Graphic design by Jim Gallagher
 

Joe McCann, Shannon Benil, andDean Davis

Sometimes absurdist but never mean, this is a truly original and brightly funny comedy which uses a heightened "comic strip" style to make hilariously devastating comments about some popular prejudices of our times. Benjamin Schwartz was born with "a slight pigmentation abnormality" – he is purple from the neck up. This naturally leads to problems with the other kids, who call him a "retarded grape" and pick fights – which Ben invariably wins. In fact he becomes so good at using his fists that his mother's dream of his becoming a lawyer is soon side-tracked by a career in the ring, and an eventual shot at becoming “the first purple heavyweight boxing champion of the world.” The author uses the progression of Ben’s pugilistic success to poke good fun at some abiding clichés of our times, as Kid Purple becomes the great "off-white" hope. In the end, though, acceptance and happiness only come to Ben when he learns to connect to others with more than his fists.

Dean Davis and Santos Ventura

Cast
Dean Davis
Niji Ramunas
Marti Pogonowski
Shannon Benil
Santos Ventura
Joe McCann

Joe McCann, Niji Ramunas, Dean Davis, and Shannon Benil

Marty Pogonowski, Niji Ramunas, and Dean Davis