THE COLOR PURPLE

Every once in a while there is a show that becomes less of a production and more of an experience.

Such is the case with the SpeakEasy production of THE COLOR PURPLE.

For the first time, I am having difficulty finding the correct words to properly describe this extraordinary celebration of life, love, rebirth, and renewal. A thesaurus of superlatives might be a good place to start.

Director Paul Daigneault has outdone himself. To say that the cast have mastered their craft does not do justice to their performances. Everything and everyone in this production have raised the bar. The sound. The sets. The lighting. The musical direction and band. The choreography. The costumes. SpeakEasy redefines the meaning of "excellence".

Lovely Hoffman's portrayal and understanding of Celie is truly one of the most breathtaking performances I have seen. Ever.

SpeakEasy's current masterpiece is nothing shy of a gift to all of us.  A+

ONCE

Like that other song from that other musical, ONCE informs us that everyone comes into our lives for a reason and that we can both learn from each other.

When all the glitz and glamour are removed, we are left with nothing but glamour and glitz. This is because the story of Guy meets Girl who meets Guy is strong enough to support itself. The ensemble plays many crucial moments to this musical which transports the audience to a quaint little town to experience this not-so-chance meeting.

The exquisite set of a local tavern is complemented by the subdued lighting, complete with an arial vision. The mesmerizing movements are matched by the magical music.

ONCE teaches us the Once in a Lifetime should last that long.  A+