The Conscientious Objector 

Written by Michael Murphy

Directed by Carl Forsman

Clurman Theater at Theatre Row

410 West 42nd Street

212-279-4200

 

Review By Nick Breault

 

History is the name of the game in Michael Murphy’s The Conscientious Objector, a dramatic retelling of Martin Luther King Jr. and his break from President Lyndon B. Johnson during the escalation of the Vietnam War.

 

The show opens in 1967, during the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. King, played by DB Woodside, is already a major figure, having the ability to pick up the phone and dial up President Johnson (John Cullum), his greatest civil-rights ally, whenever he wants. A rift begins to form between the two, however, as tensions regarding Vietnam are strung tight and King openly opposes the president in public, defying his wishes. He does so with the support of the Reverend James Bevel (Jimonn Cole) and the disdain of the president’s supporters. Objector follows the final few years of King’s life, from his anti-war speech in Riverside Church to his death in Memphis.

 

Conscientious Effort: DB Woodside as MLK in The Conscientious Objector.

 

While masterful acting is prominent throughout the production, The Conscientious Objector drags on far too long, eventually stripping the crowd of its energy. In his New York theater debut, DB Woodside gives a powerful performance as Martin Luther King Jr. He utilizes grace and strength in well-proportioned amounts while conveying the emotions of one of the greatest orators in American history. John Cullum matches Woodside’s pace with an equally chilling and aging President Johnson. The two engage each other multiple times, both over the phone and in the Oval Office, marking the high points of the show. Woodside and Cullum suck the audience into the anxiety and chaos that persisted throughout the late 1960s on account of the war and the Civil Rights Movement. As Reverend Bevel, Jimonn Cole creates well-timed comic relief, getting raucous responses from a typically dormant crowd.

 

As a historical narrative, The Conscientious Objector shines with superb craftsmanship by its leading stars. The set is intentionally bland, forcing the audience to focus on the words and the history behind the production. If you can stomach the rather lengthy dialogue and lack of action, then you should have no objections to The Conscientious Objector.