Turn Me Loose

“Gretchen Law’s play isn’t a traditional biopic, focusing instead on Gregory’s stand-up and activism, and how the two melded. Morton is utterly charismatic, working the mike like a man on a mission — which Gregory was, after all...Among the show’s highlights is the comedian/agitator’s first appearance at Chicago’s Playboy Club in 1961, when he was heckled by visiting Southerners. It’s equally funny and chilling, and time doesn’t make the exchange go down any easier." Full Review

“The show feels as raw, vital and funny as any stand-up set you’re likely to find in New York today. Some jokes feel so topical it’s hard to believe they date from decades ago...When Mr. Morton’s Gregory takes the stage, it’s as if a wrecking ball suddenly shattered the back of the theater. He’s sharp, pointed, tearing into material about racism with a fearless bite that still takes your breath away — or would, if you weren’t already wheezing from laughter.” Full Review

“Morton gives a committed (and sweaty) performance as Gregory, convincingly embodying the stand-up in various stages of his life. This is despite a somewhat messy script...It feels like a promising first draft...Morton makes these overwrought and underexplained moments work. He's a master monologist...Admirably, ‘Turn Me Loose’ is not a whitewash. Nor is it as impactful as it could be. The end result is a fuzzy portrait of a complicated figure.” Full Review

“Morton seamlessly segues from an energetic youth who uses gags to combat hate to an elderly sage who demands attention when speaking out on the issues of the day. As convincing as Morton is playing the character of Dick Gregory, he's just as convincing as a stand-up comic, playing routines to the theatre audience with a sharp ear for their reactions and a jaunty aggressive confidence.” Full Review

“It's certainly a tour-de-force vehicle for its star...Morton doesn't deliver an exact impression but certainly channels his subject's biting delivery and sharp comic timing...The play, which touches on the many phases of Gregory's career, may be slightly too esoteric for non-fans. But even those not particularly interested in Dick Gregory would be foolish to pass up the opportunity to witness the remarkable performance by the play's star whose energy doesn't lag for a single moment.” Full Review

"Even if you know the routines of Dick Gregory by heart, 'Turn Me Loose' still has the power to surprise, shock and galvanize. That's in part due to his insightful and uncomfortably hilarious views on our country's race and class problems...His scathingly accurate analysis wouldn't land with such force without Joe Morton's revelatory performance...Law distills his 83 years into 90 potent minutes...This slyly entertaining evening is a call to action, too." Full Review

"Morton has long been a fine utility man in all media...Here he delivers the tour-de-force that Law's script calls for, capturing Gregory at many stages of his life...It may very well be the capstone of his career to date. Under the direction of John Gould Rubin, the action is fast and funny when it needs to be and commanding--and disturbing--when the words call for it...At least as presented here, Gregory may be in his mid-80s but his ideas are as fresh as today's newsfeed." Full Review

“One leaves this 90-minute play by Gretchen Law thinking of it as a stand-up comedy routine more than a biographical drama...'Turn Me Loose' is an entertainment, and so his serious views—some of them still controversial, many now more or less mainstream consensus–are presented here fleetingly, with little context and without challenge, largely as free-floating rants...Morton handles the rants the way he handles the humor and the few moving moments—which is to say, persuasively.” Full Review

"'Turn Me Loose' is not so bad as a biography. Gretchen Law has constructed a well-thought-out path and Joe Morton, under the direction of John Gould Rubin, trusts the material and the story…Morton’s performance is fluid...However, he fluctuates wildly in his physical representation of Mr. Gregory. Rarely is he able to drop his silken baritone to achieve Gregory’s higher pitched and scratchy voice…This show still leaves the audience inspired and shattered – which is the intent." Full Review

"Morton has always been a first-class actor. In ‘Turn Me Loose,’ a two-man (but practically solo), 90-minute piece...he achieves greatness, revealing everything from perfect comic timing to quiet determination to raging anger, demonstrating total absorption and conviction in every word and gesture...This stuff not only isn’t dated, it’s as funny as ever, perhaps funnier, while remaining painfully true to the social evils that inspired it." Full Review

“The beauty of this incendiary piece, directed with punch by John Gould Rubin, is that the manner in which Law has transferred Gregory’s life to the stage has him transition from one of the first black stand-up comics gaining national attention in the 1960s to an activist who stopped telling jokes because he increasingly came to believe there was less and less amusing about the condition of African-Americans in contemporary United States society.” Full Review

