Post-Show Questions for Discussion and Activities

Note to Educators: Use the following assignments, questions, and activities to have students evaluate their experience of the performance of Fetch Clay, Make Man, as well as to encourage their own imaginative and artistic projects through further exploration of the play in production. Consider also that some of the pre-show activities might enhance your students’ experience following the performance.

  1. Fetch Clay, Make Man:  Performance Reflection and Discussion.  Following their attendance at the performance of Fetch Clay, Make Man, ask your students to reflect on the questions below.  You might choose to have them answer each individually or you may divide students into groups for round-table discussions. Have them consider each question, record their answers and then share their responses with the rest of the class.

    Questions to Ask Your Students About the Play in Production

    1. What was your overall reaction to Fetch Clay, Make Man?  Did you find the production compelling?  Stimulating?  Intriguing?  Challenging?  Memorable?  Confusing?  Evocative?  Unique?  Delightful?  Meaningful?  Explain your reactions.
    2. Did experiencing the play heighten your awareness or understanding of the play’s themes?  [e.g., public vs. private personae/identities; the roles people play; how a person can shape or reshape their own image or the role they play; how some can get trapped in an image or role; the “New Black Man” vs. the “Old Black Man”]  What themes were made even more apparent in production/performance? Explain your responses.
    3. Do you think that the pace and tempo of the production were effective and appropriate? Explain your opinion.

    Questions to Ask Your Students About the Characters

    1. Did you personally identify with any of the characters in Fetch Clay, Make Man?  Who?  Why?  If no, why not?
    2. What character did you find most interesting or engaging?  Why were you intrigued or attracted to this particular character?
    3. What qualities were revealed by the action and speech of the characters?  Explain your ideas.
    4. Did either character develop or undergo a transformation during the course of the play?  Who?  How?  Why?
    5. In what ways did the characters reveal the themes of the play?  Explain your responses.

    Questions to Ask Your Students About the Style and Design of the Production

    1. Was there a moment in Fetch Clay, Make Man that was so compelling or intriguing that it remains with you in your mind’s eye?  Write a vivid description of that moment.  As you write your description, pretend that you are writing about the moment for someone who was unable to experience the performance.
    2. Did the style and design elements of the production enhance the performance?  Did anything specifically stand out to you?  Explain your reactions.
    3. How did the production style and design reflect the themes of the play?
    4. What mood or atmosphere did the lighting design establish or achieve?  Explain your experience.
    5. How did the music and sound design enhance your overall experience?
    6. Did the design of the costumes and/or makeup serve to illuminate the characters, themes, and style of the play?  How?


  2. Role Play, Make (Wo)Man.  A major theme in Fetch Clay, Make Man is the playing of roles—the roles people choose to play, the roles people are forced to play. and the roles people choose not to play.  Ask your students to consider all of the major characters in the play (i.e., Muhammad Ali, Stepin Fetchit, Sonji Clay, Brother Rashid, and William Fox) in relationship to the following questions:
    • What is the role s/he plays? (What is the role s/he is expected to play?)
    • Is s/he a willing player of the role?
    • Why does s/he play that role?  (What is his or her reason for playing that role? What is the goal or goals that playing the role gets him or her?)
    • What are his or her strategies?  (How does s/he play the role? What does it take?)
    • What compromises must s/he make in the playing of the role?
    • Does s/he stay in the role?  Why or why not?

Then have your students consider themselves and the roles they play in life, if any.  Ask them to consider themselves in relation to the above questions.

  1. Fetch Clay, Write Poem.  In addition to being “The Greatest” boxer who has ever lived, Muhammad Ali is most likely the greatest boxer who has every written a poem.  Outside of the ring, Ali wrote and recited witty and humorous poems that both touted his prowess (and “prettiness”!) and predicted the outcomes of his fights.  Perhaps his best know poem is “I am the Greatest” from 1963,  which can be experienced in Ali’s very own voice in this video clip

For playwright Will Power, well known for his hip-hop theater roots and powerful use of language, writing Fetch Clay, Make Man allowed him to try his own hand (and ear) at constructing poems  à la Ali.  Power refers to Ali’s poems as “poems of empowerment,” which exhibit the power and energy of Ali’s words and person, as well as his wonderful sense of humor. 

