MPAACT’s latest world premiere, The Master Comic, dives headfirst into controversial waters by following the downfall of a fictional world-famous comedian. Mr. Wolfe, a thinly veiled portrayal of Bill Cosby (played by a boisterous and ribald cigar-munching, sweater-vest-wearing Donn Carl Harper) had everything: an enviable career, an adoring wife, dear friends, and a talented protege. When a viral video surfaces casting a harsh light onto his sexual exploits—consensual and otherwise—the audience is privy to watching his downfall from the inside.
Most interesting in Runako Jahi’s staging is the subplot involving Wolfe’s protege David, played by a charming Benjamin T. Jenkins. His unrequited desire to receive the blessing of his past-his-prime, morally flawed idol mirrors an anecdote heartbreakingly expressed by Eddie Murphy regarding his recollections of Cosby on a recent episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. What do elders and others who hold power owe the younger generation? For the young and the powerless, is there a line between seeking mentorship and expecting a handout? The Master Comic revisits the poisonous legacy of Cosby’s “Pull up your sagging pants” respectability politics, and shows how turning a blind eye toward his blatant abuse still haunts the Black community. Despite its flaws, MMPACT’s production is thoroughly compelling, excavating the grimy bits of life that we shouldn’t look away from. v
Through 11/17: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336, mpaact.org, $32-$37, $25-$30 students and seniors.
