The Color Purple musical film adaptation is a remarkable showcase of timeless storytelling, beautifully rejuvenated in a new form. The Color Purple was originally a novel by Alice Walker. The book was turned into the 10-time Oscar-nominated film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film starred Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Laurence Fishburne, Rae Dawn Chong, and Oprah Winfrey. It was also turned into a Broadway musical earning 11 Tony nominations in 2006. It also had a hit 2015 revival.

Set in the early 20th century, The Color Purple follows the story of Celie. Celie is a young African-American woman living in rural Georgia. The novel examines themes of racism, sexism, and abuse as Celie navigates through her harsh life. The story is a powerful and thought-provoking work that explores the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of finding one’s voice.

Now, with The Color Purple musical film adaption director Blitz Bazawule has proven that there’s still story and voice to be given in this heroining story.

THE COLOR PURPLE MUSICAL FILM ADAPTATION IS A SHOWING IN TIMELESS STORYTELLING

I had never seen The Color Purple musical and wasn’t very familiar with the songs. However, the film is a different story. The events that take place are not easy to swallow, and Speilberg didn’t shy away. So, going into the musical world I was curious how the darker moments would be handled, as well as which moments would be translated into musical numbers.

All of my questions were answered with musical magic. In terms of handling the darker moments, the musical does not shy away from addressing the challenging aspects of the story. It portrays the hardships faced by the characters, including the abuse and struggles they endure without making light of it. 

Danielle Brooke (Orange is the New Black) is no stranger to Sofia or the musical adaptation. I think it was incredibly smart to cast actresses who were already deeply familiar with the roles and songs they would be portraying. After Harpo tries to hit Sofia to make her submit we get the song “Hello No!” which could easily have fallen into the world of camp. However, while taking iconic lines from the film/book it manages to stay powerful with a poignant message. Brookes is exquisite as Sofia, easily stealing every scene she’s in.

FANTASIA BARRINO IS A FORCE

Fantasia Barrino, known for her time on American Idol, delivers an exceptional performance as Celie in The Color Purple musical. She also portrayed the same character in the Broadway Revival. However, she initially turned down the film’s musical adaptation because she had concerns about revisiting the darkness of the character. That said, Director Blitz Bazawule convinced her otherwise by presenting a fresh vision for bringing Celie to life. 

Barino’s portrayal of Celie is remarkable, capturing the essence of the character through subtle mannerisms, physicality, and speech patterns. Her attention to detail in portraying Celie’s nuances and emotions adds depth and authenticity to the performance that I just didn’t see coming. Barino’s transformation into Celie is so convincing that I no longer saw American Idol Star Fantasia Barrino, but rather just Celie.

The Color Purple hits theaters on Christmas day. While Christmas is an odd time for a film like this to be released I highly recommend going to see it on the big screen and not at home to appreciate its grandeur!