Johnny Lee Davenport Let America Be America Again
Charles Mosesian Theater
Aresenal Center for the Arts, Watertown, Mass.
Jan 7 – Feb 12, 2017
By George Stevens Jr.
Directed by Benny Sato Ambush
Role: Thurgood Marshall
A young Thurgood Marshall takes on a case. (PHOTO: Andrew Vivid)
A more experienced Thurgood Marshall argues his outset case before the Supreme Court of the United states of america. (PHOTO: Andrew Vivid)
An older Thurgood Marshall explains the police force. (Photo: Andrew Brilliant)
An crumbling Thurgood Marshall prepares to retire later on 24 years on the Supreme Court. (Photograph: Andrew Brilliant)
Critical Response
LINK to Here & Now interview with host Meghna Chakrabarti, actor Johnny Lee Davenport, and playwright George Stevens Jr.: "1-Man Play 'Thurgood' Takes Close Look at Towering Supreme Court Justice"
"Johnny Lee Davenport relates these stories and and so many others in this amazing journey with such authenticity that there were times when I well-nigh stood up to ask him, meaning Justice Marshall, a question. Mr. Davenport's movements about the stage, his pauses, the emotions, the subtleties in vocalization and step that cue us in on the unlike periods of Marshall's life are and then shine and authentic that in that location was never a moment when I didn't experience I was really in the presence of Thurgood Marshall.
sssssI know information technology is early in the 2017 theatre flavor, but I can ensure yous that Johnny Lee Davenport's portrayal of Marshall in Thurgood will be remembered as one of the cracking performances of the twelvemonth."
—Bobby Franklin, Boxing Over Broadway (January 10, 2017)
"'A Scintillating One Man Performance By Johnny Lee Davenport ‐ And a MUST SEE!'
sssssThis one-homo play allows superb actor Johnny Lee Davenport the freedom to spend 2 hours weaving a tale of Thurgood Marshall's journeying from the slums of Baltimore to a seat on the bench on the highest court in the land. It is an extraordinary functioning recapturing the life of a human being who made history during several crucial and tumultuous decades of the 20th century.
sssss Mr. Davenport'south performance is egregiously skilful—depicting the crumbling of Mr. Marshall throughout the course of the narration of his life'due south journey as his posture and vocalizations evolve and devolve. He uses the supple instrument of his voice with ability, subtlety and grace to create moods of tension, fearfulness, anticipation, disappointment, rage, ache, hope, and euphoria."
—Al Chase, White Rhinoceros Report (Jan 11, 2017)
"Johnny Lee Davenport delivers a commanding, compelling portrait of the Showtime African-American to serve as a justice on the The states Supreme Court in the New Repertory Theatre'southward product of 'Thurgood,' playing through Feb. 5 in the black box space at the Mosesian Middle for the Arts.
sssss Davenport, under the management of Benny Sato Deadfall, plays the office in a relaxed, collegial style, so that there's no dusty air of academe. Instead, nosotros're given the warm, wise and slightly rambling recollections of an accomplished jurist, and the way he pours himself the occasional drop of whisky hints at humanizing personal struggles while simultaneously establishing a sense of intimate rapport: Hither, indeed, is a figure from history with whom you wouldn't mind sharing a drink. It's without discernible effort that Davenport commands the show for equally solid two hours, without intermission. The thespian is skilled at folding the occasional dropped line into the menstruum of his personable delivery, only don't let his approach lull y'all: Marshall, equally nosotros see him hither, isn't a faded relic, but rather a respected elderberry whose patter, soft and inviting as it is, barely conceals a precipitous and brilliant streak of humor . . . not to mention a still white-hot streak of passion for social justice."
