Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Fences (The SOB Review)

Fences (The SOB Review) - Cort Theatre, New York, New York

***1/2 (out of ****)

It may be Denzel Washington's name above the title in Kenny Leon's exceptional, if exhausting, revival of August Wilson's monumental Fences. Yet it's Viola Davis' name you'll be praising long after exiting Broadway's Cort Theatre.

Make no mistake, Washington excels in delivering a solid line drive as Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball player with a wandering eye.

But as Troy's wife Rose, Viola Davis hits this one out of the park with the most extraordinary, heartwrenching performance of the year. It's a grand slam, even in a play that feels like it's never going to end.

It's a credit to Leon and Davis that we almost don't want it to.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

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Labels: August Wilson, Broadway, Denzel Washington, Fences, Kenny Leon, Play, Revival, Viola Davis

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, April 28, 2010