FENCES Reviews- Page 2

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/26/10 at 8:32pm

Yeah, most clips don't.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/26/10 at 10:23pm

Talkin' Broadway is Very Positive:

"Size comes in, well, lots of different sizes. If Denzel Washington, the attracting star — but far from the only attraction — of the gorgeous revival of August Wilson’s Fences that just opened at the Cort, doesn’t match in stature or voice the prominence of the role’s creator, James Earl Jones, nor does he shrink into his equally imposing character. Troy Maxson, a former baseball player aged out of the Negro Leagues just as the majors were integrated and now facing his third strike in life, is himself so big that he doesn’t need a mountain of force behind him: Washington’s precisely pinpointed pressure is more than enough.

Washington’s Troy is not a man who’s outgrown, physically or figuratively, his youthful promise as the Jackie Robinson that Jackie Robinson should have been. Washington’s glimmering eyes and forward-thinking magnetism paint this Troy as one who’s never abandoned those hopes on any level. He doesn’t believe deep down that he could still fulfill those aspirations — it’s all right at the surface. So when he hits a bundle of rags tied to a tree as if it were a ball, confronts his eldest son about his predatory borrowing or his younger son about the unlikeliness of his own football career coming true, or admitting to his wife an indiscretion that could tear apart their 18-year marriage, it’s not selfishness but confidence that’s his guiding light..."

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/Fences2010.html

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/26/10 at 10:26pm

The AP is Positive:

"Family, particularly fathers and sons. Can there be a more inexhaustible topic for great playwrights?

From Shakespeare (think all those 'Henry' history plays) to Arthur Miller (consider 'All My Sons' and 'Death of a Salesman'), the subject has been potent dramatic fodder. And in 'Fences,' August Wilson made his own unmistakable, powerful contribution to the genre in what is perhaps his most personal play.

First seen in New York in 1987 with James Earl Jones, 'Fences' has now returned with an equally starry actor, Denzel Washington in the lead. Washington, last on Broadway in 2005 in a production of 'Julius Caesar,' acquits himself well in this blistering revival, directed with a sure, steady hand by Wilson veteran Kenny Leon. It's a big, bold performance in a big, bold play, rife with emotion-drenched soliloquies for its star about life, love, death and the devil.

The production opened Monday at Broadway's Cort Theatre for a limited engagement through July 11..."

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wirestory?id=10482207&page=1

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/26/10 at 10:29pm

CurtainUp Is A Rave:

"August Wilson's Fences, the 1950s entry in his 10-play cycle of the African-American experience, is one of his most accessible and universal dramas. Its 1987 Pulitzer Prizes for drama was (like the second for The Piano Lesson) a richly deserved recognition of contemporary American drama at its most vibrant, enduring and theatrically powerful.

In Troy Maxson, Wilson also created a central character long remembered by theater goers and coveted by actors: an anti-hero who's tragically wrong headed, a loving husband but also an egregious betrayer, a caring father but unable to be a loving one. . .a man who typifies the tendency to repeat the patterns —especially past sins— that shaped us. The role earned James Earl Jones the 1987 Tony Award. Now that the play has returned to Broadway with Denzel Washington headlining the cast, it's a sure bet that this character whose story has often and understandably been likened to Arthur Miller's Willy Loman, will once again be in the running for a Best Actor Tony—not to mention a fistful of other awards.

Washington's name on the marque is no doubt the magnet that turned this beautifully staged limited run revival into a box office hit even before its official opening. But this is more than movie star casting. Denzel's Troy is the genuine article. He taps into this character's very human contradictions — the humor, the charismatic charm, the honorable intentions and righteousness. . . and the complex emotions that turn love, devotion and honor into unforgivable betrayal.

But when it comes to awards time, Viola Davis, who made her Broadway debut in Wilson's Seven Guitars got a Tony for her role in King Hedley IIas Troy's wife Rose is every bit a sure fire a contender. As Troy's wife Rose she is glowing presence. Her monologue upon learning of Troy's involvement with another woman is an operatic cry of anguish..."

http://www.curtainup.com/fencesny10.html

[bway boy]

Posted: 4/26/10 at 10:38pm

NYTIMES is a Rave
Triumphant reviews for Washington and Davis. Brantley says Davis has a great shot at picking up another tony!!!!
http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/theater/reviews/27fences.html?ref=theater


"What Troy rants about, Rose keeps to herself, and Ms. Davis draws extraordinary power from that reticence; you never feel that Rose is any less deep than her husband. You can sense, so palpably that it hurts, why Troy and Rose were meant to be together, and when it looked as if the marriage might be going south at the performance I attended, you could hear horrified gasps in the audience. Mr. Washington and Ms. Davis prove that lovers don’t have to be as young and star-crossed as Romeo and Juliet to generate shiver-making heat and pathos."
Updated On: 4/26/10 at 10:38 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/26/10 at 10:42pm

When is the last Administration Committee meeting? When will we learn which category Viola Davis will find herself competing in?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/26/10 at 10:44pm

WOW! I was NOT expecting reviews like this, although I did enjoy the show. Good for them! Viola deserves that Tony. And it should really be for Leading Actress.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/26/10 at 10:46pm

I heard a rumor these boards that they would begin offering standing room after opening night. Can anyone confirm? I know this isn't really the right thread, but don't want to start another one.

Glad to read such great reviews!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 1:16am

The NY Times review was interesting.

Brantley pretty much seemed to infer that Washington is giving a better, more complex performance in the role than James Earl Jones did. He made Jones sound like a more broad performance in comparison. Never expected that kind of ink for Denzel. That's like an actor playing Stanley Kowlaski in Streetcar Named Desire, and a critic saying he's better than Marlon Brando....someone considered the definitive performer of the role, to that point.

