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Character Actor

Tracy Morgan plays a different role

A A A Comments By Jennifer Elaine Davis Thursday, Dec 11 2008

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Tracy Morgan is a complex character, a comedian who seems to exist somewhat seamlessly with his alter ego, 30 Rock's Tracy Jordan. Morgan's portrayal of Tracy Jordan on the critically acclaimed sitcom is a performance so natural that it hardly receives any notice at all. While Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin have each racked up a slew of acting awards for their performances, Morgan's nuanced turn as the carefree but troubled comedy star is largely overlooked, likely because viewers assume that Tracy Morgan is Tracy Jordan. It's an easy mistake to make—Morgan's off-camera antics, including arrests for driving under the influence and a court-mandated alcohol-detection bracelet, have been fodder for punch lines in the show. But Morgan is decidedly not the benign clown he plays on 30 Rock. Audiences seem to forget that, resulting in a number of shows in the past few years where audience members walked out upon realizing that Morgan's navy blue jokes are not sitcom-friendly—at all. Instead, Morgan veers from topic to topic, throwing down hilarious (if vulgar) riffs about masturbation, strippers, cokeheads...the stuff you'd expect from a 25-year veteran of the comedy circuit, if not from the zany but lovable guy who occupies the 8:30 p.m. timeslot on a major network. Appreciate the comedy stylings of Tracy Morgan as he performs at the Majestic Theater, 1925 Elm St., at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $34.50. Visit liveatthemajestic.com for more information.
Sat., Dec. 13, 8 p.m., 2008