When Denzel and Viola were on Broadway in the successful revival of this August Wilson play, I would walk by the Cort theater as the show let out, wishing that I was a part of that very racially mixed audience. I was lucky enough to snag a playbill, but snagging an affordable ticket was impossible. I've stood in the back of the Cort theater for shows for standing room only, but that wasn't possible for this smash hit. In my many years of theater going, I've gotten to see one August Wilson play, "The Piano Lesson", learning about how the characters in all those plays were somehow connected, and that helped strike an interest in me to see all the others.
Through lengthy conversations, the characters played by Denzel Washington and Viola Davis brought to the forefront every aspect of their personalities. Washington doesn't get much sympathy as the typical hard headed man of the house, objecting to his younger son's determination to get a sports scholarship (as he was considered too old when black men were finally able to join the professional leagues) and always harassing the older adult son over financial issues. His showier role however is upstaged by the subtlety of Viola Davis who quietly tries to guide him away from his stubborn ways while keeping their home happy. It's her steel magnolia that remains the heart and soul, while old fashioned macho pride threatens to vanquish everything she's managed to achieve. She remains a gentle and dignified soul, even when Washington drops a huge bombshell on her.
Thought provoking and human, this is quite theatrical, an aspect that modern audiences might have a difficult time adapting to. Davis, who won a leading actress Tony, won the supporting actress Oscar, and it's very apparent that she should have been considered leading. I've seen some fine actresses in my time of all races, and Davis ranks near the top of the greatest. She's like a storm brewing inside, one that doesn't want to move up to hurricane level but eventually finds she has no choice. Davis allows herself to look undignified in one harsh moment where the young son must rush in to defend their mother, something I can totally identify with, bringing up long suppressed memories. This shows several variations of the human soul, some ugly and yet very human, and one gorgeous and heroic. It's the fences between the different levels of humanity that drives the idea home that it takes a special kind of heart to tear down those fences for good.
Through lengthy conversations, the characters played by Denzel Washington and Viola Davis brought to the forefront every aspect of their personalities. Washington doesn't get much sympathy as the typical hard headed man of the house, objecting to his younger son's determination to get a sports scholarship (as he was considered too old when black men were finally able to join the professional leagues) and always harassing the older adult son over financial issues. His showier role however is upstaged by the subtlety of Viola Davis who quietly tries to guide him away from his stubborn ways while keeping their home happy. It's her steel magnolia that remains the heart and soul, while old fashioned macho pride threatens to vanquish everything she's managed to achieve. She remains a gentle and dignified soul, even when Washington drops a huge bombshell on her.
Thought provoking and human, this is quite theatrical, an aspect that modern audiences might have a difficult time adapting to. Davis, who won a leading actress Tony, won the supporting actress Oscar, and it's very apparent that she should have been considered leading. I've seen some fine actresses in my time of all races, and Davis ranks near the top of the greatest. She's like a storm brewing inside, one that doesn't want to move up to hurricane level but eventually finds she has no choice. Davis allows herself to look undignified in one harsh moment where the young son must rush in to defend their mother, something I can totally identify with, bringing up long suppressed memories. This shows several variations of the human soul, some ugly and yet very human, and one gorgeous and heroic. It's the fences between the different levels of humanity that drives the idea home that it takes a special kind of heart to tear down those fences for good.