BWW Reviews: Fishburne a Thoroughly Good THURGOOD

Thurgood /by George Stevens, Jr./ directed by Leonard Foglia /Geffen Playhouse /through August 8

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Solicitor General of the Supreme Court Thurgood Marshall (1967-1991) was hardly a saint. He was an alcoholic and a womanizer - at one point in his collegiate years - he dated 7 coeds at once. Fits the bill as a typical politician, you may say? Maybe, but unlike many political figures, this man was indeed a hero, for he singularly championed human rights throughout an almost 60 year career, and as played by the remarkable Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood Marshall will be eternally idolized as one great humanitarian.

George Stevens, Jr.'s well-documented play Thurgood may be a bit too long, repetitive and self-indulgent, but its strongest asset is its resilient character, who resolved to make a difference at the top of his law career and never, ever gave up. Although he didn't make it into the University of Maryland Law School - his law degree was from Howard University - because he was black, he saw to it that one black man eventually did in 1935, Donald Gaines Murray. He also in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 worked tirelessly for a Supreme Court ruling that put an end to segregated - separate but equal - schooling in South Carolina. Although it was a triumph primarily on the books - as many states objected and refused to comply for years - it was a first and milestone decision. Overall, Marshall won 29 out of 32 cases he tried, and in his latter years he fought hard for an end to capital punishment and supported abortion rights.

Fishburne is exceedingly comfortable in the role at this point after having played it on Broadway in 2008 and just before the Geffen at the Eisenhower Theatre at the Kennedy Center in D.C. He envelops the man's sense of humor and deep-seated pride - in his achievements, his background - and, most urgently, without ever losing track of the fact that he was just one African American who used the law as a weapon of change for the good of his people. Two of Marshall's sons are following in their father's footsteps, carrying on his work, in D.C.

Foglia's direction is highly skilled. The white flag behind the podium serves effectively as a screen for digital projections that show Marshall's life and highlights of American history from the 30s to the 90s, when he passed away at the age of 84. For the most part, an educational and enjoyable experience, suited to high school groups!

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