Under the direction of John Doyle, the tour stars Mariah Lyttle, who is making her national tour debut. Her regional credits include Dorothy in “The Wiz” at Virginia Repertory Theatre and Sarah in “Ragtime” at Park Playhouse. In advance of the tour’s engagement, she reflected on her portrayal and the show’s impact.
Q: What makes Celie such an iconic, complex character to play?
A: Celie's journey (contains) strength, self-discovery and courage, aspects she didn't know she had within herself at the beginning that had been hidden away by the men in her life such as (her husband) Mister. The fact that she's able to come to that realization by the end of the show is very special.
Q: How challenging is it to portray Celie from teenage to middle age?
A: I (lean) on my physicality and vocalization — how both progresses over time. There aren't many costume changes, so it's the actor's responsibility to show the growth over a period of 40 years through physicality and voice.
Q: ‘The Color Purple’ is a cultural cornerstone within the African American community, primarily due to the popularity of the 1985 film starring Whoopi Goldberg. Why do you feel African American women particularly have a connection to Celie’s trials and tribulations?
A: I'm 22, much younger than perhaps most women who have played Celie, but it doesn't take a lot of years on this earth to realize our society puts down black women almost every minute of every day. It's a constant battle we have to go through to make ourselves seen and it's even worse when it happens within your family. And I know a lot of people who can speak to being shunned, put out by your own family, or physically or emotionally abused. No one wants to go through that, but it's something Celie endures. And I have a great relationship with my sisters, so I can't imagine having them taken away from me or vice versa. Celie's growth in the face of adversity is something everybody can relate to but especially black women.
Q: What do you hope audiences take away from this tour, which incorporates a more scaled-down approach from the original 2005 production?
A: John Doyle didn't want to this story to be (overshadowed) by sets, costumes and lighting. The story is the core focus. Whether or not you believe in God and no matter what your race or background is, the central idea of faith resonates with many people. Believing in something even though it doesn't look as if it's going to happen is important. You have to believe in a positive outcome. Celie didn't know when her positive outcome was going to happen but it did. It took 40 years but it came. She doubted God for a bit but she never really gave up on Him.
WANT TO GO?
What: "The Color Purple"
Where: Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St., Dayton
When: Feb. 14-15; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $26-$99
Tickets: Call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit ticketcenterstage.com
FYI: Patrons are advised the show contains adult content
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