I have to say, rarely does a production at The Geffen Playhouse disappoint me, and last night was no exception. I went to the opening night of Thurgood, starring Laurence Fishburne. He's done a boatload of film and TV roles, but we all still know him best as Morpheus, from the Matrix movies. Tall guy, long black coat, offers Neo a choice between the red pill and the blue pill? Yup, that's him. But this time around, he's donning the robes of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
Don't know much about Thurgood Marshall? Me neither. But I know a whole lot more now. Thurgood is an hour and a half one-man show which tells the story of Marshall's path from childhood to activist lawyer - fighting against Jim Crow laws and arguing Brown v. Board of Education in the Supreme Court, the case that ended school segregation - to Supreme Court Justice. It's a fascinating journey and Fishburne does a wonderful job inhabiting a man that's extremely intelligent, passionate in his battles with injustice, but also uncertain at times, with jokes and hints about some womanizing and heavy drinking.
Fishburne really commands the room, which is what you'd expect of a Supreme Court Justice, right? He begins the show as the elderly Marshall, walking with a cane, but eventually loses it and begins moving with more energy and vitality as he starts to speak about his younger years. He is truly captivating in this role. My only criticism is that there were some transitions in the piece which felt unfocused.
By the way, Sidney Poitier was in the audience (see photo above of Poitier and Fishburne). He knows a lot about Thurgood Marshall. He actually played him in the 1991 TV film "Separate But Equal," and was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his performance. It was very cool to see Laurence Fishburne give a little salute to him at the end of the show.
"Thurgood," Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood. 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Ends Aug. 8. $65 to $85. (310) 208-5454 or www.geffenplayhouse.com Running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes.
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