I guess Denzel and Viola are strong Tony frontrunners now. I think Viola could take it pretty easily in either the Best Actress or featured actress category. Best Actor seems more loaded, and is probably the toughest category. Ironically, I think Denzel's biggest competition will be from another big movie celeb (Jude Law in Hamlet) and two of his former co-stars (Lieve Schrieber and Christopher Walken). But with these type of raves, and the fact that the production is fresh in people's minds, Denzel could well take it.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 1:20am

If they petition Viola to be leading, she won't win. If the producers are smart, they will petition her to be featured, where she is almost guaranteed the win.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 1:31am

Yeah, you could be right. Who do you think is likely to win leading? Laura Linney maybe...

On another note, I'm seriously tired of reading reviews for this show that have pretty much the same headlline. Were they all desperate to say "Denzel hits it out of the park" or "Denzel hits a homerun"? Enough with the lazy baseball riffs, m'kay.
Updated On: 4/27/10 at 01:31 AM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 1:50am

Laura Linney is still the frontrunner in my mind, and Valerie Harper is liable to steal some votes from the voters who just wanted nothing more than a good laugh...well...maybe not a good laugh.

[Brick]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 2:35am

"I guess Denzel and Viola are strong Tony frontrunners now. I think Viola could take it pretty easily in either the Best Actress or featured actress category. Best Actor seems more loaded, and is probably the toughest category. Ironically, I think Denzel's biggest competition will be from another big movie celeb (Jude Law in Hamlet) and two of his former co-stars (Lieve Schrieber and Christopher Walken). But with these type of raves, and the fact that the production is fresh in people's minds, Denzel could well take it."

Jude Law wasn't that well-reviewed, and I can't imagine them giving it to a Hamlet that very few thought to be a landmark performance. It was, however, a hit. Shreiber and Walken, possibly. Shreiber won not too long ago, and Walken's performance was priaised but many find it to be second-tier McDonagh.

After these raves, I'm thinking it may be Denzel's time. (I can't believe I just said that...)

[Marquise]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 2:48am

I'm definitely going to see this. Denzel is one of my all time favorite actors, after Sidney Poitier who is my #1 favorite of all time.

So happy this production is getting such a positive response!!

I see Tonys on the horizon!!!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 3:10am

Yeah, I just had a look at some of Law's reviews again. Not as good as I thought (he got better ink in the London production). Brantley in the NYT gave him a pretty backhanded review that bolied down to him being "energetic, but shallow and obvious".

Walken is hampered by a production that isn't percieved to be much to write home about, and Schreiber has won recently, and works regularly enough on Broadway, that he'll have many more opportunities to add to his Tony collection.

Denzel has a production that is getting great ink, as well as himself. And it's a great comeback to Broadway, considering the generally mediocre notices of his last outing, Julius Ceasar. He is in a pretty strong postion to win, I guess.

Another potential incentive for Tony voters is that Fences will almost certainly be made into a movie version, with Denzel and Viola. They can pretty much pre-empt the Oscars when the film is released, by lauding the production first. If Denzel wins the Tony, it wouldn't exactly be a huge leap to see him win another Oscar for the same role. The Tonys can say they got there first (not sure if they care, but it's fun to speculate) Updated On: 4/27/10 at 03:10 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 10:14am

I saw the original production twice. A terrific play with indelible performances by Jones and Mary Alice. She was the real reason I went back to see it a second time. I couldn't believe what she was doing on stage. It's still some of the best acting I've ever seen on Broadway or anywhere else. Both of them very much deserved their Tonys.

The reviews really make me want to see this one now.

And, based on seeing the original play, the wife is a supporting role, not a lead. But when she comes on for her big moments in Act II ... WOW.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 10:26am

I think Viola Davis's performance (as validated by her critical reception) is strong enough for her to win in either category, but the producers will almost surely place her in Featured Actress. She'll have all but a lock on the award there.

There's a reason they chose not to bill her above the title, and this is it.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 10:46am

Too bad I won't get to see this or Everyday Rapture unless they extend for another month at least.

[Ryan4]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 11:14am

I haven't seen "Fences" yet, but it seems to me that Viola Davis could win either Leading or Featured Actress. Laura Linney was good in "Time Stands Still" but I didn't think it was an exceptionally memorable or powerful performance. It sounds like Davis is a gut-punch in this play, and the fact that the show is still running and now looks to be the frontrunner also for Revival, are big advantages.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 11:56am

I've seen all of the leading male performances this season so far except for Nobert. As far as I'm concerned, Denzel is far and away giving the best performance of all of them. Unless Norbert gets rave reviews tonight, Denzel is almost guaranteed to take the Tony.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 1:12pm

IMO, Liev deserves the Tony, hands down. His performance is one I still think about. Just hauntingly brilliant.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 1:20pm

An astonishing rave for Denzel from New York Magazine;

"Denzel plays God, superbly, in the form of a Pittsburgh tyrant in August Wilson's Fences".

New York Magazine Updated On: 4/27/10 at 01:20 PM

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 1:33pm

"I've seen all of the leading male performances this season so far except for Nobert. As far as I'm concerned, Denzel is far and away giving the best performance of all of them. Unless Norbert gets rave reviews tonight, Denzel is almost guaranteed to take the Tony."

I expect Norbert to get raves, but it shouldn't matter.

If Liev hadn't won recently, he might be real competition (as he was absolutely fantastic in the role and has huge support), but I don't think the TONYs will be able to resist giving it to a huge movie star, and these reviews will ease their comfort in doing so.

[Brick]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 2:01pm

"Denzel plays God, superbly, in the form of a Pittsburgh tyrant in August Wilson's Fences".

Yup, that about does it.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/27/10 at 11:24pm

And the Tony Award goes to Denzel Washington... (at least after the mediocre Enron reviews).