Trinity Repertory Company — Attraction in Providence

Last night's (3/23/24) experience at Trinity Rep's rendition of "Fences" was nothing short of a revelation. Having previously encountered the story through its cinematic adaptation, I anticipated a similar experience - good, but perhaps a tad dry. Yet, from the moment the curtains rose (non-pun intended 😉), I found myself ensnared in an electrifying narrative that held me captive, teetering on the edge of my seat throughout the entire performance.

It was as though I had been granted a voyeuristic glimpse into the intimate tapestry of these characters' lives. A part of me felt guilty, as if I was spying on someone’s private affairs, but I couldn’t turn away. The actors breathed life into their roles with such authenticity that I forgot I was in a theater; instead, I felt transported into their world. While it's difficult to pick favorites amidst such a stellar cast, Jackie Davis's portrayal of Rose was nothing short of sublime. With every gesture and expression, she conveyed a profound grace and strength that resonated deeply, even in moments of silence. Her presence was palpable, reaching out from the stage to touch the very core of my being. I know this woman.

Equally noteworthy was Martinez Napolean's portrayal of Gabe. Despite the complexities of his character's journey, Napolean remained steadfast, drawing me in with a magnetism that demanded attention and empathy. I found myself drawn to him, eager to unravel the layers of his story and offer solace in his struggles.

What began as a comedic exposition, albeit tinged with dark humor, took an unexpected and poignant turn in the second act. The shift in tone caught me off guard, yet I found myself willingly swept along on this emotional rollercoaster. Through themes of deferred dreams, systemic barriers, loss and the intricacies of family dynamics, "Fences" transcended mere entertainment to become a profound reflection of the human experience.

By the midpoint of the second act, tears flowed freely, not just from my own eyes but from those around me. In fact, we were passing tissue around the theatre. It was a testament to the raw power of August Wilson's storytelling and the transformative talent of the cast and crew. In that shared moment of vulnerability, we were not merely spectators but participants in a collective catharsis, forever bound by the profound impact of this extraordinary production.

I love this theatre and will be back for more...

I went to see A Christmas Carol with a family member who suffers with disabilities. The show was great and the venue was interesting. There was an intermission during the show and not surprisingly there were lines for bathrooms and refreshments. Due to my family member's fragility we had to be careful how we moved around amongst others; we ended up last in line at the refreshment counter. Intermission was ended abruptly without an adequate announcement to allow time for people to return to their seats. We were then informed by the manager that we could not return to our seats until she was given "the all clear" and that this would take about five minutes. It took ten minutes to get "the all clear" and during those 10 minutes we could not return to our seats, what we got was seats in the lobby in front of a small-screen, poor quality live feed of the stage. The manager seemed oblivious to our dissatisfaction or perhaps felt empowered by her power over us. She did not agree that there was a system problem that had created our problem. There should have been a warning that intermission was about to end before it ended, a warning that would have been as fair to mobility-impaired folks as other more able-bodied people but there wasn't. She offered no concession for our dissatisfaction but when pressured she did agree to provide "vouchers" for another show. Bear in mind that it took me three hours to pick up my family member and get there. She said she could not issue a partial refund. We did find each other after the show at which time she did state that after all there were no vouchers available but she did provide a business card for another manager and did also request our contact information which I did provide. She was pleasant by this point, probably relieved to be passing the buck to another manager. The root cause of the problem had not seemed to be under her direct control but as the manager on duty there were a couple of things she could have done better. I'm hopeful that the theater as a whole will learn from this problem by taking a good look at their flawed intermission process and improving it to mitigate the risk of offending and discriminating against other people with...

Of all the theater companies to visit in the Southern New England region, none compare to the talent, production and creativity of the Trinity Repertory Company in downtown Providence. I have been attending productions there for the past 15 years, and I have never once been disappointed. I even participated in the Trinity High School Ambassador program from 2005 to 2007, where I saw every single production, sat in on rehearsals, met with members of the esteemed resident acting company, and learned much from a variety of theater arts workshops.

The Trinity Rep Co. holds two theaters: the Dowling and Chace theaters. The Dowling is located on the ground floor, and offers a rare, intimate setting for small but unique and creative productions. The Chace theater is located on the upper levels of the building, and plays host to larger and more popular and well-known productions, like musicals or Shakespeare. Every holiday season, the Chace plays host to their annual production of Trinity Rep's A Christmas Carol, the premiere theater event of the season in Providence.

Trinity Rep is a one of a kind theater experience that everyone should go and enjoy, adults and children alike. If you wants to experience the finest example of theater arts in Providence, look no further than the Trinity...