It's almost the end of 2016 and I am sitting in a movie theater waiting for "Fences" to start. I am extremely excited because my husband and I had the pleasure of attending the original play twenty nine years ago. I was anxious to compare Denzel Washington to James Earl Jones. Both actors played the same role - "Troy." Both actors were phenomenal!
August Wilson presented his play in 1987. I was already 10 years into my marriage and the mother of two adorable little girls ages 6 and 8. I enjoyed a professional career at that time as well. I guess you could say getting away for a couple of hours alone with my husband was indeed a "date night" back then. And what a "date night" it would be. We lived in Northern Virginia back then and we were going to the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC. I remember being ecstatic over the thought of seeing the great James Earl Jones live! I remember watching his every move and laughing out loud from all the Afrocentric jokes. I remember walking away with a sense of pride for black theater. But!! With all that... I missed the message - at 31 years old I was captivated by the experience and missed the message.
Fast forward twenty nine years later... I am sitting in the theater with my husband and I am mesmerized. I am fixated on Denzel the entire movie. I hung on every word and every response to those words. I sat there thinking how did I miss this the first time?! What was going on in my life that would not allow me to "get this?!" Then I realized nothing prevented me but me... As the youth say today, "I wasn't ready" LOL! I hadn't lived long enough to fully comprehend the gravity nor appreciate the message the way it was intended. But twenty nine years later I can honestly say... I GET IT. I grew up knowing each character. They were my family and neighbors. They were friends of my parents. Raynell could have been the little girl sitting across from me in class. These folks are real and "Fences" gave them life. This time I left the theater wiping my eyes.
"Fences" is a flavorful blend of ingredients that masterfully presents a sweet and savory slice of African American life.
And by the way... I need to build a fence around my property! 😏
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