Purlie
Ossie Davis
Purlie Victorious
by Ossie Davis
Highlights
Awards & Recognition
Tony Award
Nominee: Six 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play
Synopsis
A black preacher returns home to rural Georgia to claim an inheritance and bring down the ruthless plantation owner that he once served.
He finds a surprise ally in the plantation owner's son.
Press Reviews
"Fast, fierce and big-hearted, the show crackles with the verve of its central performances, and the play, at 62 years old, feels wittier, braver, less careful, and more caring than much contemporary writing. Both unflinching and generous, it’s just about as sharp as satire gets."
— Vulture
"Raucous... uncompromising... A joyous affair, broad in comedy and in spirit."
— TimeOut New York
"Marvelously exhilarating... Keeps you chuckling and guffawing. It won’t let you wipe that grin off your face."
— The New York Times, 1961
"A truly unique and memorable night of theatre... this is a play that is ready to poke fun at itself (and the culture that inspired it)."
— DC Theatre Arts
"Wonderfully engaging... highly entertaining... gets the message across loud and clear without ever getting preachy."
— Stage Magazine
Characters
| Character |
|---|
| PURLIE VICTORIOUS JUDSON |
| LUTIEBELLE GUSSIE MAE JENKINS |
| MISSY JUDSON |
| GITLOW JUDSON |
| CHARLIE COTCHIPEE |
| IDELLA LANDY |
| OL’ CAP’N COTCHIPEE
THE SHERIFF
THE DEPUTY |
Videos
Purlie Victorious Broadway Trailer
Publication
Publisher Samuel French
Year 1989
Binding Paperback
Pages 90
Place New York
Language English
ISBN-13 9780573614354
ISBN-10 0573614350
Purlie Victorious is a comedy play written by Ossie Davis and published by Samuel French in New York (1989).
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Performance Rights
Available for Licensing
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