Blitz Bazawule directs Fantasia Barrino, Colman Domingo and Danielle Brooks in this musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel about domestic abuse, generational violence and black inequality in the early 20th century.

A misfire. Grinding misery interrupted by happy songs. Fronting defiance when there ain’t been no defiance, pride when there ain’t nothing to be proud about. Domingo, Brooks and Taraji P. Henson all bring it and deserve a more tonally consistent work. The dance numbers haven’t been opened out from the stage production, the lighting of them in particular is godawful dark. Hard to get excited about spending two hours following a gormless doormat who once kissed a hot bisexual in a movie theatre. Spielberg’s unloved first attempt is still the better adaptation.

4

Perfect Double Bill: The Color Purple (1985)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/