If there was ever a show you wanted to love, it’s Purple Rain. The new musical adaptation of Prince’s iconic film and soundtrack held its official opening night after three weeks of previews. It’s scheduled to run for about three weeks before theoretically transferring to Broadway—though the production’s website currently lists tickets only for the Minneapolis engagement.

Prince is a Minneapolis legend, and premiering the show here was absolutely the right choice. Unfortunately, that’s where the good decisions seem to end—because if there was ever a show that’s hard to love, it’s Purple Rain.

The musical follows the film’s plot up to a point, then veers off course in ways it can’t recover from. The Kid (Prince’s character) is remarkably unlikable in Act I. Unlike the movie, his brilliance as a performer isn’t really established that strongly up top, so his entitlement and self-centeredness feel neither earned nor forgivable. He comes across as someone everyone around him would be better off leaving behind. Perhaps the Kid’s charisma is meant to carry the audience, but this production was surprisingly low energy. I saw a more electrified crowd at The SpongeBob Musical at Lyric Arts two years ago, that audience treated it like a Beatles concert. Here, applause rarely rose above a golf clap.

The Kid is unlikeable for most of the first act and downright misogynistic in the second. The show aims for redemption but doesn’t come anywhere close to earning it. He’s a jerk who becomes a monster, and feeling bad at the end doesn’t excuse what he does to Apollonia. She’s portrayed as a troubled young woman scarred by childhood trauma, yet in Act II she’s humiliated and reduced to a reality TV punchline. she’s mistreated by the Kid and get’s no happy ending. The show’s book is mean spirited and I had very little tolerance for it by the end.

Purple Rain the movie certainly hasn’t aged super well in terms of the way it portrays women. Those of us who lived through the 80s kind of run into that a lot when we revisit the blockbusters of our past. It’s a sign of how far we really have come despite how it may feel sometimes. I expected this musical to address some of those issues, to correct them. Which, for the record is what I think would’ve been the right thing to do. Instead it doubles down on everything it should have corrected. It shows us women being strong and supportive of each other, but then decides to punish Apollonia in the end. While The Kid is rewarded, because after he’s horrible, he feels kind of bad about it. Ending with the kid being forgiven and him allowing Wendy and Lisa to collaborate with him, which is really a sucky message.

The cast is a mixed bag. Kris Kollins as the Kid moves like Prince and, while not a vocal match (who could be?), that’s forgivable. What’s missing is charisma. Perhaps a result of the exhausting lead up to opening night? I know they’re making changes up to the last minute, but I have to review what I saw. Jared Howelton delivers a spot-on Morris Day, clearly the audience favorite. Grace Yoo shines as Wendy, her commanding presence only highlighting Kollins’ lack of energy. Rachel Webb is excellent as Apollonia. Strong vocally, physically, and emotionally.

Choreographer Ebony Williams offers some intriguing movement, especially shadow partner sequences that suggest the eroticism that they’re not going to show us on stage. There’s nice dance moves from the bands as they are performing at The First (First Avenue). Still, I was surprised there wasn’t more dancing overall.

Production design by David Zinn is strong. The Purple Rain logo against a floral backdrop is striking, and the First Avenue recreation works beautifully. I also liked how the design allowed seamless shifts to other locations, such as the Kid’s apartment, and his motorcycle entrance was handled effectively.

Prince fans will want to go, and knowing what to expect may help you enjoy it for the music alone. But if you plan to share it with your kids, especially your daughters, I’d advise against it. The show leans toxic, its redemption arc forced and unconvincing. The book for this show left me with such a bad taste in my mouth, that no rain, purple or otherwise could wash out.

Purple Rain runs through November 23 at the State Theatre before its anticipated Broadway transfer. It’s a rare opportunity for Minnesotans that should’ve been a celebration of Prince and his music; instead, it felt like they were dragging him through the mud. The lack of energy from some of the cast, made it feel like they thought that as well. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://hennepinarts.org/events/purple-rain-2025

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