The word across many a lip after the show was, “Where did these people come from?”

Others were left speechless by the breathtaking performances of the local cast in The Color Purple.

The answer, of course, is Bermuda — most of the 29 cast members were raised in a culture of music, singing their way through church and school.

Production values of the highest calibre are what we’ve come to expect from Troika’s annual “Work in Progress”, which this year includes the costumes, set and props from the National Broadway Tour.

The musical, which opened on Broadway in November 2005, was nominated for 11 Tony Awards in 2006.

For those familiar with the 1985 film, the musical is far lighter.

Based on both Alice Walker’s Pulitzer prize-winning novel and Steven Spielberg’s film, the gospel-toned adaptation handles the weighty issues of race, rape and religion, punctuating them with comic relief.

Under the direction of Michael McFadden of Maryland-based company Phoenix Entertainment, Candace Furbert plays Celie, a downtrodden woman whose personal journey forms the arc of this story.

Set in rural Georgia during the first half of the 20th century, it is in many ways a portrait of the African-American woman.

Celie’s fate is determined by first her father and then a forced marriage. The audience watches as she fluctuates between hope and despair. Her unwavering faith endures her survival. Like her status in life, her dreams are modest — only to take care of her sister.

When she is taken from her, she asks, “What kind of God are you?”

Ultimately, as the poster says, it is “a musical about love” and a story of sisterhood.

The score features elements of jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues, handled deftly by choreographer Mark Minnick and vocal director Cedric Lyles.

The laughs quell the heavy subject matter.

The omnipresent church ladies act as muses — their choral gossiping reflects the community’s sentiment. Sofia, Harpo’s solid wife, played boldly by Samantha Smith, Nicole Crumpler’s Squeak, his high-pitched rebound, and Shug Avery are all women we’ve met.

Bermuda Idol winner Olivia Hamiton plays the diva Shug, Mister’s lover and Celie’s love.

Her introduction is the first indication of Celie’s husband, and abuser Mister’s humanity.

Her presence comes as an awakening. She teaches Celie what it means to love herself as she shimmies in with a blues sound that stirs things up.

Ms Furbert’s performance, while powerful as a meek and hopeful child in the first act, builds over the evening to a jaw-dropping crescendo. Her restraint as impressive as her sound.

Celie’s solos are presented as prayer or plea as she speaks to God and to Nettie, the beloved sister from whom she is separated.

It is through these that we experience the changes that occur during Celie’s life, not only through confession but through her new boldness and self-assured voice.

It’s no coincidence that she makes her name through fashioning trousers that empower women.

“Who wears the pants now?” she sings, having overcome oppression and violence to discover her true self.

Shedding the labels “poor”, “black”, and “ugly”, she proves that she is anything but.

It is heart-wrenching, tear-jerking and hope-restoring to hear her call herself “beautiful”.

It goes without saying that the show received a standing ovation.

•Show Dates: Saturday, August 27 7pm, Sunday 28 at 5pm and Tuesday 7.30pm, at the Ruth Seaton James Theatre. Doors Open: 7pm | Show Starts: 7.30pm www.ptix.bm/TCP