TURN ME LOOSE-Dick Gregory An Amer Civil Rights Activist and Comic Genius

This potent, fast talking biopic play at the Westside theater starts in the 60's following Dick Gregory (DG) rise to celebrity as a comic genius using racially charged material.  The intimate nightclub setting uses DG's hilarious & courageous truths to confront bigotry.  The clever staging & provocative dialogue showcase DG's prominent role as an Amer civil rights activist & social critic.  He has continuously written & spoken out against social injustices.  He's honed his cutting humor & commentary to battle racism, poverty, inequality, oppression and war.  Joe Morton gives a tour de force performance as the loquacious DG; comic, sage, preacher, warrior & relentless advocate for the oppressed.  Morton seamlessly portrays a young DG doing stand-up in the early 60's & DG most recently as an elder spokesperon addressing audiences on social obligations.  Gregory ask the crowd "How much service did you give to your fellow human being to save the least among us?"  Gregory was raised in segregation, poverty, fear of the KKK & with southern voting restrictions.  Woven into his DG's comedic routines we learn a great deal about his life.  He was kicked in the mouth while shining a white woman's shoe.  He begged the coach to be part of his high school's track team.  Getting a spot on the team did not get him a place with his white teammates in locker rooms or public places.  It did earn him a college scholarship.  In an early auto-bio, DG talks about the runners' stitch; a tightening across the rib cage causing discomfort and difficulty breathing.  From start to finish Gregory's scorching assessments  takes hold like this stitch.  Gregory, a comic genius & civil rights activists bellows at our social conscience.  This is a brilliant theatrical production of historic signfigance which tragically, still maintains systemic, social relevance today.  "The disgrace is having a problem and a country that refuses to solve it." (DG) "Turn me loose," the last words uttered by slain civil rights leader & Gregory's close ally, Medgar Evers.