Dispatches from Home – The Color Purple!

      The final performance of a play, especially a musical, is always bittersweet. There is a touch of happiness and sadness as the curtain closes and the stage lights dim. The glue that held the play together—rehearsals, set building, costume fittings, lighting, and sound—dissolves, and the cast and crew return to the real world.

     However, the friendships made during a play’s run can last a lifetime. From the camaraderie of the cast and crew exhibited on the stage yesterday at Biloxi Little Theater’s production of “The Color Purple,” I’m sure many lifelong friendships were made.  

     “The Color Purple” is the story of a young African-American girl named Celie Harris and the horrid experiences she endured that included domestic violence, child sexual abuse, poverty, racism, and sexism. These eyebrow-raising bits of the plotline were expertly and touchingly handled in yesterday’s production.

     The audience was drawn into Celie’s world, trudging with her through some scenes and dancing with her in others. The cast’s performances entertained and deeply moved the audience, making them feel part of Celie’s tortured journey—one that, thankfully, did end happily ever after.

    A huge BRAVO to the director, the cast (forty percent of whom had never been on stage), and the crew, who, like intricate puzzle pieces, came together to create a most enjoyable show that will be remembered for many years to come.

   With warm regards and a big hug to you all, I look forward to our next theatrical adventure together!