Thurgood at NC Stage Co.
The one-man show Thurgood has begun its run at NC Stage Co. Written by George Stevens, Jr. and directed by Philip Kershaw, this portrayal of Thurgood Marshall, performed by Atlanta-based and St. Louis-born actor/comedian K.P. Powell, traces the life and times of the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice. In this depiction, a more intimate and humorous approach serves as an equalizing cornerstone to the plot.
The production is accompanied by a disclaimer that warns of strong language, use of racial slurs, and descriptions of violence. All of these aforementioned “trigger warnings” happen to be truths revealed in the monologue, balanced with irony, sarcasm, wit, triumph, and heartache. Although the stage is set in a very simple professional office space, the story becomes more personalized with the backdrop of black and white photos via projection screen. Featured in such images are old city scapes and, of course, historical figures relevant to the story.
Powell’s performance is well executed as it leads off with anecdotes of Marshall’s early life, including first love, losses, racial discrimination, and a dogged determination to beat the odds. His delivery is impressive, composed of a fluid continuity that seamlessly transitions from decade to decade as the character ages.
The comedic influence comes into play in the epic moment when Powell’s Marshall reveals the words of Lyndon B. Johnson during the conversation that ultimately led to his Supreme Court appointment. The accent and language put forth in a believably accurate, possibly verbatim account of then President Johnson incited widespread laughter and delight in the cozy theater.
However, one of the more sad and heartbreaking moments of Thurgood occurs when the main character speaks of losing a sweetheart to cancer when he was still a young man. The human touch in this scene pulls a certain level of empathy that some of the more academic parts of the script are unable to reach, perhaps by design.
To the same point, much of the storyline may appeal more to someone in the legal field, general education, or activism versus someone just looking for a proverbial “good time.” Nevertheless, this production succeeds in not leaning so drastically in just one direction, despite a somewhat rigid source of fact-based inspiration. That in and of itself may attest to the more inviting and endearing quality of this work.
Thurgood runs through Sunday, May 19, at NC Stage Co. For details and tickets, visit ncstage.org.
(Photo courtesy of NC Stage Co.)
