fetch clay, make man

Through September 7 - Fetch Clay, Make Man at the Marin Theatre Company.  I normally give anything having to do with boxing a very wide berth, so consider it high praise indeed that I'd recommend anyone make the journey to Marin to see this play (even though it closes tomorrow, alas).  Playwright Will Power imagines the birth of the surprising, true-to-life friendship between Muhammad Ali and actor Stepin Fetchit on the eve of Ali's huge rematch bout with Sonny Liston in 1965.  Ali is masterfully embodied by Eddie Ray Jackson, who I last saw in Christina Anderson's powerful PEN/MAN/SHIP over at Magic Theatre, and it's also a very special treat to see Fetchit played by Roscoe Orman, aka Sesame Street's Gordon.  Even though Fetchit was the first African American actor to receive a screen credit and make real money in Hollywood he remains a controversial figure to this day due to the racist stereotypes he portrayed in his films, but in Power's script Fetchit argues that he was trying to be subversive and find his way to better roles.  The scenes between the older, faded actor and the young boxer in his prime are mesmerizing, and even when the script tries to encompass perhaps a smidge too much history the actors keep the audience hooked.  It's a very strong start to the new season at MTC too.