AND JUNE”. AN ODE FROM THEIR SON

 Johnny and June Carter Cash were married for thirty five years. Some might call it a fairy tale romance, others might consider it a marriage of convenience. Both had spouses when they met, as snippets of their lives  and of how and when it began and ended are seamlessly segued into the story.   

This new musical/ ballad about these legends is now making its world premiere on the stage of The La Jolla Playhouse at the Mandell Weiss Theatre through July 7th. With book by Robert Cary and Des McAnuff,  music by Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash and others, choreographed by Byron Easley and directed by McAnuff,  the tell all tale saga looks to be a rousing success.

John Carter Cash, the only biological child of the musical couple, in collaboration with McAnuff ‘tells it like it was behind the scenes from different points of view’ giving us, the audience, the option to see the royal  couple through a different lens. Narrating the story and playing guitar, the talented 25 year old Cash Or JC (Van Hughes) goes back to the beginnings of the Carter Family where June was a singing sensation on her own. and Cash was coming up through the ranks. Some say they first met at The Grand Ole Opry in 1958.

Patti Murin, Christopher Ryan Grant and Van Hughes

others have differing opinions. 

The story and the music  zigs and zags through the Carter’s to the Cash Family and John’s strict bible thumping family with a no good father, a brother who died in a work accident as a young man, and a would be singer. Where and when they met again is open to speculation, but let’s just say the attraction was there. from the start. June’s family  was a singing family and from the outset looked rather ‘normal’ if you will. The story takes us through the different/difficult  stages of their lives; their drug addiction, alcohol abuse, physical abuse, emotional turmoil and making music together.

Cash started his musical career at Sun Records in Memphis in 1954 where he had an impromptu jam session with Elvis (who was already a star in his own right), Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins that soon became called the ‘Million Dollar Quartet.’ Several versions of this show have been seen locally and with equally talented actors.  Christopher Ryan Grant played Cash on Broadway. (Locally, Charles Evans Jr. comes to mind.)

Original photo Elvis at piano

But in 1956 success followed him again with one of his all time favorites, “I Walk The Line”, (His signature song). “Ring of Fire” written by June and was later re -recorded by Johnny with a new twist  became another instant success. It was surrounded by all kind of speculation as to how and why the song was written. Let’s just say it's a dandy of a song. Moons later a wonderful musical of “Ring of Fire’ was produced at The Laguna Playhouse. There are no shortages of Johnny Cash impersonators and they are all worthy. The production at The Laguna Playhouses production might be considered a Jukebox musical dedicated to The Man In Black, whereas our new production is not. 

Patti Murin and Christopher Ryan Grant

For this current production Christopher Ryan Grant is exceptional as the elder Cash with a deep bass baritone voice to match his good looks. Patti Murin is a perfect choice as June; pleasant, fun good looking warm and personable. There was also strong connection between the two on stage. Maddie Shea Baldwin, Drew Wildman Foster, Bart Satto, Paula Leggett Chase and Correy West play multiple roles, family and sort of round out some missing pieces as well as play multiple instruments.  So much talent on one stage, so much toe tappin’ hand clapping and foot rocking, rockabilly  brought the audience together having a blast. 

Cash made a pair of recordings, one from Folsom Prison( “Folsom Prison Blues”)  and the other from San Quentin that went gold. He was never an inmate, so they say, but spent the night on seven occasions for minor disruptions. He described himself as ‘The Man In Black” having a soft spot for the underdog. 

Scene showing the couple performing together.

With live orchestra on stage (musicians everywhere) the orchestra is conducted by keyboard/ music director Lisa LeMay. Musical supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Ron Melrose, Robert Brill (who was in the house on opening night) designed the set with an open and airy feeling like the inside of a train in the background, makeshift homes and the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Costume design by Sarafina Bush, lighting by Amanda Zieve, wigs by Alberto “Albee” Alvarado, projections by Sean  Nieuwenhuis.

Patti Murin and Christopher Ryan Grant

As an aside: The connection with the Playhouse and McAnuff goes way back to when Mc Anuff directed Roger Miller’s “Big River” (one of my all-time favorites). Cash saw it on Broadway and became an instant admirer of both Miller  and Des. So, it made sense that the younger Cash would migrate to La Jolla and work together with McAnuff and push for on his take of the backstage story of his parents. 

