Broadway’s ‘Purpose’: A Family Feud with Laughs and Fury

Plays centered on families and their conflicts are a staple of American theater.

The confrontations at the dinner table are consistently engaging, relatable, and, one might assume,
exhausted as a dramatic device.

How can a fresh perspective be offered on a concept that is so familiar? There are a limited number of ways
to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Nevertheless, in recent years, writer Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has crafted two exceptional examples:
“Appropriate,” which won the Tony Award for Best Play last year, and “Purpose,” which premiered Monday night
at the Hayes Theater.

His latest work is fiercely compelling, humorous, and unyielding.

I was thoroughly entertained by Jacobs-Jenkins’s clever and biting adaptation of the narrative: This
particular house, filled with explosive revelations, belongs to the Jaspers, an influential black political
family whose scandals and controversies escalate rapidly, mirroring the blizzard outside their window.

If your family resembles theirs, I recommend seeking independence.

Solomon (Harry Lennix), the salt-and-pepper-haired father, is clearly inspired by Jesse Jackson. However,
instead of delivering speeches from a podium, he fumes privately.

This commanding patriarch is also a prominent minister and former activist who worked alongside Martin Luther
King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement.

Bringing disgrace upon the Jasper name is his eldest son, Solomon Jr. (Glenn Davis), recently released from
prison after being a state senator who was brought down for financial malfeasance.

Orange jumpsuits are the current fashion statement. Junior’s wife, Morgan (Alana Arenas), is also facing
imprisonment for conspiring with him.

The youngest son, Nazareth (Jon Michael Hill), a sensitive nature photographer, has returned home to visit with
his New York friend Aziza (Kara Young), who is unaware of the turmoil she is about to encounter.

Secrets are unveiled, wounds are reopened, and lives are irrevocably altered. The pattern is familiar.

However, due to Jacobs-Jenkins’ precise writing style and unique approach, this family’s “blood is thicker
than water” motivations and their chilling, Mafia-esque behaviors create numerous unexpected twists. Even
during the occasional slower moments in Act 2 of “Purpose,” the audience remains engaged.

The Setup

The setups are irresistibly intriguing. How does a respected public figure conduct themselves when they are not
in the public eye? What are the genuine opinions of his troubled children about him? Imagine a birthday
celebration where conversations and retaliations have significant repercussions.

Directed by Phylicia Rashad, who is well-versed in staging a fictional living room, “Purpose” boasts a
remarkably talented cast.

Key Performances

• LaTanya Richardson Jackson, as Solomon’s wife, Claudine: Her performance is dynamic and showcases who really controls the situation.
• Alana Arenas: She portrays a politician’s beleaguered spouse, reminiscent of Hillary Clinton or Huma Abedin, by wearing indoor sunglasses.
• Glenn Davis: He is jovial and makes the audience believe he could win an election based on his charisma and family name alone.

Lennix, in a manner similar to Jesse Jackson, originates from a vanishing era where his deep, resonant voice
could captivate a room with just a few words.

Kara Young is a standout star. Fresh from her Tony Award for “Purlie Victorious,” the humorous actress,
portraying someone in awe of these nightly news celebrities, effectively controls the audience through humor
— until she surprises them.

Naz, played with warmth and empathy by Hill, serves as our guide to this dysfunctional household. He is the
most normal member of the Jaspers. He makes humorous asides about his affluent, imprisoned relatives,
reminiscent of Ron Howard in “Arrested Development.”

One of Naz’s suggestions aptly encapsulates this highlight of the Broadway season: “Buckle up.”