Hurrahs, Handshakes & Hugs
On Friday night, January 29, the “First Nights” audience rose in unison, applauding and cheering as the cast of Fences took their bows after a riveting production of the August Wilson classic.
On the stroll from SCR to Scott’s Restaurant & Bar for the Cast Party, conversation centered on the powerful theatrical experience. And at the restaurant — greeted by servers offering choices of wines and champagne — theatre-goers continued to talk about the show as they waited for the artists to join them.
Murmurs filled the rooms. “Have you seen Charlie?" (actor Charlie Robinson, who plays Troy Maxson) or “Where is Seret?” (director Seret Scott) or “I can’t wait to meet Juanita!” (actor Juanita Jennings, Troy’s wife Rose). When the cast members, one by one, crossed the patio and entered the party doors, they were greeted with words of praise, followed by friendly handshakes and hugs.
As the evening progressed and all the congrats had been offered and accepted, guests and artists relaxed in the friendly setting offered by the restaurant’s recently re-decorated lounge, bar and private dining room, featuring for this special night Fences-themed picket fences backlit with oranges and reds and wooden boxes filled with wheatgrass and embellished with orange and red florals. In this setting, party-goers lingered until midnight, enjoying passed hors d’oeuvres of seared beef “fondue,” petals of brie and walnut canape, crab cakes, spicy tuna rolls, chocolate mousse cups and miniature assorted cookies.
Summing up the evening’s experience, The Honorary Producers led the words of praise. “This has been a wonderful night for South Coast Repertory—and for our audience. We’ve had the opportunity to see August Wilson’s masterpiece in a powerful production. Seret did a sensational job of gathering together a believable cast, and Bill and I are very excited to have been a part of it all.”
