By Will Power
Directed by Derrick Sanders
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Raised in San Francisco’s Fillmore district, Will Power “has been hailed by critics as ‘the best verse playwright in America’ and is known for bridging the gap between contemporary hip-hop and performance theater” ( Dallas Magazine) – a reputation that earned him a Trailblazer Award from the National Black Theater Network. Despite his deep local roots, his work has not been seen locally in over a decade… until this summer at MTC! Read the San Francisco Chronicle's interview with him >.
IN THE NEWS
North Bay Bohemian's David Templeton interviews Roscoe Orman about playing Stepin Fetchit.
Mocha Cafe's Sandra Varner previews Fetch Clay, Make Man.
IN DEPTH
This historical drama draws its inspiration from a peculiar event from the Civil Rights Era: a 1965 press conference at which Heavyweight Champion of the World Muhammad Ali introduced his “secret strategy man” – the former Hollywood comedic actor Stepin Fetchit, who has been best described by film critic Jim Emerson as "one of the most fascinating, infuriating, polarizing, pathetic and perplexing figures in movie history." Fetch Clay, Make Man takes place in the run-up to Ali's controversial 1965 rematch with Sonny Liston, but leaves that well-documented public event as background to the imagined drama taking place in Ali’s dressing room: from the shadow boxing of personalities between Ali and Fetchit, whom Ali has brought in to teach him heavyweight champion Jack Johnson’s “anchor punch,” to the struggle of Ali and his wife with their new life in the Nation of Islam.
This intriguing new play examines identity through the unlikely friendship between two Black icons who became inseparable from their public personas – Ali, “The People’s Champion,” was viewed as a racial hero for embracing black pride (and white antagonism); and Fetchit, “The Laziest Man in the World,” as a racial traitor for his “chitlin’ circuit” vaudeville and minstrel show character (that was so popular he was the first black actor to become a millionaire or receive a featured screen credit). Read the playbill >
Watch the official trailer | Watch the "First Look" video trailer
Why would the shining son of the Nation of Islam seek help from one of the most vilified figures of black American culture? In this knockout new play, San Francisco native Will Power investigates an unlikely friendship of the Civil Rights Era – young heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali (played with "charisma and seemingly indefatigable energy" by Eddie Ray Jackson, Fences) and disgraced actor Stepin Fetchit ("marvelously embodied... with wry humor" by Roscoe Orman, best known as Gordon on TV's Sesame Street).
Features Eddie Ray Jackson*, Roscoe Orman*, Jefferson A. Russell*, Robert Sicular* and Katherine Renee Turner. In a co-production with Round House Theatre, Maryland
Recommended for youth aged 13 and up.
LENGTH OF SHOW – Two hours and 15 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission
FOUR STARS "So fascinating and brought to life so entertainingly"
"The central figures are so fascinating and are brought to life so entertainingly that you just want to watch them spar... Eddie Ray Jackson nicely captures the cocky confidence and singsong cadence of the boxer [Muhammad Ali]'s speech, as well as his charisma and seemingly indefatigable energy... [Stepin] Fetchit is marvelously embodied by Roscoe Orman, best known as Gordon from 'Sesame Street'... Katherine Renee Turner is luminous as Ali's wife, Sonji Clay."
"Delivers a one-two punch of powerhouse entertainment... The acting is superb... The show goes to Baltimore shortly, so get tickets now or you will be down for the count."
"A knockout! Of such high artistic quality in every dimension [that it] reminds me of the best New York off-Broadway stages"
"'Fetch Clay, Make Man' is a knockout! ... Of such high artistic quality in every dimension [that it] reminds me of the best New York off-Broadway stages... MTC's excellent acting ensemble carries the day."
FOUR STARS "Riveting, engrossing"
"Riveting, engrossing... Eddie Ray Jackson inhabits the role [of Muhammad Ali] so well that you'll follow him anywhere Will Power's "Fetch Clay, Make Man" wants to take you... Call it effortless charisma. Call it grace. Jackson rhymes like Ali, shadow-boxes with the young champ's bewilderingly rapid footwork, and head bobs, sasses, boasts, plays around, turns serious and takes umbrage with the mercurial concentrated energy you expect in Ali at the time of his 1965 rematch with the forbidding former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. He floats. He knows he can sting. And, yes, he's pretty... Roscoe Orman's seemingly laid-back, almost shiftless, but watchful and crafty Stepin Fetchit carries a great deal of the drama. Orman makes us not only feel familiar with Fetchit but see him as an African American trailblazer... A bracing, self-assured Katherine Renee Turner refreshingly cuts through the predominant testosterone as Sonji, Ali's first wife... Jackson is the anchor, as his irresistible Ali holds things together. Orman sweetly, almost offhandedly provides bright demonstrations of Fetchit's comic persona."
"A sterling West Coast premiere... packs a considerable punch."
"A sterling West Coast premiere... the play packs, ahem, a considerable punch... [features] a luminous, layered performance by Eddie Ray Jackson as Muhammad Ali [and] Roscoe Orman, brilliant in the role of Stepin Fetchit."
"A sterling West Coast premiere... the play packs, ahem, a considerable punch... [features] a luminous, layered performance by Eddie Ray Jackson as Muhammad Ali [and] Roscoe Orman, brilliant in the role of Stepin Fetchit."
"Playwright Power uses the conversation of [Muhammad Ali and Stepin Fetchit] to effectively explore themes of identity and self-knowledge, power and weakness, ambition and despair, pride and prejudice. Power is a fine writer, and he presents two fascinating and articulate characters whose stories intrigue and engage us... Eddie Ray Jackson is truly charismatic as the great Ali... As Stepin Fetchit, Roscoe Orman does a dead-on perfect impersonation, especially when demonstrating the actor’s film persona. As Brother Rashid, the Black Muslim assigned to protect Ali, Jefferson A. Russell is particularly good. He beautifully captures the manner of a true believer, while still showing the complexities, doubts and rich inner life of a man who would give unhesitant loyalty to a cult. Katherine Renee Turner is lovely as Sonji Clay, and Robert Sicular is consistently interesting as movie mogul William Fox... 'Fetch Clay, Make Man' is an entertaining and thought provoking play that sticks with the viewer."