In 1950s Pittsburgh, Troy Maxson (Washington) works as a garbage collector providing modestly for his wife Rose (Davis) and teenage son Cory (Adepo). The father/son relationship is strained and combative, as Troy, resentful over his own thwarted baseball career, forbids his son to take advantage of a college football scholarship. Troy’s blind ego and swaggering authority create unbearable tensions at home just as a deeply-held secret comes to light.

Adapted from August Wilson’s 1983 Pulitzer winning play by the writer himself before his death in 2005, Washington’s production resists staginess while maintaining the theatrical power of this indelible work. Davis (who won an Academy Award) and the actor/director tear into the dialogue with fierce passion, and lifetimes of pain, regret and longing jump off the screen. With “Fences”, director Washington achieves an intense and enthralling portrayal of a family in crisis. Don’t miss this instant classic.