Two sides of the fence

By Casey Gillis

Published: October 29, 2008

Tony Camm and Deborah Wilder are embroiled in an intense face-off during an evening rehearsal of August Wilson’s “Fences.”

The local actors play Troy and Rose Maxson in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which Black Theatre Ensemble will present at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

In this particular scene, Troy has just told Rose he’s been having an affair and that his mistress is pregnant.

“After 18 years of standing on first base, I wanted to steal second,” Troy, a former baseball player, says in an attempt to explain his infidelity.

The comment elicits a slap from his long-suffering wife, and the two continue to fight until they are interrupted by their son, Cory (Altavista native Joey Chatten).

“I see this play as the first part belonging to Troy and the second part belonging to Rose,” says director Jennifer Petticolas. “There are a lot of critics who feel that August Wilson’s plays are centered around men. But I think if you listen to Rose’s … words, you’ll find she was a strong woman. She was the glue that holds her family together.”

Camm says the character of Troy has often been compared to Willy Lohman in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman,” and Petticolas says the character also resembles a tragic Shakespearean character.
“I think people will love and hate Troy,” she says.

The character has been inspiring those conflicting emotions since “Fences” premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 1985. It made the move to Broadway in 1987, with James Earl Jones playing Troy. In addition to the Pulitzer, it’s won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award and the John Gassner Outer Critics’ Circle Award.

“It was a turning point for theater, especially black theater,” Petticolas says.

When the play begins, it’s 1957, and Troy, a former star in the Negro baseball league, is working as a garbage man.

Like his father, Cory is a talented athlete who wants to pursue a career in professional sports. But Troy, still bitter about his exclusion from major league baseball during his prime, won’t let him.

“Troy thinks he’s protecting his son. He’s saying the white man prevented him from playing baseball, and he thinks the white man will prevent (Cory) from being successful,” Petticolas says. “In essence, he’s doing his son more harm.”

That’s just one of the barriers Troy puts between himself and loved ones.

He pushes away his wife, his son and his best friend, Bono, who takes on the role of Troy’s conscience.

“It touches on pretty much everything (aspect of) human nature that we deal with,” says Camm.

“I think it’s going to be very relatable.”

If you’re going
—WHAT: Black Theatre Ensemble’s ‘Fences’
—WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday
—WHERE: Academy of Fine Arts’ Warehouse Theatre
—TICKETS: $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased through the Academy Box Office or online at http://www.AcademyFineArts.com.
—INFO: (434) 846-TIXX