Fences is a 1983 play by American playwright August Wilson. Set in the 1950s, it is the sixth in Wilson's ten-part Pittsburgh Cycle. Like all of the Pittsburgh plays, Fences explores the evolving African-American experience and examines race relations, among other themes. The play earned Wilson the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for Best Actor for James Earl Jones.

Troy Maxson

The main character of the play. Married to Rose. Has three children: Lyons, Cory, and, later in the story, Raynell. He cheated on his wife of 18 years and impregnates Alberta to father Raynell.

Jim Bono

Troy's best friend and obvious "follower" in their friendship, but is very committed to him.

Rose Maxson

Troy's wife of 18 years, and the mother of Troy's second son, Cory. She is also very faithful and puts much trust in Troy.

Cory Maxson

Troy's son who, against his father's wishes, plays football and temporarily leaves his job during the football season, infuriating his father, who eventually kicks him out of the Maxson home.

Gabriel

Troy's brother who received a substantial head wound in World War II from shrapnel. He is now insane, believing himself to be the archangel Gabriel. Gabriel receives remuneration from the Army, money which Troy takes and uses to build his house. Gabe is significant in the end when he tries to play his trumpet, fails, then dances thereby opening up the gates of heaven.

Lyons

Troy's first son who was not mothered by Rose. Troy always has the impression that Lyons only comes around for money.

Alberta

A never-seen woman Troy desires. He cheats on Rose with Alberta because it gets him away from his responsibilities. She dies giving birth to Raynell.

Raynell

Troy and Alberta's baby. Rose accepts the duty of being Raynell's mother when Alberta dies in childbirth, and Raynell is seen at the end of the play as a happy seven-year-old sowing her seeds prior to the funeral of Troy.

The focus of Wilson's attention in Fences is Troy, a fifties-something head of household who struggles with providing for his family and with his obsession of cheating death. Although it's not directly stated in the play, the setting is implied to be in Pittsburgh as there are several references to some of it's notable institutions. Troy was a great baseball player in his youth, but this was before MLB broke the color barrier. Thus, he was not able to make good money then nor able to save money for the future. He now lives a menial life along with his wife, Rose, plus two sons named Lyons (from a previous marriage who does not live in his house) and Cory (who still lives in the house at the play's opening). Bono is his best friend and Gabriel is his brother.

The play begins on payday, with Troy and Bono drinking and talking. Troy's character is revealed through his speech about how he went up to their boss, Mr. Rand, and asked why black men are not allowed to drive garbage trucks (they are garbage men); Rose and Lyons join in the conversation. Lyons, a musician, has come to ask for money, confident he will receive it from his father. Troy gives his son a hard time, but eventually gives him the ten dollars requested. It is revealed that Troy has had an affair with a woman named Alberta, whom the audience never sees throughout the play. It is then uncovered that Alberta is impregnated and dies giving birth to Raynell, the daughter conceived from their union. During the final Act, Raynell is seen as a happy seven-year-old; Cory comes home from war, and after initially refusing to go to his father's funeral due to long-standing resentment, his mother convinces him to pay his respects to his father - the man who, though hard-headed and often poor at demonstrating affection, nevertheless loved his son.

Fences premiered on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre on March 26, 1987 and closed on June 26, 1988 after 525 performances and 11 previews. Directed by Lloyd Richards, the cast featured James Earl Jones (Troy Maxson), Mary Alice (Rose), Ray Aranha (Jim Bono), Frankie R. Faison (Gabriel), and Courtney B. Vance (Cory).

The production won the 1987 Tony Award for Best Play, and the Tony Award, Best Actor in a Play for James Earl Jones, Best Featured Actress in a Play, Mary Alice, and Best Direction of a Play, Lloyd Richards, as well as the Drama Desk Award, Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Actor in a Play (Jones) and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Mary Alice). It also received Tony Award nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Play (Faison and Vance).

The first Broadway revival of the play opened at the Cort Theatre in previews on April 14, 2010, officially on April 26, 2010 in a limited 13-week engagement. Directed by Kenny Leon, the cast stars Denzel Washington (Troy Maxson) and Viola Davis (Rose) as the married couple struggling with changing U.S. race relations.^[1] The revival received ten Tony Award nominations,^[2][3] and won three Tony Awards: Best Revival of a Play, Best Performance by an Actor in a Play for Denzel Washington, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Play for Viola Davis.^[4]

• Napierkowski, Marie Rose (ed.) (January 2006) [1998]. "Fences". Drama for Students. Vol. vol. 3. Detroit: Gale; eNotes.com. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |first= has generic name (help); |volume= has extra text (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: year (link)

• Wilson, August (1986). Fences: A Play (First edition ed.). New York: Plume. ISBN 0452264014. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Vecsey, George (1987-05-10). "Sports of the Times; Ray Dandridge, The Hall of Fame and 'Fences'". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-06-15. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

• ​Fences​ at the Internet Broadway Database
• Internet Broadway Database listing, 2010
• Putting Up Fences, article with video, Sept 17, 2009
• Fences study guide, themes, quotes, literary devices, teacher resources