The Little Foxes
Now playing at the Pasadena Playhouse, Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes was written in 1939 and made into a film starring Bette Davis in 1941. Though set in 1900, it was no different then that it is today in regard to a greedy society. Therefore, the play still maintains its theatrical appeal.
The main character in The Little Foxes is the aristocratic Southern lady Regina Hubbard Giddens (magnificently portrayed by Kelly McGillis), whose father left his wealth to his sons, Benjamin (Steve Vinovich) and Oscar (Marc Singer) leaving Regina to rely on her sick husband Horace (Geoff Pierson) for support. Never enough wealth for anyone of this family, Oscar has married Birdie (Julia Duffy), to whom he is abusive, merely to become the owner of her family’s plantation. Now he joins together with Benjamin with a plan to build a cotton mill with the idea of making millions. Needing an additional $75,000, the brothers approach Regina and try to con her into investing with them by getting the money from Horace. Oscar also brings up the idea of his son Leo (Shawn Lee) marrying Regina’s daughter Alexandra (Rachel Sondag), his own cousin! Horace has been away for months recuperating in a hospital and Regina sends Alexandra to bring him home for the sole purpose of asking him for the money. When he refuses, Benjamin and Oscar coerce Leo, who works in the local bank, to steal Horace’s railroad bonds from his deposit box at the bank. When Regina discovers the theft, she threatens to call the police unless her brothers give her a bigger share in the mill. But Horace tells her that he will say that he loaned the bonds to Leo. Who will come out the winner as the bickering and manipulating continues back and forth between all of the members of this dysfunctional group? I can assure you that the play concludes with a climactic justified ending.
Other members of the cast include Addie (Yvette Cason) and Cal (Cleavant Derricks) servants in Regina’s household. Under the direction of Damaso Rodriguez, the entire cast performs superbly. My only criticism is that, at times, it was difficult to hear some of the actors’ dialogue, more often, Julia Duffy. The magnificent set by Gary Wissman gives a true feeling of affluence, as does the costumes by Mary Vogt. The Little Foxes plays through June 29.
Pasadena Playhouse
39 South El Molino Avenue
Pasadena, CA
Tickets: Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Pasadena Playhouse phone at (626) 356-7529,
online at www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.