I did happen see Johnny Cash live when he was honored at Kennedy Center Honors Awards in 1956 where his daughter Rosanne Cash paid tribute to him and sang “I’ll Walk The Line”, and  I believe when he performed live from Folsom Prison in 1968 and he sang “The Folsom Prison Blues”.   

My Dad was a country /western fan as well as loving opera. Go figure! So, I just tagged along and developed a love for both. 

From The Playhouse, The Ballad Of Johnny and June” will move to Edmonton, Canada which is co-producing the show in November. 

We wish them well. 

Story well told, familiar music that I could understand, a look back in fond memory of one of the nation’s legends and an evening well spent. 

Enjoy. 

See you at the theatre. 

When: June 9 and runs through July 7. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays

Where: Mandell Weiss Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla

Tickets: $25-$119

Phone: (858) 550-1010

Photo: Rich Soublet II)

“FAT HAM”: A "HAMLET" REDO

 The restaging of “Fat Ham” by playwright James Ijames’ 2022 Pulitzer Prize winning play, which also earned 5 Tony nominations, is currently playing at the Old Globe through June 23rd. 

To say that sooo much is happening in Ijames play would be an understatement: Based loosely on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, ghosts appear and magically disappear, karaoke, board games and charades are played out. Juicy (Sola Fadiran) our main character, is front and center in this redo of Shakespeare’s work.

The play unfolds as a tragic/comedy but with a whimsical take on the revenge tragedy of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” when the Danish King is killed and Hamlet goes off the deep end to think that his uncle killed his father and married his mother. But you don’t have to know all this to appreciate “Fat Ham”. Just follow the bouncing ball.

Sola Fadiran, Ethan Henry, Felicia Boswell

Juicy’s problems begin when his friend and cousin Tio (Xavier Pacheco) sees a ghost and tells him what he just saw. Since Tio is almost always stoned, Juicy ignores him until the ghost demands, that Juicy “make his killers thighs into hams, his intestines into chitlins” and serve him up butchered on a table”.  That killer would be Rev (Ethan Henry ) or Juicy’s uncle.

Juicy is an overweight, black,  gay man who doesn’t want to avenge his father’s killer. He just wants to keep attending the University of Phoenix and get his degree in Human resources. He’s not about revenge. According to both uncle and father, Juicy is too soft. They want him to be more like a man but Juicy does not want to be guided by the violence that preceded him.  He wants to break that cycle of strong man tactics and be guided by fate, compassion, identity, family and connection as seen through the eyes of the Black Experience. 

Sola Fadiran

The action begins when Juicy is busy getting ready for a backyard BBQ to celebrate Tedra’s, (Felicia Boswell)  Juicy’s mother’s  marriage to her dead husband’s brother. All the necessities are brought out from Maruti Evans realistic one story home in  the burbs somewhere in the deep south. Evans set design looks like any other peaceful backyard with BBQ, tables and the like. What ensues there, however, is pandemonium. 

m, Xavier Pacheco, Tian Richards, Sola Fadiran

Tedra is bounding with excitement and wants everyone to get along but with this group, as each of her invited guests come to celebrate, the comedy/drama unfolds in waves of chaos and mayhem. Family friend Rabby (Yvette Cason who is a scream and a half and often steals the show) along with  her daughter Opal (m) have as much to reveal as do Juicy and Marine son Larry (Titan Richards). They all have their own stories/secrets to tell. 

The dramedy is emboldened by strong leadership with director Sideeq Heard directing  a solid ensemble and individual standout performers sure of themselves and knocking out as much comedy, empathy and tragedy in equal parts as to draw us in in most unexpected ways. 

Sola Fadiran and Felicia Boswell

Felicia Boswell is one amazing singer and performer. Soft as a mother and a sex crazed woman who can’t stand to be alone. She has a pattern of marrying abusive men.  Ethan Henry (Rev/Pap) is as mean and abusive as the day is long taking no prisoners, Xavier Pacheco’s Tito gives an outstanding monologue wrapping it all up before a standout Las Vagas ending, with Bradley Kings lighting, Mikaal Sulaiman’s sound and Skylar Fox illusion design. Adding to that Earon Chew Nealey designed the wigs, hair and makeup and Dominique Fawn Hill, costumes.

All in all, it was one different night than one expected, but one that got one thinking that not everything has to fit neatly in a little package.  

Enjoy.

See you at the theatre. 

When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through June 23

Where: Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego

Tickets: $35 and up

Phone: (619) 234-5623

Photo: Rich Soublet II)

Online: theoldglobe.org