Center Stage: ‘Fences’ at the Florida Rep is one not-to-miss drama
Let me tell you right from the top, whatever you do, do not miss seeing Florida Repertory Theatre’s brilliant production of “Fences,” playing on the main stage of the Arcade Theater until Jan. 30. Call the Box Office at 239-332-4488 and get a ticket to one of the best productions going – August Wilson’s 1987, multiple Tony Award-winning, Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Fences.” The drama features an Equity A-list cast of Broadway and regional actors making their astounding Florida Rep debuts, plus one of America’s pre-eminent directors of Wilson’s dramas, Benny Sato Ambush, also making his propitious Florida Rep debut.
“Fences” is one of the best known of Wilson’s American Century Cycle plays, which received national attention thanks to Denzel Washington’s film version that garnered him a Golden Globe Award. But for those that want to see the heart-wrenching provocative drama that fueled the film, live and on stage with an incredible cast of powerhouse actors, look no further than our own regional theater – the Florida Rep in downtown Fort Myers.
It isn’t necessary to tell you the plot of “Fences” in detail; suffice it to say that Wilson’s storyline is a slice of life, depicted by an average, poor black family performing every day tasks, including coming and going to work and school, living from paycheck to paycheck, while trying to navigate family as well as family matters, along with dealing with friends. If I were to sum up the theme of “Fences,” it would be – the unrestricted dreams and ambitions of youth soon give way to the harsher, more realistic facts of adulthood. Nevertheless, there are laughs in “Fences” for life is never all joy or all sadness; however, Wilson has chosen a more classic Greek tragedy viewpoint in this play. One where the hero, in this case the father figure Troy, is the flawed prideful man undone by desire. Although “the play’s the thing,” and the writing is in the classical vein, in this production the acting of the A-list cast and the sensitive direction brings it straight home to the heart – and that’s what makes live theater so powerful. I feel I must acknowledge these wonderful actors in writing:
– Mujahid Abdul-Rashid in the leading role of Troy Maxson
– Gayle Samuels as Troy’s wife, Rose
– John Archie as Troy’s best friend and coworker, Jim Bono
– Marc Alexander Pierre as Cory, Troy’s youngest son
– Brian D. Coats as Gabriel, Troy’s younger brother and a brain-damaged World War II veteran
– Daniel Morgan Shelley as Lyons, Tory’s oldest son
– Jonieann Smith as Raynell, Troy’s very late-in-life youngest daughter
That is the all-star cast, but great credit must also go to the sensitive extraordinary direction by Ambush, who by his fine direction paid homage to the prodigious talent and sensitivity of one of the greatest American playwrights, Wilson, and his beautiful play “Fences.”
The run is brief for this powerful play, with the final performance on Jan. 30. So, for theater lovers and admirers of Wilson’s towering work, make it a point to see this play and this fine production by calling the Box Office now 239-332-4488. When you phone remind ’em Marsha sent you.