My wife and mother-in-law went to the opening night of the 2008-09 M&I Bank Broadway Across America - Milwaukee Series at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday. They saw a touring production of "Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple." It's based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the Oscar-nominated film by Steven Spielberg.

I stayed home opting for the Brewers and the Olympics, so here's a review through Stephanie's eyes and via five quick questions regarding the production that's in town through Sunday.

Jeff Sherman: Overall, give the production a grade.
Stephanie Sherman: I'd give it an A. The actors portrayed the emotions with such intensity. The songs were beautiful; you could feel Celie's (lead character) pain.

JS: What's the basic plot summary?
SS: Essentially, it's a story about love and the love that's inside of all of us. It's set in rural Georgia in the early 1900s.

JS: So, you liked it better than The Lion King?
SS: Yes. I loved the look into this time in American history and it was interesting to see how many of the issues still relate today.

It really, also, made me reflect on my role as a woman today. We all have to give credit to women like those in "The Color Purple" who had to overcome so much. Because of them, we have opportunities today.

JS: So, is it a "chick play?"
SS: It did seem like the ratio was about 20 women to one man and I would have to say that a major theme was about a woman coming into to her own and learning to love herself. It's a story about a woman's path to freedom. Sofia's (Oprah Winfrey played her in the movie) song "Hell No" (sung to her husband) was a big crowd pleaser, for the women, for sure.

But the overarching theme that God is inside of us and it's His love and Him that give us hope is universal for both women and men.

JS: Did you see the movie? Can you compare the two?
SS: I did, and I really enjoyed this Broadway production better than the movie. The music and singing really brought out the emotions and the dancing was really great too.

The three church ladies that appear throughout, I really liked them. Gossipy church ladies reminded me of the older women at church when I was a kid. They'd comment on what I was wearing and give their opinions on how my sister and I were maybe -- in their eyes -- not dressed up properly for service.

The relationships, overall, were much better developed in the play.