Leslie Odom Jr. jumpstarts the Broadway season in this rarely-seen revival
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patchreturns to Broadway in a triumphant revival led by Tony winner Leslie Odom, Jr. (Hamilton).
Playwright, actor, and social justice activist Ossie Davis wrote and starred in the original production. Director Kenny Leon’s fast-paced staging delivers plenty of laughs and a sense of urgency as Purlie and his cohorts attempt to claim an inheritance so he can buy Big Bethel Church.You can practically feel the sun emanating through Derek McLane’s wood-slat scenic design, depicting the modest living quarters of Purlie’s sister (Heather Alicia Sims) and brother-in-law Gitlow (Billy Eugene Jones).
Purlie bursts on the scene with Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins (Kara Young), whom he hopes to pass off as a long-lost cousin, claim a settlement, purchase a church, and set up a permanent home to preach.
But Ol’ Cap’n Cotchipee (Jay O. Sanders) will need to be convinced that Lutiebelle is the relative from years gone by, and he’s not exactly eager to give up any more power in the post-emancipation South, despite his son Charlie’s (Noah Robbins) more progressive perspective.
