ENCES - O-r) Council eargle, Jennifer Jones, and Allen Sh����.
i __ �- -Cakn�roiE�n�-- . -1
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SUNDAY,
-NOV. 29.
-A- FENCES - A slice of African
American life In the 50's ralses Black
. family ruggles to epic proportions.
August Wilson's Pulltlzer Prize
wtnnlng drama wlH be pre ented at
The Attic Theatre's New Center
Stage, runs thru Dec. 13. (AttiC, 7339
Third 875-8285).
-A-' N�INQ SACRED - Is a free
ldaptatlon of the 1862 Russian novel
aboU the tensions between young
rebel and their parents In
pre-Revolutionary Russia.
Performances held at the Hllberry
Theelre (WSU campus) .. Runs thnr
Feb. 8, 1993. For tickets
(313/577-2972).
-A- THE WHITE ROSE - by Ulllan
Garrett-Groag will perform Nov. 29
thru Dec. 6, 1992. This
thought-provoking play dramatizes
the true story of five students
erre ted In Munich In 1942 for
dletrlbutlng leaflets protesting the
Nazi regime, under the name of -The
Whit. Rose. - Earl D.A. Smith
Theatre on the U of 0 Mercy's
McNichols campus. Brochures
labl . Call (313/993-1130).
� WHITNEY SALUTE - From Nov.
29th thru Dec. 23rd, the museum's
Oldo roltShopwlllset-u asatelllte
branch at the Whitney restaurant.
The gift ahop will be open for holiday
.hopplng from 12noon thru 3pm,
from 8-1 Opm, and for Sunday Brunch
from 12noon to 3pm. All proceeds
from gift hop purchases will go to the
mu. urn. The Whitney, 4421
Woodward Ave. For reservations
and Information (313/832-5700).
MONDAY,
NOV. 30
-A- DETROIT AGLOW - Join the
eighth annual Detroit Aglow
Symphony Sing-along at 8pm. In
Cobo Aren The program features
the 0 rolt Symphony Orchestra.
Sow Ir aongbooks are provided.
Tickets range from 15-$6.
(981-1403).
-A- OEl NIGHT - More than 15
ar I Itutlon will open their doors
for n evening of caroling and
m rrym king In th University
Cultural Center. Church choirs,
dance performer; , caroling groupe
and orytellersfrom the metropolitan
Detroit area win perform. Santa and
the Joyful sounds of church bells add
to this traditional Detroit celebration.
Carriage rides from 6-9pm $5 adults
and $2 children. (577-5088).
TUESDAY,
DEC. 1
tc PHANTOM OF THE OPERA ;_
By Gaston Leroux, the musical tells
the story of the hideously deformed
Phantom who lurks beneath the
stage of the Paris Opera, exercising
a reign over aU Its occupants. He falls
Instantly In love with the young
soprano Christine, devoting himself
to creating a new star for the Opera
by nurturing her extraordinary talents
by employing all the skills at his
disposal. ·Phsntom of the Opers·
opens at the Masonic Temple
Theatre, 500 Temple Avenue In
Detroit. Runs thru Feb. 14, 1993.
Ticket/Information call
(313/832-5900).
WEDNESDAY,
DEC. 2
tc SOUTH PACIFIC - Troy Players
will be holding au CUt Ions for Rogers 8-
Hammerstlen's musical classic
-South Pecltlc" Dec. 2 & 3:
Registration begins at 7pm with
auditions beginning at 7:30pm.
Callbacks will be on Dec. 4, 1992 at
7pm. The auditions will be held at the
Troy Community Center, 520 W. Big
Beaver Rd., off 1-75. Troy Players at
879·1285. .
THURSDAY,
DEC. 3
tc CELEBRATE THE HOUDAYS­
A gigantic Christmas tree decorated
with toys and sweets welcomes
museum visitors to explore
America's past In a festive
atmosphere. Seasonal music Is
pU('lctuated by the cllckety-clak of toy
trains through a gingerbread village.
Kids can enjoy operating a model
railroad and making hollda�y
ornaments. Henry Ford & Greenfield
Village (313/271-1620).
FRIDAY, DEC.
4
tc HOUDAY EVENING - at Eagle
Tavern (Greenfield V1l1age)- ThI
popular stop for stagecoach travel r
In the 1850s Is the setting for a
unique holiday celebration. Eagte
Tavern offers cordial hospitality,
robust meal and cheerful
conversation, plus entertainment by
a troupe of traveling entertainers
(portrayed by Opera Ute). Tlckets
are $37.50 per p r on. Holiday
evenings at Eagl Tavern are
6:30-10pm nightly thru January 2,
1993 (except Dec. 24 & 25 and Jao.
1) For Information and reservations
call (3131271-1620 ext 382).
SATURDAY,
DEC. 4
tc � CHIRSTMAS CAROL - The
story of Scrooge and hi ghoetly
visitors has remained one ofthe most
popular holiday tales of all time.
