Mrs. Conception

On Sunday, Mr. Andrews and I went to see The Color Purple at the Broadway Theater in New York City. While my husband enjoys a good movie musical (Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar top the list), the closest thing he has ever seen to a real live Broadway show is a community theater production of Annie Get Your Gun in Mesa, Arizona. I am no veteran, either, having seen the Broadway Productions of Tommy and Big: The Musical on a few high school trips to New York, and then Stomp on a college art class trip, where we sat so close to the stage that the guys dancing with brooms swept dirty stage dust right into my eyes (now that is theater!). So, needless to say, we were very excited.

We got the super cheap seats for $26.50, and sat literally in the last row of the theater, but the show was awesome even from there. I was especially impressed by Fantasia not only as a singer, which was even more outstanding to hear live than on American Idol, but also as an actress. Her character ages from a teenager to an old woman in the play, and Fantasia’s transformation was amazing. Her performance in the second act was very powerful, and she is almost unrecognizable as she completely becomes Celie. It ultimately turns out to be an uplifting show, big on Woman Power.

Mr. Andrews was blown away by the sets, and the lighting, and basically the entire production. It was much more than he had imagined, and I am very happy to say that he was not bored, as I had feared he might be, but mesmerized and touched as a theater-goer should be. We both highly recommend The Color Purple – especially before January 6, when Fantasia leaves the show!