BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Among its many themes, a well-known line in August Wilson's "Fences" struck a chord with director Adam Newborn.
That moment speaks of a mother's loving desire to build a fence around her house to keep her family safe from the outside world.
It's an emotion that we can all relate to, Newborn says.
"I think about that a lot in our relationships. And even in our spaces and our environments. What are we trying to protect?" Newborn said.
"What are we trying not to reveal? And in that revealing, you're setting yourself free. It may be ugly, but it's the truth. And I think that's the basis of this show, What is the truth?"
Newborn's adaptation of Wilson's Tony award-winning screenplay "Fences" — also adapted into a 2016 movie starring Denzel Washington as Troy Maxson and Viola Davis as his wife, Rose Maxson — runs through April 13 at the Pennsylvania Playhouse.
August Wilson's human experience
"Fences" tells the story of Troy, Rose, their son Cory Maxson, and Troy Maxson's children, Lyons Maxson and Raynell Maxson, from Troy's previous relationships.
It contains heavy dialogue exploring themes like family duty, betrayal, self-acceptance and failure.
The story is set in Pittsburgh in the 1950s.
Troy Maxson, portrayed by Willie Wo in Newborn's version, is a former baseball star in the Negro Leagues (before Black players were accepted in the major leagues) and works for the city's sanitation department.
A tragic hero of sorts, Troy Maxson's dialogue is riddled with bitterness, stubbornness and denial.
But there are moments of joy and self-awareness.
"A lot of times people just want to blame Troy, but I think there's blame all around, and I think that there's understanding," Newborn said.
"August Wilson does such a good job of creating this human experience that, though it is an all-Black cast, everyone can relate to some part of every single one of these characters, if not all of them in some shape or form."
Local cast, diversity in theaters
Local actress Juanita Renay plays Rose Maxson, a devoted wife and compassionate mother.
The production also stars Marquett Ferell as Cory Maxson, Tyronn Brewington as Lyons Maxson, Channel 69 anchor Jaciel Córdoba as Gabriel Maxson, Devin T. Dobson as Jim Bono, and Jalianna M. Miller as Raynell Maxson.
Newborn, from Hershey, holds a master's degree in fine arts from Kent State University and a bachelor's from Long Island University.
His stage credits include "Everybody, Somewhere," "Corktown," and "Angels in America," which debuted in 2017 at Civic Theatre in Allentown.
He learned of the playhouse's "Fences" last December while living in Nashville, Tennessee, and jumped at the chance to showcase the dynamics between the Maxson brood.
Along with the production staff at the Pennsylvania Playhouse, founded in 1926, Newborn found the right actors to portray the beloved characters.
"Sometimes it's hard to find artists of color in the area, predominantly male artists," he said. "That's one of the great things about what's happening with diversity, equity and inclusion in many of these theaters. They are doing more inclusive work to get artists of color into the theater and people of color into the theater, as well as the audience.
"The Pennsylvania Playhouse's outreach was great, and I'm very fortunate to have the cast that I do. They are very talented, and there was a pretty good turnout during the audition process, which was exciting."
'Lightbulb moments'
Both onscreen and on Broadway, Wilson's 1985 play "Fences" has won numerous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1987, a Tony Award for Best Drama in 1987 (the late James Earl Jones also won a Best Actor Tony Award that year for his portrayal of Troy).
Actors Washington and Davis were nominated for Academy Awards in 2017 and won Tony Awards in 2010 as the Maxsons.
"All of these actors who were understandably a little intimidated by it wanted to jump in and do their best to tell this story, and they're doing a great job," Newborn said.
"I may be biased because I'm the director, but just last night, I saw more of them having these lightbulb moments, and they have said to me individually that they are discovering more about their characters."
Showtimes, new set
Newborn says he wanted to give Wilson's "Fences" a different view of the Maxsons' home.
"My approach is abstract, but still in the world of realism. You can see that within the set that was built and in the costumes that were put together," he said.
"I'm excited for the audience to see that because many people expect to see [just] a house. I'm interested, especially as an actor myself, in what's happening before people walk on stage and leave the stage, so it's set up where you can see inside the house — things are happening that you may never have seen before if you are familiar with the play."
"Fences" will run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, this weekend through April 13. The evening shows will be at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees will be at 3 p.m.
Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $15 for students (with ID).
For info on the show and to purchase tickets, visit the Pennsylvania Playhouse website.
