The Little Foxes
The Little Foxes is an American masterpiece written by Lillian Hellman. The first Broadway show starred the one and only Tallulah Bankhead. It was later turned into a movie starring the one and only Bette Davis. The play, of course, deals with the greedy Hubbard clan from Demopolis Alabama in the year 1900. They cheat, manipulate, lie, marry and even commit murder to get their share of the family business. The play has been hailed through the years as capturing the basic American traits of not only greed but also our willingness to do anything to survive. It is still relevant today when you consider the filthy politics in Washington and the business dealings of Bernie Madoff, who stole from family, friends, and charities to make his billions.
Traditionally the play is set in a Southern mansion with a grand staircase that figures prominently in the story. The director, Damaso Rodriguez who directed the successful Orson’s Shadow, has chosen to, as he says, “strip it of some of its wealth”. We even see the back wall of the theatre. The impressive set was by Gary Wissman with apt period costumes by Mary Vogt, and the effective lighting is by Dan Jenkins. The concept, however, doesn’t really work for me. By stripping the Hubbards of their wealth you eliminate the very thing they are all fighting for. The point is they already have more than enough. Mr. Rodriquez misses some chances for terrifying effects in his direction as well.
The cast was pretty good and featured Kelly McGillis (Top Gun) as Regina Hubbard and Julia Duffy as her sister-in-law Birdie. Julia Duffy didn’t seem to be quite aristocratic enough to portray a fallen societal debutante. Her drunk scene, however, in which she reveals how her husband beats her, humiliates her, and married her not for love but for her status, is heartbreaking. It is really the best scene in the production. Regina’s brothers are played by Steve Vinovich as Ben and Marc Singer as Oscar. Shawn Lee is Oscar’s son Leo. Mr. Vinovich does a yeoman-like job with Ben and was quite chilling at times. Marc Singer was good but seemed to be playing to the balcony. Leo was detestable but if Oscar had detested him too his alienation as well as the humor of the part would have been fully realized.
Ms. McGillis was very good as Regina but for some reason, (perhaps in the name of humanizing the character, she was deprived of her most grand and evil moment while she watches her husband die. Instead she is directed to turn front and weep, thus splitting the focus and diluting the moment. Geoff Pierson was outstanding as Regina’s husband Horace. I found myself looking at him much of the evening to catch the nuance and subtlety of his performance. Little Foxes will play art the Pasadena Playhouse until June 28th.