Fishburne wins case in rather dry "Thurgood" (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - More effective as historylesson than theater, "Thurgood" is the sort of biographicalone-person show that once populated Broadway stages withregularity.

Marking the playwriting debut of George Stevens Jr. -- whodealt with the subject in ABC's 1991 miniseries "Separate butEqual," starring Sidney Poitier -- the drama serves as anexcellent vehicle for Laurence Fishburne, here delivering abravura performance.

Anyone who has seen any of the innumerable predecessors inthe genre knows what to expect. The star, wearing enough makeupto provide him with a reasonable physical resemblance toThurgood Marshall, stands front and center and delivers abiographical account. In this case, it takes the form of alecture delivered by the aging former Supreme Court justice tothe students of his alma mater, Howard University.

The play deals in straightforward fashion with the majorlegal cases in Marshall's career, starting with his involvementin a battle resulting in the University of Maryland law schoolbeing forced to admit a black applicant. (Marshall felt astrong personal connection to the issue because the school haddenied his own admission.)

The dramatic centerpiece of the evening, of course, is the1954 Brown vs. Board of Education case, which effectivelystruck down the prevailing doctrine of "separate but equal."Also dealt with at length is Marshall's work as legal counselof the NAACP and his appointment by Lyndon Johnson as the firstblack to serve on the Supreme Court.

The play begins promisingly, with Marshall describing hisearly struggles in colorful and moving fashion. But theplaywright subsequently concentrates on the various historicallegal cases to ultimately detrimental effect, with theproceedings taking on a somewhat dry, scholarly tone.

Marshall's personal aspects are largely downplayed, otherthan his fleeting jocular references to his inordinate fondnessfor booze and women.

Despite this, the evening is mainly engrossing thanks toFishburne's superb performance. Altering his customary deepvocal tones to a lighter, more easygoing drawl, the actor sinksdeep into the role and invests the material with a degree ofdepth, humor and emotion that is always compelling.

Bottom line: Laurence Fishburne delivers a superb turn asthe famed Supreme Court justice in this somewhat dry solobiodrama.

Venue: Playwright: George Stevens Jr. Director: LeonardFoglia; Set designer: Allen Moyer; Costume designer: JaneGreenwood; Lighting designer: Brian Nason; Projection designer:Elaine McCarthy; Sound designer: Ryan Rumery. Cast: LaurenceFishburne.