Dearly beloved - we are gathered here - to celebrate this thing called Prince.
After being in previews for the last few weeks, Purple Rain the Musical had its official world premier at the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis Wednesday night. It was a star-studded affair for the Twin Cities celebrating the music, and film, of Minneapolis' hometown star, Prince.
Prince died unexpectedly in his Chanhassen home and studio in 2016 at the age of 57.
Purple Rain is the first premier of a potentially Broadway-bound musical since The Lion King back in 1997. This is a big deal, and the presence of people like film director Spike Lee in the opening night audience, or the presence of the New York Times to document the opening, is enough to prove that.
Purple Rain the musical is different than Purple Rain the movie
Director Liliana Blaine Cruz says Purple Rain audiences can expect a bold modern vision for the production, which will grace the stage first in Minneapolis. She says while the show honors Prince's legacy, it also incorporates a broader range of his discography and fresh story elements.
"The album has nine songs, you know, like a musical has more than that," says Cruz. "And so I think there's gonna be surprise about how those songs kind of get recontextualized, but then also the other music that gets interwoven inside the piece is gonna be, I think, really thrilling."
The show is certainly divergent from the movie, but incorporates some of those iconic film moments too. The love story with Appolonia, the struggle for Prince in his home life, the "battle of the bands" at The First, a stand-in for the real-life First Avenue, just up the street from where the show debuted at the State Theater, and where much of the movie Purple Rain was staged.
"Through that adaptation, you know, to, to fill a, the length of a Broadway show, they were able to add in additional songs in the Prince catalog, develop some additional, depth to Apollonia's, character," explains Hennepin Arts spokesman Dale Stark.
The show also modernizes some of the more misogynist elements in the movie, choosing to have the villainous Morris Day character emerge from a dumpster to sing a song, instead of throwing a woman into the dumpster.
Writer Jacobs-Jenkins says the production tried to expand on the iconic 1984 film in some unique ways.
"We decided to crack open the Apollonia character in a way that I think is going to surprise people who are familiar with the movie," Jacobs-Jenkis explains. "And it was a risk, and we've been scared every time we had to do anything, like release who the actor was, or share pieces of it. But I think it's paying off."
The music and the setting in Minneapolis make it special
The story is secondary though - and by most accounts, probably the show's weak spot, trying to balance the original movie with new elements to the story, while incorporating many new songs.
As was the case with the movie, theater-goers should remember that this is not the "story" of Prince. This is the story of "The Kid," a semiautobiographical creation that may incorporate real life elements of Prince. But the bulk of the work is fictionalized.
The music and the setting? That is all Prince. And you're there for the music, the vibe of downtown Minneapolis where he crafted the iconic music, where it feels like there is purple at every turn - whether it's a lit up building like Target Field, or how the historic State Theater embraces "Purple" in decorations or even cocktails.
"There's an illuminated purple Paisley pathway, if you will, all kinds of photo opportunities, and energetic show, that has just been clamoring for this day for several weeks now," Stark explained about the energy of opening night, and a pre-Broadway run.
And yes - to the delight of the audience - you get your chance to "purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka."
Is the show good?
That will be in the eye of the beholder of course. Fan reviews on social media during previews were very mixed, with the show working out a lot of kinks, workshopping different elements, and trying to get the show honed down to what the audience saw during Wednesday's official opening. What had been nearly four hours is more like two-and-a-half now.
It's probably not "Broadway ready," according to what most observers saw Wednesday but there is time for that to be worked out. There's also been a noticeable improvement according to some who saw early performances, and opening night.
Critic and longtime Twin Cities TV personality Rusty Gatenby talked about the show Wednesday morning with Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News, and said if you're looking for a better story, watch the movie. But overall still enjoyed the musical.
"This is headed to Broadway," Gatenby said. "I have a feeling they're gonna tighten it up a bit before they hope it's headed to Broadway, and I think it will. It's in town through the end of the month. I think they're gonna tighten it up a little bit more."
Certainly, the audiences will enjoy the music. This is Prince after all. The performances are all very good. Kris Kollins as the Kid is brand-new to Broadway-style shows and his performance, singing and dancing like Prince is tremendous, even if his acting probably falls a little below some of his fellow cast members, especially Rachel Webb who plays Appolonia. She has that Broadway experience and she shines throughout.
"If you're a Prince fan, you gotta see it. That's all there is to it," Gatenby added.
Jared Howelton gets the comic role of Morris, the Kid's foil who cartoons his way around the stage and gets' most of the laughs.
The production is seamless. The stage shifts from the music club, to backstage, to "The Kid's bedroom," all purple with candles and music setting up a space for him to work out those iconic songs, in a few occasions right there during the show as "When Doves Cry" and the iconic duet "Take Me With U."
Bobby Z, the original drummer for Prince's Purple Rain-era band, The Revolution, collaborated with the producers on the music and they deliver. Fans will of course hear the songs from the movie. The show launches with "Let's Go Crazy" and of course closes with the iconic "Purple Rain." There's a raunchy takedown of Appolonia with "Darling Nikki" giving that song a jarringly cruel backstory. You'll hear "Baby I'm A Star" and "I Would Die 4 U."
You'll also hear songs that have nothing to do with the movie soundtrack or the original album, with songs mixed in from all across Prince's career, including songs he wrote for other artists, such as the Sinead O'Conner hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" or Sheila E.'s "The Glamourous Life." Prince's later songs like "Kiss" or "U Got The Look" are added to round out the music.
Shows will continue through the end of November.
PURPLE RAIN
Bottom Line: If you love Prince - if you love the music or the movie - you'll love the show.
Where: Historic State Theatre at 805 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN
When: Various evenings with some weekend matinees now through Nov. 23
Running Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes with a 15-minute intermission
Tickets: Available here through Ticketmaster. Prices range from $55 to well over $200.