Fences

The play takes place on the porch and in the yard in front of the Maxson home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Act I opens on a Friday night in 1957. Troy Maxson, who is a large, 53-year-old African-American man, enters with his friend Jim Bono, who is also Black. Troy and Bono have been friends for 30 years. They are still dressed in their work clothing for their jobs as garbage collectors. Friday is payday, and every week the two men sit together to drink and talk. Troy has caused a stir at work by asking why the Black men are only allowed to load garbage into the truck while the White men drive. Their supervisor, Mr. Rand, told Troy to take his issue to the union. Troy went to the union and filed a complaint, and someone from the union was seen speaking to Mr. Rand. Now, Troy has been summoned to the commissioner’s office next Friday. Troy insists that he is not worried about losing his job. Bono and Troy talk about a woman named Alberta, whom all the men are flirting with. Troy bought her a couple of drinks but insists that he hasn’t chased women since he married his wife,