By Ed Lowe
Senior Writer
The Goodman Theater opened its fall season with a rousing revival of the 1970 musical "Purlie." Following on the heels of the disaster in New Orleans, the musical, which might have seemed like a dated relic of the early civil rights era, suddenly has taken on a contemporary hue. The wake-up call from New Orleans pointed again to the disparity between rich and poor, between black and white Americans. "Purlie," while it pokes fun at the segregated South, highlights that same division.
Adapted from the late Ossie Davis' 1960 play, "Purlie Victorius," the show had its run extended during its previews for another week until Oct. 30. It's directed by Sheldon Epps, with music and lyrics by Gary Geld and Peter Udell. The opening scene introduces us to Purlie (Jacques C. Smith), a wannabee preacher trying to find a way to purchase a church for his congregation of poor black field hands. The money and power lies with the owner of the plantation, Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee, whose attitudes parody the "Old South."
Enter Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins (Paulette Ivory) who is directed by Purlie to con the Cap'n into giving her an inheritance designated for someone else. The plot fails and the rest of the story involves Purlie's victory over the adversities of a region where race divides two unique but hardly equal societies.
The cast is uniformly excellent. Many are veterans of the original revival production at the Pasadena Playhouse, also directed by Epps, and have thus had a chance to work the play into a seamless entity.
Voices are strong, especially the other congregation members including E. Faye Johnson as Aunt Missy Judson and Harrison White as Gitlow Judson. But it is Smith who carries the show with his singing, dancing and great comedic timing. He's a pleasure to watch! The dances, choreographed by Kenneth Lee Roberson, are not too strenuous but are performed effortlessly by members of the cast. And James Leonard Joy's sets change fluidly from the church interior to the field hand's shack to the exterior of the Cap'n's commissary.
Purlie is an old fashioned musical where the songs advance the story and are integrated into the plot. It's refreshing to see this show after so many where the music seems to have been tacked on as an afterthought. "Purlie" is good, old fashioned entertainment and the 2-1/2 hour production seems to fly by. The Goodman has scaled the tickets from $20 to $75 and is offering half price day-of-performance tickets at the box office. For information on show times and dates, call the Goodman at (312) 443-3800. Tickets are also available at www.goodmantheater.org. |
