Posted by Adam Immerwahr, Producing Associate at McCarter Theatre.
Audience Response: Fetch Clay, Make Man
Posted by Adam Immerwahr on January 15th, 2010 Ben Vereen and Evan Parke in Fetch Clay, Make Man. Photo by T. Charles Erickson. |
Have you seen Fetch Clay, Make Man?
What did you think? Did you think it was the bee’s knees? Do you agree with the newspaper reviews, or disagree? Favorite parts of the show? Things that weren’t to your taste?
Post an “audience response” or read what other people are saying by clicking on the “comments” link below.
We can’t wait to hear what you think!
5 Responses to “Audience Response: Fetch Clay, Make Man”
January 16th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Evan Parke is mesmerizing as Ali! Well-deserved standing ovation on Thurs. night.
January 17th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
I thought the concept and the performances were wonderful, but I also felt the play itself needs some more work. There are a few incidents of embarrassingly transparent exposition (e.g., Fox: ” When I was the oldest of six kids . . .” [I’m paraphrasing here.]).
Everything is there in the script: the two mirror relationships of Fetchit/Clay and Fox/Rashid, the ideas about slavery, image, and making concessions. They just didn’t seem fully fleshed out and polished yet.
The wife role was excellently played, but the part may be an expendable subplot.
I’d love to see the play again, when the themes have been perfectly polished by the playwright. It has everything necessary to be a truly great play.
By the way, I last saw Ben Vereen perform in 1974, in Pippin, on my very first date. I got his autograph after the show, and he was wearing a gray pin-striped, three-piece suit and a bright yellow shirt. I never forget that moment. Seeing him now as Stepin, I can say that he has lost none of his energy or his ability to mesmerize an audience. I loved his performance.
January 19th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
I loved the play and was rivited by the performances of Ben Vereen and Evan Park, who made me believe he really was Ali. The supporting cast was also excellent.
January 20th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Ben Vereen is an amazing actor who could bring life to any character and other characters that he works with on stage. I think this play was well put together especially the stage and its elements. The stage setting gave all the scenes real existence. After seeing this play, I left with a better understanding of Stepin Fetchit and his relationship with Muhammad Ali.
January 25th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
I thought this play was excellent. Even the stage itself was a sight to see. The actors played their roles amazingly and I was honored to have been able to learn about my history. I learned who Stepin Fetchit was and how people thought he degraded the image of black people when he was only trying to make ends meet, I also learned about he and Muhammad Ali were great friends when most people saw him as a traitor .
Then after the play I met the actors and there was a session where me and my peers were able to ask them questions and it gave me an even better understanding of the play. Overall i thought the play was a great and I enjoyed every bit of it!