Charles Dickens' -A Chlrstmas
Csrol, • opens at 8pm at the Bonetelle
Theatre on the campus of WSU and
runs thru Dec. 13. (313/577-2960).
tc BABES IN TOYLAND -
F airy-tale people and fanciful places
abound In this musical play of
childhood fantasy. Gigantic toys
come to life In familiar favorite songs
such as "Toyfand- and -March of the
Wooden Soldiers. - Henry Ford
Museum Theater. For
Informatlon/re ervatlons
(3131271-1620 ext. 382).
tc HOLIDAY PARTY -A preview of
the OHM's exciting, newe.t
permanent exhibition loetrolt at
Work 1701-1901, Furs to Factor I
will be the highlight of thls year's
Detroit Historical Society nadltlonal
Holiday Party. The party will be held
at the OHM, 5401 Woodward.
Beginning at 6:30pm gu a will have
an opportunity to preview th n_
exhibition and shop at pecl Ity
shops pi cad throughout the main
floor of the mu um. llcket. $500
per couple, $250 per pereon.
Contact William Zoufal
(313/833-7935);
tc LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD - A
55 minute opera. A delightful
adaptation of the faJry tal cl but
with few comic twist added to
orne of the characters. Michigan
Opera Theatre, 2900 Feath ratone
Dr In Auburn Hills, The Performanc
Space, Bldg F, Rm 119 at 8pm.
Ticket ara 7 and 5.
(313/340-6546),
D 0 - In the tradition of
Arthur Miller' "Death 01 a Sales­
man", August Wilson' Fence fol­
low n emotional journey into the
life of a Bl c family with all the
problems one could imagine in the
naive pre-civil righ 19SOs.
The tory of the xsons would
compel anyone to remember the hard
realiti life intricately webs for the
African:'American family.
Troy M x on, the typically
te�typed paternal figure in the
African-American family, drowns
the bad te of th effects of rae' m
with an occasional swig of tem­
porary mne ia juice while hi wife,
Rose, amplifie hi conscious with
repetitious nag or two in a tone not
me nt to cold but to carefully
lovingly criticize. '
Troy, one of the many- unrecog­
nized talented Negro ballplayers un­
lucky enough to be born too early to
be the token Blac man in the major
league baseball world, is constantly
reminded of his failure in the two
things that matter to him by looking
at hi:S econd son, a high school foot­
ball hopeful whose future I ys in the
hands of hi bitter father.
Fatherhood i not one of Troy'
better skills and the relatio hips he
holds with his two sons (the older
from a previous engagement) is
complete evidence of this.
• , •• __ v ....... ...,4 ... " "� .. v
A!Y1 w t of the marriage of Troy
nd Rose? The bond of Troy and
Rose i a reminder of the difficultie
Afric n-Americans encounter in
love. Infidelity, the 10 of identity
many Blac women crifice when
committing thernselve to angry
Black man (and what man i not
angry in F encu?), and the love that
i to difficult to be imple in an op­
p ed world are all elements of the
Troy and Rose bond.
Fences i a reminder that not
much has changed ince the 1950s.
Rose's love-should-have­
brought-you-home-last-night-and­
every-night monologue still hits
home and sent women in the
audience into a hysterics of clapping
and "That's right", reminiscent of a
congregation accepting the Word.
And Black men are still bitter,
unequal, and unsure, all effects of an
oppressed society. "The Black family
is still fenced in-the part of society
with all the problems, double stand­
ards, and destruction that seem bor­
der hell and earth.
Detroiter Council Cargle shines
brightly as Troy Maxson. His
portrayal draws sympathy, empathy,
anger and love. familiar cmoti os
ben dealing with the tron yet
fragile character of the Blae man.
Jennifer Jon bri parkle, or­
dinary feel to Ro and doesn't really
take off until he explains the I of
her identity that followed her com­
mitment to a elf-pitying Troy.
The evolution, however, of R e
from a meek ccepting wife to a
trong wom n with the under­
tanding that love doesn't mean the
10 of elf i admirable. Allen I
Scheffield, the younge t on with the
football pi rations, is a diamond in
the rough. His performance w
believable and left one wondering
more about his character. He's
definitely one to watch.
Tim Rhoze, the musician son, i
accurate and human. It isn't hard to
believe that he w in the original
cast, it shows because the role is his.
Troy's best friend, Bono,
portrayed by Michael Jay, is a suc­
cess at being Troy' corscious. Jay
gives a memorable performance.
Anthony Lucas, who portrays
Troy's brother damaged mentally by
the war, brings a type of innocence
to a family that lacks it like a child,
his character puts things in imple
terms when everyone else earche
for complications. Lucas i ac­
complished and ucce ful.
All in all, Fences succeeds in its
chronicle of the 1950s African­
American family and reminds us that
not too much has changed.
DENZEL WASHINGTON · "' ... ,�
A!mll ..
MalcolrnX
Scholar
Convict
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Diaciple
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BlackMan
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