The concept of The Color Purple as a stage musical seems to evoke the same reaction in virtually everyone - at least everyone I know.

And that reaction is, "Huh?"

Alice Walker's Pulitzer-winning novel follows Celie, a young black woman in 1930s Georgia, from a childhood of rape by her father, into forced loveless marriage, the loss of her sister and only true friend, abuse, sexual awakening, loss of faith and ultimate redemption.

Heady stuff. Which is not to say that musicals can't successfully take on serious material, but one still can't shake the feeling that something is a little off throughout the Tacoma Musical Playhouse production.

Despite that odd sensation, there is plenty to enjoy about The Color Purple.

Read Joe Izenman's full review of The Color Purple in the Arts section at weeklyvolcano.com.

[Tacoma Musical Playhouse, The Color Purple, through April 1, Friday - Saturday 8 p.m., Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 2 p.m., $20-$27, 7116 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.565.6867]