  • The following is one of Power’s compositions in the Ali style.  Have a student read this poem aloud to the class.

    Back up
    Back up sucker
    You can’t defeat me
    ‘Cause I’m fast
    And strong
    And pretty as a girl
    I can’t possibly be beat

    You don’t believe me?

    Well just today, I wrassled with a elephant
    And tussled with a shark
    In case there’s ever a flood
    I put two of me on Noah’s Arc
    And I can go without water
    Like a camel on the sand
    I went to the jungle in Africa

    And beat the crap outta Tarzan

    But I couldn’t do nothin’ for Jane
    Cause that ain’t my thang
    My lungs are so large
    I blew out a hurricane

    I’m the baddest black man
    In the whole entire world…

    Hey back up
    Back up sucker!
    All yall, now get off me
    ‘Cause I’m strong
    And I’m fast
    And never, will I see defeat
    So back up
    You better back up sucker
    All the way back where I can see
    And once I get that Anchor Punch
    No one will defeat me.
  • Have your students search online to find other Ali poems to share with their classmates.
  • Then, ask them to write their own poem of empowerment about themselves in the Ali style.  As with many of Ali’s poems, they might like to focus on a challenge in front of them (e.g., an up and coming sporting event against a rival, a major term paper or exam, a play performance or band/orchestra concert) and predict the favorable outcome that will bring them success and glory.  Encourage each student to channel his or her “Inner Ali!”
  • Student poems of empowerment should be read aloud with vigor for the appreciation, intimidation, and enjoyment of the entire class.
  • Students should be encouraged to post their poems on the McCarter Blog (see below).
  1. Fetch Clay, WriteReview.Have your students take on the role of theater critic by writing a review of McCarter Theatre’s production of Fetch Clay, Make Man.  A theater critic or reviewer is essentially a “professional audience member,” whose job is to provide reportage of a play’s production and performance through active and descriptive language for a target audience of readers (e.g., their peers, their community or those interested in the arts).  Critics/reviewers analyze the theatrical event to provide a clearer understanding of the artistic ambitions and intentions of a play and its production; reviewers often ask themselves, “What is the playwright and this production attempting to do?”  Finally, the critic offers personal judgment as to whether the artistic intentions of a production were achieved, effective and worthwhile.  Things to consider before writing:
  • Theater critics/reviewers should always back up their opinions with reasons, evidence and details.
  • The elements of production that can be discussed in a theatrical review are the play text or script (and its themes, plot, characters, etc.), scenic elements, costumes, lighting, sound, music, acting and direction (i.e., how all of these elements are put together).  [See Theater Reviewer’s Checklist.]
  • Educators may want to provide their students with sample theater reviews from a variety of newspapers.
  • Encourage your students to submit their reviews to the school newspaper for publication.
  • Students may also post their reviews on McCarter’s web site by visiting McCarter Blog.  Select “Citizen
  • Responses” under “Categories” on the left side of the web page, and scroll down to the Fetch Clay, Make Man entry to post any reviews. 
  1. Blog All about it!:  Fetch Clay, Make Man.  McCarter is very interested in carrying on the conversation about Fetch Clay, Make Man with you and your students after you’ve left the theater.  If you are interested in having them personally reflect upon their experience of the play in performance, but are not interested in the more formal assignment of review writing, have them instead post a post-show comment on the McCarter Theatre Blog.  To access the blog, click on this link McCarter Blog , then select “Citizen Responses” under “Categories” on the left side of the web page, and scroll down to the Fetch Clay, Make Man entry to find a place to post an inquiry or comment.  [For structured responses, consider the following prompt:  What expectations did you bring with you to Fetch Clay, Make Man and were your expectations met, not met, or exceeded by the performance?]  See you on the blog!