At its core, Fences is a play about the flaws and failures of humanity. No matter how hard one tries, they will ultimately fail in some ways. In the end, it is up to each person to determine how much failure they are willing to tolerate. 

These were some of the themes that the cast of Fences needed to explore at the gorgeous Wharf 1 Theatre on the edge of the Sydney CBD. Focussed around the Maxson family, led by patriarch Troy Maxson (Bert LaBonté), the play dug into the deepest issues of family dynamics, with the themes proving fairly universal even though the play was set in 1950s Pittsburgh. 

The major tension in the play involves Troy and his son Corey (Darius Williams), who seeks to become a college football player. However, the concept of a football career is foreign for Troy, who sees both racial and immediate financial barriers to this and does everything in his power to prevent Corey from achieving this goal.

The depth of character portrayed both by LaBonté and Williams is exceptional. LaBonté takes the audience into his world, showing that he truly believes what he is doing is best for his family and son even if it may not seem that way, engendering an empathy that is perhaps undeserved at face value. For Williams’ Corey, the audience sees the disconnect and youthful hubris which acts as a ‘fence’ around him, rendering him unable to recognise the intentions of his father, flawed as they may be. 

Cutting underneath the play is an ever-present undercurrent of racial tension. Many of Troy’s fears stem from racism that he has faced, both implicitly and explicitly, and his actions could be explained as trying to shield his son from this as much as possible.  Indeed, his actions may also be explained through his guilt for his treatment of his brother Gabriel, who is played exceptionally well by Dorian Nkono. It is extremely difficult to play a character who suffers from a mental illness and Nkono does this with sensitivity and care, which allows for the most nuanced portrayal. 

A word must also go to Zahra Newman, who conveys the pain of a woman who has devoted her whole life to the family unit around her, only to see it shatter in front of her very eyes. While this trope is commonly used in theatre, the raw anger and pain of betrayal in Newman’s characterisation makes the audience feel every moment. Through this, we understand the symbolism of the ‘fence’ that Troy builds around the house even more; it represents the physical and metaphorical boundary that Troy places around himself through his actions, distancing himself further and further from the ones who love him the most. 

The direction through the play is excellent and expertly led by Shari Sebbens, with the whole cast carefully exploring all the complexities of the play. Jeremy Allen’s set design is also exquisite and ornate, adding to the ambiance of the play. 

While the ending of the play is sad, Sebbens ensures that it does not feel tragic, rather, it is focussed on growth and forgiveness. This feels like the most appropriate encapsulation of the play at its core: a complex amalgamation of the many emotions that make up the human spirit, expertly explored by a hugely talented cast. This was an outstanding production from start to finish and an excellent and worthwhile watch for those wanting to experience and reflect upon a very challenging yet rewarding piece of theatre. 

Fences plays at Wharf 1 Theatre until 6^th May 2023. To find out more information about the show and to purchase tickets, click here.

Photo credit: Daniel Boud

Rating: ★★★★1/2