Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s production of “The Color Purple” is an exuberant, buoyant show filled with passionate singing, exciting dancing and powerful performances.
The show runs through Aug. 4 at Main Stage Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley.
Jessica Johnson gives a transformative performance as Celie, a young woman whose life is marked by isolation and abuse. Johnson’s astute portrayal of Celie makes her heart breaking journey to self-awareness overwhelmingly empowering
The musical is based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker and its 1985 film adaptation. The first act is painful to watch as Celie is horribly mistreated by the men in her life. Johnson embraces the physicality of Celie’s abuse, as she portrays the character as slumped and drawn inward. Her only joy is her relationship with her sister Nettie (a joyous Jessica Money) and even that that is taken away by her cruel husband Mister.
However in the second act, Celie, encouraged by the strong women in her life finally stands up to Mister in a scene that is so cathartic it evoked spontaneous cheers and applause from the audience.
Her self-actualization is fully realized in the compelling “I’m Here” in which Johnson’s voice reaches the stratosphere. Johnson’s physicality also changes as Celie’s growing confidence is shown in her stature. Her performance is outstanding across the board.
With more than 30 musical numbers in the show, the music which has gospel vibes with elements of rhythm and blues, and jazz, seems part of the fabric of the lives of these characters and the strong ensemble brings exquisite choral harmonies to songs like “Shug Avery Coming to Town,” “We Walk Away,” and “The Color Purple.”
Money is luminous in her stage presence and memorable in musical numbers including “Our Prayer,” “Africa” and “It’s Easter Sunday.”
Ta-Tynisa Wilson is a force of nature as Shug Avery, the nightclub singer who becomes the catalyst for Celie to stand up for herself. She explodes on the stage in her big Juke Joint number “Push Da Button,” yet is touching in her encouragement to Celie “Too Beautiful for Words.”
Mister is well sung and acted by George L. Brown, making the character’s arc believable and he displays an impressive vibrato in “Mister’s Song.”
K. Bernice oozes self-confidence as Sofia, the wife of Mister’s son Harpo, who stands up to everyone and then is beaten into submission for her defiance. It makes her ultimate return with her drawn-out laugh all the more satisfying. Her voice shines on “Dear God.”
Joel Oliver gives Harpo depth and also lends a fine singing voice to songs like “Brown Betty.” He and Bernice have sizzling chemistry ,wonderfully displayed in “Any Little Thing.”
Memorable is a trio of church ladies well played by Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield, Sierra Wilson and Taylor J. Mitchell, who add gossipy musical comments on everything from Celie’s pregnancy to Harpo and Sofia’s marital discord.
Director Amina Robinson skillfully pulls it all together for a fast moving and satisfying performance.
Choreographer Devon Sinclair has devised the impressive and energetic dancing, and costume designer Jerrilyn Lanier Duckworth has created eye-catching looks particularly on display in the number “In Miss Celie’s Pants,” in which Celie discovers she has a talent for designing pants.
The stage set is very minimal with a simple scaffolding that stands in for multiple locations by scenic designer Deb Kim Sivigny.
The rest of the talented cast includes Maya Marino Cappello, Maya Cuevas, Ken Boyd, Mikey Corey Hassel, Donnie Hammond, CaSandra Kay, Gabrielle Moseley, Lathan A. Roberts,, Monique Streety, Denver Andre Taylor and Christopher Tipps.
The polished orchestra is led by Christie Chiles Twillie, who also is music director.
Meet the actors for a talk-back after the shows July 25 and Aug. 1.
There will be an audio described and open captioned performance at 2 p.m. July 27.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. July 25-26, 31; Aug. 1, 2; and 2 and 7:30 p.m. July 27, Aug. 3; 2 p.m. July 28, Aug. 4; and 6:30 p.m. July 23, 30,.
Tickets are $51-70 for adults; $48-67 for seniors and $45-64 for youth.
For information, call 610-282-9455, or go to pashakespeare.org/.