Review: FENCES at Florida Rep is Important and Impassioned

Florida Repertory Theatre's production of August Wilson's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play FENCES tells the story of Troy Maxson and the many intense conflicts between him and his family.

Mujahid Abdul-Rashid plays Troy Maxson and Gayle Samuels plays Rose Maxson, and they were both absolutely excellent at showing the complicated relationship between their characters. They exuded passion and anger at particular parts of the story, and you could really feel the tension in the theatre in those moments. Abdul-Rashid truly showcased Troy's bitter and tough personality, which was quite a contrast to Samuels's more emotional and headstrong Rose.

Marc Alexander Pierre plays Troy's youngest son, Cory, and it was rather heartbreaking to see Troy's refusal to let Cory pursue his athletic dreams. Pierre perfectly portrayed Cory's frustration with his father and his determination to do what he loves, and I thoroughly enjoyed his performance.

Though FENCES is a drama, I really liked the many humorous moments that occurred throughout the show, particularly several lines from Troy's best friend, Bono (John Archie), and his brother, Gabriel (Brian D. Coats). These moments often broke the tension of the scene, which I appreciated.

I encourage everyone to check out FENCES while it plays at Florida Rep. This diverse and special show is beautifully classic and holds an important lesson about life for everyone.

FENCES is playing in the Historic Arcade Theatre at Florida Rep now through January 30. Performances are Tuesday-Thursday at 7 PM, Friday-Saturday at 8 PM, with 2 PM matinees on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. To buy tickets, you can visit www.floridarep.org, call Florida Rep at 239-332-4488, or stop by the box office at 2268 Bay Street, Fort Myers, FL, 33901.

Photo Credits: Joe Dafeldecker/Olivia Pedigo