THURGOOD - 4/17/08
THURGOOD - 4/17/08
#1THURGOOD - 4/17/08
Posted: 4/18/08 at 12:01am
First of all, I must say that it shocks me that after five previews, that I am the first person on both BroadwayWorld and ATC to review this show...
Saw THURGOOD this evening via tdf. My seat was F 15 in the Mezz, but unfortunately, the mezz was about half empty so I moved down to the second row where I had an excellent view.
After the crap I've seen lately (especially that dismal TOP GIRLS Tuesday night), this play was so refreshing. Laurence Fishburne was excellent as Thurgood Marshall. Just to preface my review, I am not a history buff by any means, and I knew little to nothing about this character before walking into the theater this evening. In fact, I found history to be the most boring subject in high school, so the fact that this show kept my interest at all means it is very good.
George Stevens, Jr.'s play is extremely well written. There is drama and laughter throughout and tonight's audience (small as it was) was extremely receptive. In the play, we learned about Thurgood Marshall in all stages of his life, from childhood and how he was picked on and shunned for being a black man to his triumphs of Brown vs. Board of Education plus all the interactions he had with past presidents of the U.S.
There is no show curtain...Fishburne walks on via stage left and at the end of the play, exits stage right. The set is sparse but effective. There is a long rectangular table center stage with four chairs surrounding it, a podium upstage center, a couple of portfolios, a pitcher of water and a glass, and a gorgeous, white, stone-looking backdrop of the american flag, on which projections are tastefully used throughout the show. The lighting is also very well done.
The play is a crisp 90 minutes and as soon as the show was over, the audience gave an immediate standing ovation (which does not always happen with straight plays). Fishburne certainly deserved it for that long monologue that he delivered extremely well. He did flub 3-4 lines, which I'm sure he will master as previews go on.
At the stage door, there were maybe 15-20 people waiting. Laurence Fishburne had TONS of visitors, including Joan Didion who I saw go into the stage door. After about 10 minutes, the stage door man came out and said that Mr. Fishburne was probably not coming out for a while, but he had pre-signed a bunch of playbills for the crowd, which were given out.
So, all in all, an enjoyable evening. I'm glad I saw it, and am eager to hear others' thoughts in the coming weeks.
Updated On: 4/18/08 at 12:01 AM
#2re: THURGOOD - 4/17/08
Posted: 4/18/08 at 12:16amThanks for being the first to review this show. I'm glad you liked it!
#2re: THURGOOD - 4/17/08
Posted: 4/18/08 at 12:20am
WAT, awesome, awesome, awesome!
I'm hoping to catch this piece later this month! 
Were you one of the lucky ones to get an autographed playbill?
#3re: THURGOOD - 4/17/08
Posted: 4/18/08 at 12:22am
Yes, I did get an autographed playbill!
I'm just so thrilled to have attended a *good* night at the theater!
#4re: THURGOOD - 4/17/08
Posted: 4/18/08 at 1:37amThank you SO much for the review. It's great to hear that Fishburne was not a let down. Hope I get a chance to see it!
iflitifloat
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
#5re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/20/08 at 8:16pm
I saw the matinee today and also liked the show a lot. Laurence Fishburne inhabits the role and I truly did feel like I was listening to Thurgood Marshall reminisce. There was plenty I only vaguely remembered, and the anecdotes he told along the way brought a lot of things into perspective as the time line of his life unfolded. I was also reminded of some of the good things that people I remember as "bad" had done. Men like Earl Warren and LBJ, for example.
It was a good 90 minutes of uncomplicated historical theater. And time well spent, in my opinion.
#7re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/20/08 at 9:30pm
"Top Girls is not dismal crap."
Along with Lisa Kron's WELL, TOP GIRLS was the worst play I have ever seen. Just my opinion...
#8re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/20/08 at 9:33pmBWW posted the new broadway beat, and this show is one of the three parts. I really enjoyed hearing Laurence speak about his experience with this show so far, and just his passion for live theater in general.
BroadwayBoobs: I'll give all of you who weren't there a hint of who took the pictures ...it rhymes with shameless
SOMMS: I knew it was Tink!
#9re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/20/08 at 9:37pm
1) Thanks for the review! Glad you liked it!!
2) Tony nom, do you think?
3) Pre-signed playbills? Genious.
4) I picked up Kron's WELL from the library and can't make it past the first ten pages. I found some of it humerous however it abruptly bored me and its pretentiousness got in the way, too. I will make it through eventually.
--Aristotle
#10re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/20/08 at 9:42pmYes, I do think Laurence Fishburne deserves a nomination for this play. Not an easy thing to do...a 90 minute monologue...and he does it extremely well!
#11re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/23/08 at 4:02pm
Saw it last night and agree with most of the thoughts here by WAT and iflit. Fishburne certainly has the part down nicely. There were a few times I'd momentarily lose myself and get an urge to hang around the stage door afterward to get some opinions on some issues of the day, forgetting I was watching an actor and not a supreme court justice. A little more history lesson than theatre, but certainly enjoyable, especially considering that it's George Stevens Jr. first foray as a playwright.
A young boy was in front of me -- probably early teens or so -- and was hanging on every word, so I think that says a lot about the piece.
Updated On: 4/23/08 at 04:02 PM
#12re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/25/08 at 1:00amI just booked front row center for the last night of previews. I haven't been to the Booth prior. Am I in for a treat? Any and all insight appreciated.
mike51079
Swing Joined: 4/22/08
#13re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/28/08 at 5:05pm
Brantley's reviewing it next! Hold on to your hats :) and check www.didhelikeit.com for reviews!
Updated On: 4/28/08 at 05:05 PM
#14re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/28/08 at 5:46pm
Well, for those wondering, you'll have my review for sure! I'm treating my friend to this show tomorrow night (final preview performance), and I'm greatly looking forward to this. The word-of-mouth on this show is spectacular!
Best,
- Mike
fengshuihellnyc
Broadway Star Joined: 3/8/05
#15re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/29/08 at 5:58am
I see that someone here wrote he sent out signed playbills which is quite nice of him... Anyone know if at other performances if he has come out and personally signed as I really want a windowcard signed.
thanks
fengshuihellnyc
Broadway Star Joined: 3/8/05
#16re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/29/08 at 5:41pm
I see that someone here wrote he sent out signed playbills which is quite nice of him... Anyone know if at other performances if he has come out and personally signed as I really want a windowcard signed.
thanks
Anybody Know?
#17re: THURGOOD - 4/20/08
Posted: 4/29/08 at 5:47pm
Production Photos from playbill.com
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117259.html
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