— Killian Melloy, The Artery (Jan xi, 2017)
"Performing the office of a towering historical figure requires a performer with the same kind of presence on stage, in this case Johnny Lee Davenport. Managing director Benny Sato Ambush, who worked with Davenport in such productions as 'The Whipping Man,' 'Driving Miss Daisy,' and 'Master Harold . . . and the boys' no doubtfulness helped Davenport find the essence of Marshall, the humanity backside the iconic ceremonious rights effigy.
sssssThanks to the efforts of its principals—almost notably Davenport—'Thurgood,' which clocks in simply under two hours with no interruption, works on all levels: every bit excellent entertainment, a theatrical tour de force by an accomplished performer, and as a history lesson that teaches the states things we as Americans should never forget."
—Rich Fahey, On Boston Stages (January 11, 2017)
"'Davenport does justice to legal behemothic in 'Thurgood.'
sssssHe enters slowly and haltingly, supported by a cane, an sometime human being seemingly worn down by time. Only when he begins to speak, his vocalism is strong and sure. He still has work to do, and it starts with telling his story.
sssssCasting Johnny Lee Davenport as Thurgood Marshall in New Repertory Theatre's product of "Thurgood'' is an thought that is both inspired and entirely logical. Davenport delivers, as this exemplary histrion invariably does, but to do so he has to rise above George Stevens Jr.'southward pigmentbynumbers script.
sssss Davenport has the kind of ineffable stage presence that can't be adequately described only needs to be experienced. He has a way of filling the space he's in—and at New Rep's Black Box Theater, it's a pocket-sized space—that has only partly to do with his imposing size and his rich, rolling, versatile voice.
sssssHis impact in alive performance can exist more direct traced to the way Davenport seems alive in every moment of a play and alert to exploring every possible corner of the characters he plays—including, crucially, their humor. However serious the subject, Davenport seldom succumbs to solemnity. His Thurgood Marshall is every inch the happy warrior, although the ideals that animated Marshall too shine through in Davenport'south passionate portrayal.
sssss. . . Davenport does some vivid impressions of LBJ, offering glimpses not but of the president's shrewdness and largerthanlife personality but also his commitment to racial justice, opposition be damned.
— Don Aucoin, Boston Globe (January 12, 2017)
"[W]ith 'Thurgood,' the depression level of despair of the seeming powerlessness over our current circumstances is eclipsed past the power of the material and the performance of the e'er riveting Johnny Lee Davenport—who gives us a fully human portrayal of a man who helped to rectify centuries of racial injustice.
sssssThe play focuses more than on the professional person accomplishments of Marshall, and less on his personal life (although the script makes multiple references to a possible fondness for the booze and hints at a womanizing problem), just that professional life is pretty damn interesting and Davenport is a masterful storyteller, so it matters little.
sssssWhen a staff fellow member told me that the show runs most ii hours without an suspension, I groaned internally, only institute that time moved reasonably quickly (and volition probably be shortened even more as Davenport becomes more comfortable with the reams of dialogue in subsequent performances). 'Thurgood' is both very good theater and really important history—one which we can only hope does not echo itself."
—Michael Hoban, The Theater Mirror (January 12, 2107)
"It feels somewhat like a history lesson, but it's a very very engaging 1."
— Jared Bowen, Arts This Calendar week WGBH (January 12, 2017)
"The compelling and charismatic Johnny Lee Davenport plays Marshall with smashing warmth and potency . . . . Davenport is the thespian for the job; he has the chops, stamina, and power to persuade."
— Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce'southward Choices (January xiii, 2017)
"Johnny Lee Davenport relates these stories and and then many others in this amazing journey with such authenticity that there were times when I nearly stood up to enquire him, meaning Justice Marshall, a question. Mr. Davenport'due south movements well-nigh the stage, his pauses, the subtleties in voice and step that cue united states in to the dissimilar periods of Marshall's life are so smoothen and authentic that in that location was never a moment when I didn't feel I was actually with Thurgood Marshall."
