subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Mon, Nov 09 2009 

Published: December 05, 2008 04:15 pm    print this story  

THEATER: 'Fences' plays at the Woodbox

By Phil Dzikiy

Linda Silvestri sees the parallels.

Silvestri is directing “Fences” at the Woodbox Theater this weekend. “Fences” is the sixth part of playwright August Wilson’s “Pittsburgh Cycle.” Wilson’s cycle features 10 plays — one for each decade in the last century. Nine of the 10 plays take place in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, a predominantly African-American neighborhood in the city that has gone from a cultural crossroads to a crumbling region.

The play’s setting is described as the “backyard of an urban home in a North American industrial city. If that seems familiar ...

“This might as well have been Niagara Falls,” Silvestri said. “Fences” may very well be Wilson’s most famous play. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1987 and James Earl Jones won the Tony Award for Best Actor. Jones played Troy Maxson, a former Negro Leagues baseball player who becomes the first black garbageman in Pittsburgh.

Silvestri describes Maxson as “terrible, but you can connect with him.”

In the Woodbox production, Maxson is played by Tab Booze, who feels simlarly about the character, calling him an “evil guy.” But Booze sees parallels, as well.

“I know Troy, without a doubt,” Booze said. “In a lot of ways, Troy is me. He says the things I wouldn’t say out loud.”

Booze sees Troy Maxson as a perfectionist and a dedicated father who doesn’t want to show his love.

“I love the part,” Booze said. “It takes a lot of energy to do this part.”

Booze was also part of the cast when the Woodbox did another Wilson play a few years ago, “Jitney.” Booze enjoyed “Jitney” and he spoke highly of Wilson’s “real” dialogue, but he’s feeling an even greater connection with “Fences.”

“I couldn’t see anything more powerful than this,” he said of the play. “It has some devastating factors. It’s well-rounded and it’s real ... it’s a tearjerker ... the cast has cried in rehearsals.”

Silvestri echoes Booze’s praises when it comes to Wilson’s knack for creating reality.

“He creates such realistic characters with real situations,” Silvestri said. “People can connect.”

And people can connect even more at a theater like the Woodbox, according to Silvestri. A small, intimate theater that only seats 72 people, the Woodbox creates a strong connection between the audience and the performers.

“There’s nothing locally that compares to it,” Silvestri said. “It’s like you’re right there with (the actors).”

Silvestri hopes an acclaimed play like “Fences” can be a starting point for more locals to check out theater in the area.

“I think people should take a chance,” she said. “I see Niagara Falls people going to Buffalo (theaters) and they don’t come here.”



IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Fences”

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Dec. 12, 13, 19, 20 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 21.

WHERE: Woodbox Theatre at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave. and Portage Road.

COST: General admission $10, seniors and students $8.

MORE INFORMATION: Call 297-5910.



August Wilson’s “Pittsburgh Cycle”

“Fences” is the sixth part of playwright August Wilson’s “Pittsburgh Cycle,” a 10-play cycle dramatizing the African-American experience through the decades of the 20th century. Nine of the 10 plays are based in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, while “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is set in Chicago.

Wilson finished the cycle in 2005 with “Radio Golf” before succumbing to cancer in the same year.

• “Gem of the Ocean” — 1900s

• “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” — 1910s

• “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” — 1920s

• “The Piano Lesson” — 1930s

• “Seven Guitars” — 1940s

• “Fences” — 1950s

• “Two Trains Running” — 1960s

• “Jitney” — 1970s

• “King Hedley II” — 1980s

• “Radio Golf” — 1990s

print this story  

Photos


"Fences" debuts at the Woodbox Theater on Friday. James Neiss/Staff Photographer/Niagara Gazette (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

Packers
Packers, General
Production & Assembly
1st, 2nd and 3rd shifts
Sanborn, Tonawanda
& Amherst.
Re
...>MORE

Nursing
NURSING. RN's. Up to $7500 Sign on Bonus. Thinking of a change? Consider Mount St. Mary's Hospital. Various positions av...>MORE

FLOOR ASSISTANT
Floor asst. needed for approx. 30-35 hrs/wk in a podiatry office, no exp. nec., will train, call between 12-2:30 pm for ...>MORE

Auditor/Accountant
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS
EXAM DATE: 1/9/10
FILING PERIOD:
11/9/09 -11/25/09
Applicants for both exams mu
...>MORE

Wait Staff
WAIT STAFF P/T 11am -2pm or 3:15-6:45pm. Will train. Apply Amberleigh Retirement, 2330 Maple near Transit. ...>MORE

Instructors
Join Our Team!
Would you like to work on a top performing team who is ranked 17th in the nation and have the opport
...>MORE

Driver
Drivers CDLA. Must be able to go to Canada
Good pay, great benefits.
Call 278-2000 Ext. 106
...>MORE

RN
RN, Director of Quality / Education: to plan, organize, develop and direct all staff development and CQI programs. North...>MORE

Physical Therapy
PHYSICAL THERAPY
ASSISTANT
The Visiting Nursing Association of WNY is   currently seeking a full or part time
...>MORE

Nurses

NURSES

RN - LPN

Join our progressive
health care team

FT-PT - Per Diem
...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

Chevy Astro 1999
CHEVY ASTRO   GOOD CONDITION  1999  with 113K miles.   Asking: $2200.00.  Call: 693 2471:...>MORE

Buick 2005 LeSabre
BUICK 2005 Lesabre Custom, excellent condition, fully loaded, $6700 or best offer, 754-4540...>MORE

Ford 1999 Ranger
FORD 1999 Ranger, 5 speed, 130K, fair condition, $2000 or best offer, 716-310-0531...>MORE

Mazda 1995 Millenia
Mazda 1995 Millenia loaded, leather, only 26k mi. exc. cond. $2995. Best Offer
531-3548 or 297-1526
...>MORE

Dodge 2001 Neon
Dodge 2001 Neon 4 dr, auto, a/c, new tires, c/d no rust, inspected, $3900. white 860-2854...>MORE

Chevy 2007 Impala LT
CHEVY 2007 Impala LT
25,800 mi, ext. warranty
Exc. Cond, $16,500
297-2199
...>MORE

VW 2001 Beetle
VW 2001 Beetle, loaded, GLX turbo, exc. cond, all service records, fun to drive, blue bk $5600, take best offer, 990-06...>MORE

Pontiac 1999 Montana
PONTIAC 1999 Montana 57,000 original miles, full options, like new, $3300, 694-0441...>MORE

Ford 1995 Crown Victoria
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria 4 dr, loaded, new tires must see & drive $3500. red. 860-2854...>MORE

Mercury 1999 Grand Marquis
Mercury ‘99 Grand Marquis 4 dr, leather, all options, 49k org mi., showroom cond. $6000. 860-2854, ...>MORE

See all ads





 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index