Almost too often hyped shows don’t live up to expectations, at least not in my experience. I’ve been to so many shows that I’ve expected to love, and came out simply ‘enjoying’ at best. The same goes for recordings of course, the eagerness to get the CD into the player (or these days, the files onto the iPod) is sometimes followed by an hour of hoping it gets better soon. I was worried that this was going to be the case with the latest recording from Broadway Records - the New Broadway Cast Recording of smash hit revival / reworking of The Color Purple.

Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel and the Warner Bros. / Amblin Entertainment motion picture, The Color Purple is adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winner Marsha Norman, with music and lyrics by Grammy award winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.

It’s a story of enduring love and triumph over adversity. With a fresh, joyous score of jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this stirring family chronicle follows the inspirational Celie, as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life.

Directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle, the production stars Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Hudson and Danielle Brooks, all of whom are quickly becoming as well known for musicals as anything else they may have done, and have received rave reviews for the Broadway revival. The company also features Isaiah Johnson, Joaquina Kalukango, Kyle Scatliffe, and Phoenix Best. As well as Dwayne Clark, Lawrence Clayton, Carrie Compere, Patrice Covington, Adrianna Hicks, Bre Jackson, Grasan Kingsberry, Kevyn Morrow, Ken Robinson, Antoine L. Smith, Carla R. Stewart, Akron Watson, and Rema Webb.

I have to say it’s not one of my favourite scores, nor my favourite shows, but I was totally blown away by this recording. It’s one of the most theatrical recordings I’ve heard in a long time, probably since In The Heights, in the way that it captures the mood of the show perfectly. There’s just the right amount of narrative, just the right song content - everything you could wish for.

The performances for me, equal if not better the original. Hudson and Erivo it’s expected from, but the whole company excels here. The sound of the piece is true to the ethnicity of the piece, whilst still holding onto what we know as a Broadway Musical sound. Several tracks made me stop in my tracks and replay. ‘The Color Purple’ is perhaps the most stunning, especially the finale version which ends the recording perfectly. This score has everything - from soul-aching ballads to rousing Gospel - and impassioned numbers such as 'Celie’s Curse' and 'Hell No'.

I’m not sure if there’s such a beast as a perfect cast recording, but this is pretty damn close. To coin a song title, "Too Beautiful For Words". Bravo Broadway Records.

10

Ian Gude