ASK PLAYBILL.COM: The Whiskey of Fences & The "Wrong Side of Broadway"

By Robert Simonson
27 Jun 2010

Denzel Washington in Fences
Denzel Washington in Fences
Photo by Joan Marcus

A dram of whiskey is spilled in Fences. What does it mean? And why is the east side of Broadway the "wrong" side?

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Question: In the magnificent production of Fences, Denzel Washington spills a few drops of whiskey on the ground before drinking from the bottle. This happens several times in the show. What is the significance of this action? Is it the quality of liquor or something to do with his self-esteem? — Wendy Rich, Brooklyn

Answer: Denzel Washington's character Troy Maxson is not suffering from low self-worth or auditioning as a spirits critic when he pours a bit of booze on the ground before taking a swig. The gesture, which has deep roots in the African-American community, as well as the civilized world in general, is actually a sort of tribute.

"It's a ritual and salute to those men and friends who are still in prison or who have passed on," said Kenny Leon, who directed the current Broadway revival of the August Wilson play.

The tradition is an old one, with some historians dating it back to ancient Greece, and it is still performed in regions as diverse and far-flung as Japan, Cuba, Eastern Europe and West Africa. The word libation, in fact, comes from the Latin word "libare," meaning "to pour as an offering." The origins of the practice are religious, with the first libations delivered at tribute to various gods and dieties. In time, most of these cultures also used the liquor dispensed to honor passed ancestors. However, in recent years, the ritual has also come to include loved ones who are currently incarcerated.

It's worth noting that Troy's pouring whiskey onto the ground is not written into Wilson's script, but is the invention of this particular production. Continued...