Arts reporter and critic Rosemary Ponnekanti keeps you in touch with the arts and culture scene with the help of other News Tribune writers, critics and editors.
Rosemary Ponnekanti is the arts reporter at The News Tribune, and has been a classical music nerd nearly all her life. Besides spending way too much time in galleries, museums and concert halls, she occasionally brings a whistle or double bass to Celtic jam sessions, and insists on singing "Happy Birthday" in four-part harmony.
Other contributors include:
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The Oprah Winfrey produced musical version of "The Color Purple" opened in Seattle last night bringing soaring voices, powerful anthems and poignant love songs to a packed Paramount Theatre.
Borrowing from both the Alice Walker novel and the Steven Speilberg movie, the musical adds a few new elements but remains true to the story.
The musical opens with the young Celie (Jeannette Bayardelle) pregnant with her second child. She is quickly sent off to marry a man, Mister, who openly disdains her as ugly.
The show doesn't really grab hold until the entry of Sofia (Felicia P. Fields), the role Winfrey played in the movie. Fields dominates every scene she's in and turns even lemonade drinking into a larger than life experience. Fields’ rousing rendition of “Hell No!” had the audience cheering before she had finished.
The show features many ensemble numbers with great harmonizing. A trio of gossipy church ladies shows up every so often to sing their opinions. They even reincarnate as African villagers - a great comic touch.
The sets are minimally designed, too much so. But, they are effective in showcasing the performers.
Celie doesn't begin to bloom until the appearance of her husband's mistress, the glamorous and strong-willed singer Shug Avery (Angela Robinson). The contrast between the pair is never more apparent than during "Too Beautiful for Words." That song is a prelude to "What About Love," an emotional duet between Celie and Shug that took my breath away and had the audience sniffling into tissues as the first act closed.
The second act kicks in to gear with high energy choreography. It's also in the second act when Celie finds the bravery to leave Mister and Bayardelle's voice reflects her character's new found strength. Bayardelle's powerful voice shined in "I'm Here," an anthem of Celie's survival and affirmation.
"The Color Purple" runs through the 28th at the Paramount with half price tickets on December 24 and 25. Tickets ($25-$75) are available at Fred Meyer Ticketmaster outlets and by calling 206-292-2787.
Angela Robinson (left, as Shug Avery) and Jeannette Bayardelle (Celie) perform "Too Beautiful for Words" in the musical version of "The Color Purple." (PHOTO: Paul Kolnik)
