purlie who?

That would be "Purlie Victorious (A Non-Confederate Romp through the Cotton Patch)", as in 'Reverend Purlie Victorious Judson', the titular character.

"Goodness, gracious, child, that is some kind of a mouthful."

I agree that is true. I don't know just when Ossie Davis wrote it, but I do know he starred as the character when the play opened on Broadway in 1961.

"That's when he wrote it, too. 1961. He was 44 years old."

Aha! You do know a little something about it!

"I'd heard of it, but I didn't know what it was about. I was pretty young when it came out, and still young when it was made into a movie. My guess is I heard the name a few years ago when it was revived on Broadway. You know the Hesters go up to New York City fairly frequently and see plays and musicals."

Yes, I know, they always have. It's where they get the ideas for Asbury Memorial's "God On Broadway series". Now, they have another reason, as their grandson lives up there. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Cheri may have mentioned the title.

"Is it a musical or a play?"

It's a play, which is why it hasn't hit the GOB circuit here. 'Purlie' is a traveling preacher in the south east, much like my Grandpa was, though I suspect 'Purlie' did it a century before Grandpa. Anyway, 'Purlie' hears tell that the plantation owner has $500 in trust as the inheritance due to 'Cousin Bee'. Now, 'Purlie' knows that 'Bee' is dead, but he brings in 'Lutiebelle' to pass for her and get the money. The problem is that 'Lutiebelle' is a bit of a scatterbrain and signs her own name onto the receipt for the money. Nope! All kinds of hilarity ensues after that!

"That sounds like it was a blast! Wait a minute... wasn't that aired on one of the PBS channels for Black Heritage Month? How did you get to see it now?"

I'd taped it a few days back, thinking the physicist might want to see it. That was a no-go, so I watched it tonight. That was good, as I'd started thinking about all the plays and musicals I missed this weekend. Nice to have this one waiting for me! And free!

"Nice, indeed! And was it a recorded Broadway show with Ossie Davis?"

No, this was from the revival of the play. 'Purlie' was played by Leslie Odom, Jr. in this one. And guess what? He was 44 years old, just as Ossie had been!

"Well, that's a nice bit of continuity! He was in "Hamilton", too, wasn't he?"

That's right! He played 'Aaron Burr' in that musical. Such a very talented actor he is! He came to Savannah for a talk at the Trustees Theater toward the end of February, as part of SBHF37, but I wasn't able to go. I sure would have loved to hear him talk about his roles! Still, it was good to have this play to watch. He was marvelous as a conniving free man! And why was he so set on getting that $500? He wanted to buy back the black church from the plantation, so he could preach to the slaves.

"Oh, then it must have been set before the American Civil War started in 1861. Do you think so?"

I think you may be right. There was no mention of the war at all in the play and I feel certain there would have been had it been going on. Good play! I wonder why Ossie Davis didn't write anymore plays?

"I'm sure he was plenty busy on the stage and as a family man. I'm impressed that he found the time to write this one!"