Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...Singers of the quality you can find here — the likes of Adrianna Hicks, who plays Celie, and Carla R. Stewart, who plays Shug — always check out their space. Doyle’s most important idea was to allow the performers to look out at their audience, to tell their stories more directly, to communicate and commune. And so you feel Hicks, Stewart and the very stellar Carrie Compere, who essays Sofia (of “Hell No!” fame), lean into the acoustics of the Auditorium. You intuit that they all are raising their vocal game, singing to the grand old peoples’ building as their voices reverberate around its walls. They could have switched off all the mics. These actors all would have been just fine. Or better."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...But with just a simple set of wooden platforms and stacked antique chairs, Doyle's staging is often swallowed up by the cavernous Auditorium. And that's a shame since this tour, featuring some veterans of the Tony Award-winning 2015 Broadway transfer, is packed with powerful performers. The ensemble wows all around with stunning vocals, plus the cast dramatically emphasizes the emotional essentials of Alice Walker's original 1982 novel."
Stage and Cinema - Recommended
"...As a showcase for a powerhouse ensemble, The Color Purple boasts phenom Carrie Compere melting down and belting out her defiant “Hell No!” Carla R. Stewart’s salacious Shug Avery is indeed “Too Beautiful for Words” as she raises Celie’s spirits. Gavin Gregory’s Mister incarnates every woman-beating monster who deserved a retroactive order of protection; his rapid redemption is less believable."
Let's Play at ChicagoNow - Highly Recommended
"...The Color Purple fantastic cast of talented actors brought you into the play and made you feel like you were apart of each scene and performance. You will enjoy witnessing the relationship between Harpo played by J. Daughtry and Sofia as they discover a love that had to be willed back without outside distractions of Mister and Squeak (Erica Durham). Even the funny scenes where the ladies are gossiping will have you laughing."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...In a production that rewards audiences with exciting performances, beautiful music, sassy choreography and dramatic spectacle, there’s an abundance of wonder and joy emanating from the theatre. Chicago has a stellar, professional Broadway production, in town for only a limited time. Alice Walker would be proud to see how her novel has sprung to life, thanks to the vision and artistry of John Doyle and his multitalented cast and production team. What about love? Well, it can be found in basketfuls, now playing at the Auditorium Theatre."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...Director and Scenic Designer John Doyle orchestrates depth through simplicity. His stark stage showcases his talented ensemble. He cleverly uses wooden chairs to show hardship and liberation. Without the clutter, Doyle masterfully tethers us to every action, every emotion, every transformation. I loved THE COLOR PURPLE. I laughed. I cried. I cheered! I’ll say it again… BUY A TICKET!"
Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended
"...It's quite common for strong stories in other media (books, films) to be adapted into Broadway musicals, though with varying degrees of success (see: Mean Girls). One would be forgiven for thinking that a story as wrenching as Celie's wouldn't exactly make for an entertaining musical, of all things. And yet, as evidenced by the show's longevity and accolades both during its first run and this revival (Erivo won a Tony, as did the show for Best Revival of a Musical), The Color Purple is built around songs and staging that only amplify the story's strengths, each not only appropriate to the gravity of the proceedings but capable of elevating them."
Chicago Theater and Arts - Recommended
"...What is in now appearing at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre through July 29, 2018, is the National Tour of the musical's revival begun in London in 2013. It went on to Broadway to win Tony Awards in 2016 including Best Revival of a Musical."
Picture This Post - Recommended
"...If you have read the book you too will likely appreciate this reminder of the richness of its story. If you are a newbie, this writer guesses you might be a bit lost, especially at the outset. The tale telling seems to get better and clearer as the story unfolds. The minimal set might pack well and help this production sweep across the country, but for this writer, it added nothing to the production and often seemed to get in its way."