"Since his 'Brother from Another Planet' days Joe Morton’s been giving memorable performances. But his current star turn is out of this world. He plays Dick Gregory, a pioneering black stand-up comic and activist who wove jokes about racism and bigotry into his act 50 years ago...Gretchen Law’s fine play toggles between the 1960s and today...There are a few awkward spots, mostly when Gregory addresses himself. But that doesn’t lessen this vivid portrait." Full Review

"In one of the most astonishing performances of this or any season, Joe Morton plays the enduring comedian, activist, gadfly and author with a warmth and precision that has nothing to do with versimilitude and everything to do with passion, knowledge and chops…The intimate play is expertly staged by John Gould Rubin…Morton plays — no, inhabits — the life force that is Dick Gregory with passion, authority and astonishing power...It’s an unforgettable portrayal of an unforgettable man." Full Review

"Joe Morton is spectacular…It is one of those memorably electrifying performances to be treasured...Ms. Law skillfully weaves all of the biographical details with artful concision into dramatically revelatory sequences. One can know nothing about Dick Gregory and still be entertained as Law’s execution is so informatively accomplished…'Turn Me Loose' is a riveting showcase for Joe Morton’s dynamism and for dramatizing the cultural significance of Dick Gregory." Full Review

"Morton is giving one of the most riveting performances in town as comedian/activist Dick Gregory...John Gould Rubin’s direction is smooth. Morton’s performance is simply too good to miss. Despite being selected by the 'Times' as a critic’s pick, there were empty seats. The diverse audience made up in enthusiasm what it lacked in numbers." Full Review

"Alternately hilarious and moving...The audience is kept at rapt attention for the entire 90 minutes of Morton’s tour-de-force performance…There are standard jokes too, about aging, sex, and Michael Jackson, and Morton nails them as if he had done stand-up comedy all his life…As this extraordinary life unfolds, we listen in awe, disbelief, silent approval, occasionally disapproval, and never doubt his sincerity about trying to make the world a better place." Full Review

"Joe Morton is a splendid actor, proven once again with his spot-on portrait of the noted comedian and activist Dick Gregory…It is a smooth-as-silk performance--moving, hilarious and politically razor-sharp…The evening is both entertaining and meaningful, with laughs galore that reveal so much about our society then and now." Full Review

“What's noteworthy is the actorly technique with which he shifts from early adulthood to middle and advanced age and back again in full view of his spectators, without benefit of wigs or altered make-up. Morton embodies this monumental role with utmost believability...Law's script has no fat: what's there is essential to Gregory's story, and Morton makes a feast of every scene….Directed by John Gould Rubin, ‘Turn Me Loose’ is impeccably paced.” Full Review

"This deserves the widest audience possible! It’s both one of the most important and funniest shows I’ve seen in quite some time…One of the greatest talkers of his time, Gregory provides playwright Gretchen Law with abundant material…She has successfully distilled it all down to only the funniest, pithiest and most visionary bits…This is truly essential viewing, and as such gets my highest recommendation." Full Review

"This show, which relies on a lot of Gregory’s material, has the ability to still make 'white Northern liberals' squirm a bit. There are two reasons for this. The first is the power of Mr. Gregory’s work which has stood the test of time. The second is Joe Morton’s brilliant performance…Mr. Morton doesn’t impersonate the man, but rather, he performs the character with such attention to detail that a good impersonation would pale by comparison…It’s a must-see." Full Review

"Morton gives a tour de force performance…His voice has a deep timbre, and he has amazing reserve and control over both his voice and physicality...The raw immediacy of Morton’s performance, coupled with the power of Gregory’s message, incites some members of the audience to murmur 'Mmm-hmmm' and 'Yeah,' as if they are receiving a message from the pulpit rather than the stage." Full Review

"Morton’s challenge to play such an intense character was steep, not only for its intensity, but also for the great intelligence of the character and script. Certainly, many of the best lines were taken directly from speeches and club acts by Mr. Gregory himself. But Joe Morton’s ability to step into the role is spectacular. Morton’s performance is the epitome of what we love to watch when we watch great acting." Full Review

"'Turn Me Loose' is about the legendary comic Dick Gregory who is brilliantly played by Joe Morton...You will shed a tear as the cruelty and injustice of segregation is shown and then your tears will be from the laughter of the genius of Gregory’s humor...It’s amazing what can be accomplished with a simple set and one main character...I laughed so hard I cried." Full Review