Hello internet!

Let’s dive right in. Purlie Victorious is a revival of a 1961 comedic play by Ossie Davis, starring Leslie Odom, Jr (of Hamilton fame) in the title role. The show is under 2 hours long, with no intermission.

Purlie Victorious is set on a cotton plantation in Georgia in the 1950s. Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson (Leslie Odom, Jr) attempts to regain his family’s $500 inheritance in order to buy back his community’s church. Since Purlie’s cousin, Bee, is no longer alive to collect the inheritance, Purlie finds another young woman, Lutibelle (Kara Young), to dress up in Bee’s clothes and collect the money from plantation owner Cap’n Cotchipee (Jay O. Sanders).

Purlie Victorious got rave reviews from virtually every major publication. The NYTimes’ Jesse Green said it’s “every bit as scathingly funny as the 1961 review said it was.” Time Out’s Adam Feldman said it’s “uncompromising in its defiance, but it rarely feels preachy.” Every review is like this. It’s hilarious, it’s bold, it’s well performed.

It is funny, though I didn’t find it as funny as those around me found it to be. Honestly, it took me a solid 15 minutes before I got used to the deep southern accents.

It is bold. The show deals with meaty topics – being black in America, the absurdity of racism, etc. – but it’s done in a light-hearted, satirical manner such that it hits the message home very effectively. The show isn’t afraid to tackle difficult issues, and I think they are important ones.

It is well performed. Leslie Odom, Jr. is excellent as Purlie Victorious – engaging, dynamic, heartfelt…everything you’d want from a southern preacher/male lead of a play. The supporting cast is very strong across the board. The standout performer is by far Kara Young as Lutibelle. She is spectacular. Kara’s comedic timing is perfect, and she makes such creative (and unpredictable) comedy choices that I was on my toes every time she came on stage. Kara is so earnest and likeable, which I think gives her some freedom to get away with more risky physical comedy beats. Her line delivery is brilliant, and she’s a highly intelligent actor. Her performance is one of the best I’ve seen in recent memory, up there with the Merrily cast and Amaka Umeh in Sizwe Banzi. Prior to Purlie Victorious, Kara has been seen on Broadway twice, and both times she has been nominated for Tony Awards. I would be very surprised if she wasn’t nominated again this year.

Anyway, I liked Purlie Victorious, and it was certainly worth the $40 lottery ticket, but it didn’t knock it out of the park for me. I don’t know if it was the fact that I saw an undersold Wednesday matinee the day before Thanksgiving, but the pacing felt off. It dragged at times, and towards the end, there was a beat that felt like the climax, but then I saw the woman in front of me check her watch, and we still had 45 minutes left to go. An afternoon well spent, nonetheless.

Purlie Victorious is playing at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway until at least February 4, 2024. You can purchase tickets here, or head to the box office for same-day rush tickets.

Featured image: Leslie Odom, Jr. and Kara Young, photo by Marc J. Franklin