Sobering is what one might call August Wilson’s “Fences” as directed by Delicia Turner-Sonnenberg now showing at The Old Globe Theatre through May 3rd. Many years ago, Ms. Turner Sonnenberg directed this very same show when it was co-produced at Cygnet Theatre. Why not get the best for the best? And so here we are with another top notch production which says mountains about her.
August Wilson’s “Fences”, is he sixth in his Pittsburg Cycle or his Century Cycle. The first nine of the ten are set in Pittsburg depicting the Black experience. This reviewer has seen the entire cycle over the years, but for some reason, “Fences” has held the longest memory and taught the most defining lessons.
 |
| Dorian Missick and Rondell McCormick |
Troy Maxson (Dorian Missick) is a bigger than life character who not only dominates the stage as the head of his family in this powerful production, but as an actor who knows his subject matter and excels at it. His deliverance is impeccable as is his persona as Troy Maxson. As his wife Rose (De'Adre Aziza) remarks, “When he walks through that door, he fills up the house. He sucks the air out of the room”. That about sums up his extraordinary presence.
The son of an abusive sharecropper, Troy Maxson now lives in Pittsburgh with his wife Rose and their teen son Cory (Omari K. Chancellor). He works as a sanitation worker and ruminates on all the things he never got to do because… of his unsuccessful baseball career, which he simply cannot get over.
 |
| Rondell McCormick, De'Adre Aziza and Dorian Missick |
A former Negro League baseball star, he never quite benefited from the likes of Jackie Robinson, (he was too old), with whom he compares himself. It is in this context, that almost every reference Troy makes about himself and his life are in baseball terms most of which are metaphors describing his philosophy and his outlook on life: the fastball/death metaphor in a reference to different forms of death or his reference to death as an easy pitch; perfect for hitting a homerun; or his three strike punishment of his son Cory when he defies his father, and finally death ain’t nothing but a fastball on the outside corner.
Troy Maxson isn’t any man, no, he’s everyman who thinks he knows what’s best for himself and his family. And therein lies the rub; Troy thinks he knows it all, but in doing so he drowns out everyone else’s dreams as he does to his son Cory who is good enough to be drafted as a football player with a scholarship, but he refuses to sign the draft papers. Instead he wants him to get a job at the local A&P market wedging a bigger gap between father and son who have a tenuous relationship as it is.
 |
| (l to r) Donathan Walters, De'Adre Aziza, Rondell McCormick(in background) Oman K. Chandler and Dorian Missick |
His other son Lyons (Mister Fitzgerald), from another marriage and is a no worries musician who comes around every payday for a handout. Troy is not having it. He needs his son to find a paying job and stop asking for money. No one ever gave him anything.
Two things are constant in his life; his friend Bono (Rondrell McCormick) and Troy’s brother Gabe (Donathan Walters). Bono works with Troy and acts as a confidant, someone Troy can share a drink with every payday, and knows pretty much everything the good, the bad and the ugly, about him.
Troy’s brother is a wounded WWII vet with a steel plate in his head from combat in Vietnam and is psychologically damaged and half crazed thinking himself the archangel Gabriel. Turned out by the Veterans Administration, with a three thousand dollar pittance which Troy used to build his house, Gabe is as happy go lucky as Troy is as serious as the day is long.
 |
| De'Adre Aziza and Dorian Missick |
The more the layers of Troy’s personality are revealed, the more vulnerable, human and tragic a figure he becomes. His relationship with his wife and family, by second act begin to crumble. Even his friendship with Bono deteriorates when he admits he can’t stop seeing a local woman who “makes him laugh” amidst the protests by his best friend that he has a wonderful wife in Rose.
De’Adres portrayal of Rose, the cement that holds the family together, is nothing short of perfection as she shows us an emotional range from passionate mother, trying to protect her son as he grows to manhood and ready to conquer his own demons, and of caring wife. Her ‘coming of age’ speech if you will upon hearing of Troy’s infidelity, is heartbreaking as she unleashes all her pent up frustrations about her own struggles and wants, suppressed by the desire to be the perfect wife, while she directs her anger at the husband she loves but who betrayed her. (“You not the only one who's got wants and needs. But I held on to you, Troy. I took all my feelings, my wants and needs, my dreams... and I buried them inside you....Cause you was my husband.”)
 |
| Dorian Missick and De'Adre Aziza |
Beautifully set on the Globe’s large proscenium Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage is the back part of Troy’s two story house, a large front porch and open screen door with kitchen windows lit. Two steps off the porch is the playing field . On the other side of the house is an old, rather dead looking tree with a baseball tethered to it and off to the side a baseball bat. Partially surrounding the yard is a half finished fence Troy has promised Rose he would finish. (credit Lawrence E. Moten III) There are no secrets in this little ghetto but there are fences to either keep the family in or changes out.
Sherrice Mojgani lighting design signals night fall with orange coloring and Leon Rothenberg’s sound design brings laughter and grief when needed and Yvonne L. Miranda designed the period looking clothes. (Justus Alexander and Ariele Maye Rivers alternate the role of Raynell.)
As mentioned earlier, “Fences” is a sobering experience that, at play’s end leaves you with tears of joy and sadness.
See it!
Enjoy.
See you at the theatre.
When: Runs through May 3. 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays
Where: Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego
Photo: Rich Soublet II
Tickets: $40 and up
Phone: 619-234-5623
Online: theoldglobe.org