— Bobby Franklin, "On the Aisle Theatre Notes" for the Mail service-Gazette (January 13, 2017)
"[W]hile information technology is at times structured like a lecture, with estimable role player Johnny Lee Davenport in the championship role of Thurgood Marshall, ane of the preeminent civil rights figures of the 20th century and the beginning African American appointed to the United States Supreme Courtroom, 'Thurgood' will take you leaning in, not wanting to miss a single word.
sssssNether Benny Sato Ambush'southward sure-footed management, the play moves smoothly between various fourth dimension periods, with Davenport subtly adjusting his posture and modulating the timbre of his voice to seamlessly handle each transition. New Rep's Black Box space lends the feel an intimacy that allows audiences to non only experience the passion in Davenport's portrayal, simply too to see the twinkle in his optics that makes articulate Marshall's ability to maintain warmth and find humor in tough situations."
— R. Scott Reedy, Wicked Local (January 18, 2017)
"Davenport'due south demeanor is that of a boisterous and unpredictable grandad, tittering with selfamusement one infinitesimal, thundering in anger the next. Davenport is exquisite at modulating his vocalism to embody Marshall'south various family unit members, friends, colleagues, and enemies. He expertly shuffled effectually the 3quarter stage, wheeling the lovely leather chair back and forth, alternating sips of water with sips of 'whiskey,' seeming to address every audience member individually, the way a skilled lawyer reaches out to each and every member of a jury."
— Fabiana Cabral, My Entertainment World: My Theatre (Jan xix, 2017)
"'A gripping portrait of the late great Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall, with a tour de strength solo functioning by Johnny Lee Davenport.'
sssssThere is both considerable particular and considerable humor in the rendition, and Johnny Lee Davenport does a great task of managing the considerable torso of details and narratives; likewise, he gives a warm and engaging portrait of Marshall himself. It's an amazingly compelling operation.
sssss Johnny Lee Davenport has distinguished himself in many roles on Boston stages over the years, and his work in Thurgood offers a notable distillation of the capacities he has exhibited then effectively elsewhere.
sssssThis account of Marshall, a notably clear and thoughtful jurist and an honorable human being, is a most welcome contribution in the darkness of this wintertime flavor, and the vivid and moving rendition given by Johnny Lee Davenport a wonderfully warm reminder of the inspiration offered by a keen American whose striking accomplishments did not diminish his humanity nor his humility."
— BADMan Charles Munitz, Boston Arts Diary (January 26, 2017)
"'Davenport Artfully Celebrates the Life of Marshall in New Rep's 'Thurgood.'
sssssTogether, [Johnny Lee Davenport and Benny Sato Ambush] create a humanized portrait of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall that is at once relatable and larger-than-life, taking care to present him every bit a good denizen who took that precious responsibility seriously. . . . Thurgood is equal parts character study and history lesson, both of which are as compelling. In portraying Marshall, Davenport adopts a professorial persona when he is relating his family history, and switches his bearing to reenact his appearances earlier the demote. He adjusts his posture and gait to reflect the aging process, too. Throughout, Davenport infuses the character with warmth and intelligence, shows some of his periods of dubiousness and disappointment, and drives home the quality of Marshall'south character, earning respect and admiration from the audience."
— Nancy Grossman, BroadwayWorld.com Boston (January 12, 2017)
"'Thurgood' paints stunning portrait of legal giant. . . .It features Johnny Lee Davenport equally the legendary Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Playing through February. 5 in the blackness box space at the Mosesian Eye for the Arts in Watertown, the bear witness provides an intimate, personal and professional portrait of the legal giant with wit, humor and perseverance.
sssss Johnny Lee Davenport is platonic in the part, playing Marshall as at one time gracious, hardworking, bigheaded and confident. He likewise brings out Marshall's penchant for comedy. This subject matter hands could have gone preachy and somber, but Davenport's natural physical wit and punch line delivery balances the heavy themes."
— Celina Colby, The Bay Land Banner (Jan 19, 2017)
Facebook Posts: Johnny Lee Davenport was Bright and Endearing as Thurgood Marshall. I am so glad I got one of the terminal seats on the last solar day to run across it. I hope the play returns, I wand my friends and family to see it… —H Nat Stevens (February 12, 2017) / Davenport'southward portrayal was beyond anything words can convey. —Paul Gage (January 27, 2017)
Source: http://johnnyleedavenport.com/?page_id=3144
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