Book Review: Fences by August Wilson

Author	August Wilson
Title	Fences
Publisher	Continuum
Date of Publication	1987
Page Count	107
ISBN	978-0-826-49648-5
Series	The Pittsburgh Cycle / The Century Cycle (1950s)

Note: This is one of the first times I am attempting to review a play, so be patient with me while I try to figure out a way to make this work.

Fences is about race relations, troubles between the generations and infidelity (and a few other themes). In a conversation at the beginning of the play, we learn that Troy Maxson just stood up to his boss, complaining about the company's habit of having black men as garbage men while the white men are the drivers and as a result has to go to the union's office the next week. Still sitting on the poarch, Maxson's oldest son Lyons, a successless musician, comes up to ask his father for money knowing he will eventually get it - if through his step-mother, Rose. After Lyons has trudged off again, Rose reveals to Troy that their younger son Cory might have a chance to be recruited as a college football player.

Fences is probably August Wilson's most acclaimed play (granted, I haven't checked each and everyone yet, but I guess it is safe to assume so). The play earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Best Drama in 1987 and a total of seven Tony Awards as well as three Drama Desk Awards (an award that is complementary to the Tony Awards).

Reading it, you can see glimpses of why this is justified, although I think seeing it on stage would be so much better. After getting used to the language in this play, I raced through the 107 pages. It is amazing how much of the decade Wilson could put in this play.

Fences is part of Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle or Century Cycle, which consists of ten plays with each set in a different decade starting in the 1900s. Wilson's aim was to sketch the experience of African Americans in the 20th century. Nine of the plays are set in Pittsburgh's Hill District, which is a mainly African-American neighborhood.

If you are in or close to New York City, you might be interested in watching this play at the Cort Theater on Broadway. The current revival with Denzel Washington as Troy Maxson and Viola Davis as his wife Rose won three Tony Awards last weekend. When I was in NYC for BEA (I'm still working on my post) I tried to get a ticket, but sadly failed miserably!

For more information on August Wilson himself, check out this site dedicated to his life and work