Is Viola in "Fences" a lead? Or is her "Rose" a supporting player by choice?
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 5:00PM 
Scarlett & Viola won the supporting & lead actress Tonys in 2010. Now Viola is headed for a supporting trophy (for the same role) by Lynn Lee
If it’s Oscar season, there must be category fraud lurking somewhere. This year most of the debate has centered around Viola Davis, whose barn-burner of a performance opposite Denzel Washington in Fences is a virtual lock ...for supporting actress gold. There’s little doubt the decision to go supporting was driven by the perception that lead actress would be a much tougher road in an especially competitive year. Still, it’s such a powerhouse turn that many Viola fans are justifiably frustrated by what looks like a cynical lack of faith in both her and the Academy.
And yet, having previously read the play and seen it performed on stage – though not the production that starred Viola and Denzel – I can’t help wondering if this is as open-and-shut a case of category fraud as it appears. In terms of the weight and magnetism of Viola’s performance, it feels like a lead role. But the way the role is written, as August Wilson conceived it, I think is a closer call...
