The St. Louis Black Repertory Company opened its milestone 50th anniversary season with a production its audiences have never seen from them. The Color Purple premiered on a Black Rep stage on September 7 and continues through September 27 at Washington University’s Edison Theatre.
The Black Rep’s reputation as a top-tier producer of musicals stretches almost as far back as the company’s storied history. Their ability to deliver musical theater on a scale that meets — and often exceeds — the expectations of Broadway tour regulars and patrons of Broadway itself is part of their signature. So it was no surprise that the company chose to sing and dance its way into its golden season.
That made the hiccups within The Color Purple surprising. The deviations were unlikely, but the caliber of talent — characteristic of a Black Rep musical — kept the production afloat.
Casual theatergoers and devoted Black Rep subscribers alike will enjoy The Color Purple. But anyone tasked with identifying shortcomings — someone who usually has to squint to find them in a Black Rep musical — will see that this production is not quite like the others.
Questionable creative choices that don’t necessarily serve the story appear early.
Before the audience can absorb the swift transition from the lighthearted introduction of Celie and Nettie to the harsh reality of Celie’s trauma, director Daniel Bryant inserts a scene featuring moans that suggest an ancestral, ritualistic aura. Its only function is to spoil the shock of the transition that illustrates the contrast between Celie’s life as a young teen and the adult circumstances that shape the musical’s story.
The cast is strong — from the ensemble to the central characters. Before the leads deliver a single note, the trio of “singing sisters,” Anita Michelle Jackson, Olivia Neal and Alexandria Rose, set the bar high. They carry the harmony of the show — and could easily package themselves as background vocalists for national recording artists, studio sessions and concert tours.
St. Louis native singer/songwriter Morgan Taylor is impressive in her musical theater debut as Nettie. She holds her own alongside stage veteran Angela Wildflower’s Celie. Their performances of “Somebody Gonna Love You” and “Our Prayer” set a high bar for the musical numbers.
Alexis J. Roston also makes a memorable Black Rep debut as Shug Avery.
Black Rep veteran Kelvin Roston plays Mister opposite his real-life wife. J. Samuel Davis once again uses a small role to leave a strong impression through his portrayal of Ole Mister.
Tyler White, who began her career as a student in the company’s summer camp, has grown up on the Black Rep stage and serves the role of Squeak well.
Adrienne Spann makes her Black Rep debut as Sophia, playing opposite Black Rep regular Brian McKinley as Harpo. Olajuwon Davis and DaJuan Johnson round out the talented cast.
While the performers’ gifts were the redeeming feature, missteps — including bouts of oversinging and over-the-top antics — kept the production from realizing its potential to usher in year 50 with another outstanding musical.
A few of the most glaring issues included the body language between Shug and Celie. They displayed overtly romantic public gestures in the Depression-era South, yet in private they appeared distant. The dinner table scene — a centerpiece moment in both Black cinema and more recent musical adaptations — was made awkward by Sophia being relegated to a rocking chair on the other side of the room.
Another point of confusion was the contrasting costume choices by Jarrod Barnes. Some characters were modest to the point of appearing 19th-century, while others — namely Shug’s juke joint ensemble — were so provocative and modern that they felt out of place in the 1930s.
But as the artists — and the stellar musicians supporting them — execute, the shortcomings will likely be water under the bridge for the first show of The Black Rep’s season 50.
The Black Rep’s production of The Color Purple continues through Sunday, September 27. For tickets and additional information, visit www.theblackrep.org or call 314-534-3807.