Review: The Color Purple at Village Theatre – Magnificent Cast

 

Mariah Lyttle (Celie) and Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako (Shug Avery) (photo Auston James)

The Color Purple – The Musical
Village Theatre
Through July 27, 2025 (in Everett)
 
A beautifully cast and directed and designed production of A Color Purple has another two weekends of performances in Everett. If you have any interest in the story, from the book or the movie, you are well advised to get tickets and see this show!
 
The subject matter is very difficult, including issues such as incest and domestic violence. It is also about hope and resilience and forgiveness. The book by Alice Walker can be a harrowing read. The earlier movie can be hard to watch. The musical – book by Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray – is a somewhat softer approach. Some of the violence is more suggested than shown. It may be less triggering in that form.
 
That could be a positive and also a negative in almost downplaying the horrors of incest and DV. Having said that, it also might allow for a broader audience to be drawn to the story and exposed to the history of the early 1900’s and the subjugation of women at that time. Oppressed Black men then, often in turn, oppressed their women.
 
Every cast member does such a great job with their role, ensemble or more. New-to-Seattle Mariah Lyttle is a well-rounded and fully engaged Celie, the suffering young teen who has two children by her father, then gets “given” to a violent man as his wife.  Sister Nettie is beguilingly played by Brandi Birdsong and chanteuse Shug Avery (you kind of can’t say her first name without her last) is expertly delivered by Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako.
 
Shermona Mitchell gives a revelatory performance as Sofia, a woman who is somehow able to say, “Hell No” for a very long time. While I’ve seen her in many fine roles, she belts to the rafters here, providing both heart and some humor to the role.
 
Director Timothy McCuen Piggee keeps the show swiftly moving without losing any of either the humor or pathos. The set design by Carey Wong is gorgeously simple while bringing on elements of scenic location change that elaborate instantly. Costumes by Ricky German, lighting by Sherrice Mojgani and sound by Robertson Witmer all solidly support production needs. Choreographer Nikki Long brings a wide variety of dance moves that subtly enhance the songs.
 
This is without a doubt one of the great Village musical presentations. See if you can make it.
 
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