Final Statement

The play, Fences, is part of series of other plays called the Pittsburgh Cycle which were also written by August Wilson. Each play depicts and takes place during a decade within the 20th century in a neighborhood called Hill district (located in Pittsburgh). It turns out Wilson was a native to the Hill district which most likely means his depictions could be accurate. Research of the Hill district should be taken into account and will definitely influence the play and the characters within the play. Fences takes place during the decade of the 1950s. Many events took place during this time which will effect the world that the characters live in. During this time, civil rights movement took place and leaders like Martin Luther King started to speak out against the racial discrimination and second citizen treatment. African Americans felt the need to prove that they deserved to be part of this world as much as anyone else. During this decade, the major league baseball accepted African Americans into the league. Some came from the negro league team in Hill district. There were even black men like TROY, who sought out the dream and goal of becoming a professional baseball player only to have those dreams dashed to bits by racism. Fences shows the result and effects of racism and discrimination.

Making August Wilson’s Fences into a play requires many factors to take into account. One of them is the casting of the characters for this production. The script focus on the struggles of African Americans and how they cope with their struggles. Therefore, non traditional casting is unacceptable. Fences is a play about race and specifically about blacks and how their treatment out in the white American world affects them mentally, spiritually, emotionally and domestically. Casting non race specific would ruin the message the play is trying to send out. Casting characters with physical disabilities wouldn’t take away from the play. One question will the audience be able to see pass the physical disabilities and depending on the disability will the blocking be changed. What choices will the director make that will overcome the obstacles that an actor with a physical disability would experience. Another issue is casting actors for Troy, Gabriel and Rose. Are the actors required to have a singing background or will a voice coach be needed? Finally, will age be an issue when the director cast Raynell. Will the director use a child actress to portray Raynell or an older actress? Lorraine Hansberry Theatre Company's production of Fences address the issue of casting Raynell's character using an actual girl or an older woman portraying a girl. This theatre company decided to use seven year old, Sarah Jordan to play the part of Raynell. Another thing that could be linked to casting is August Wilson’s black director only policy. If the show is not directed by an African American, would the production lack something that only an African American director could bring to the production? Geva Theatre had to ask for special permission from August Wilson's widow for their white director, Mark Cuddy to direct the show. There is a possibility that the non-black director will have to ask for permission.

The script poses some problems that directors and designers have to collaborate together to solve. One of the problems is the over all layout of the set. There are scenes that take place on porch of the house, in the yard of the house and in the alley next the house. Since the house is the main focus of the play, how will the house be positioned on stage and how much space will the house take up? How will the set affect the blocking and will it be too cluttered? If the director wanted to remain consistent with the time period that the play takes place, the design of the house has to be accurate as well. The designers can’t just design any kind of house. Fences takes place in the Hill district which is predominantly African American and possible lower income homes. The house designs in northern united states contrast greatly with the houses of the southern united states. These are things to consider during the production of this play.