Theater Review - The Little Foxes

The Little Foxes

Written by Lillian Hellman

Directed by Leslie Reidel

Where:  Thompson Theater at the Roselle Center for the Arts

(University of Delaware, Newark, DE)

When:  Saturday, October 1, 2011

Photo by Nadine Howatt

I must admit that I was spoiled by the University of Delaware Resident Ensemble Players' ten-show roster in 2010-2011, so I can't help but feel a little gypped that I only get to see this wonderful troupe in five plays this season.  Still, the group is mostly in tact from previous seasons and the caliber of acting hasn't declined in the slightest in their first production this season, Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes.  It's slightly unfortunate that the play itself which is full of melodramatic manipulative backstabbing amongst a wealthy southern family in 1900 isn't a bit more wickedly devious and underhanded.  I can absolutely see how this would have been eaten up by the public in 1939 when it was written, but today it doesn't quite have the oomph and driving force to reach a modern day audience.  Don't get me wrong...The Little Foxes is a solid play, but it didn't rouse me or particularly excite me in any way.

What is exciting and wonderful (as is always the case with these REP productions) is the caliber of acting on display.  Front and center is Elizabeth Heflin who takes on the juicy role of Regina Hubbard -- a character just ripe for scenery-chewing in a good way.  In what is probably her best role yet (although I missed a few turns from her in the 2009-2010 season), Heflin grabs your attention whenever she steps foot on the stage.  With hints of flirtatiousness on the outskirts of her personality, when her almost diabolical true intentions are revealed, Regina Giddens is simply a great central character whom to base a play around and Heflin is a commanding presence.

Unfortunately, it is in Regina's interactions with her brothers where the play lost my interest.  Looking to build a cotton mill, Ben and Oscar Hubbard (Stephen Pelinski and Mic Matarrese) discover that Regina is interested in investing some money of her ailing husband (Steve Tague) into the venture.  Eventually coming to terms regarding the new business, the three siblings can't quite permit family values to take precedence over their own personal greediness.  Blood certainly takes a back seat to the quest for power in the Hubbard clan.  At a certain point, maybe my ill-conceived preconceptions of the word "melodramatic" equalling "campiness" was a detriment.  Part of me expected the siblings to continue one-upping one another ad infinitum, but things are perhaps a little more "subdued" than I thought they were going to be prior to the start of the play.

In addition to the aforementioned Heflin, special recognition should also go to REP member Carine Montbertrand who continues to succeed in every role she tackles with the repertory company.  Here her Birdie is almost the heart of the production with the character finding herself appalled by the corruptive nature of the Hubbard family including the actions of her power-hungry husband Oscar.  Forced to act a certain way in order to appear presentable, Birdie is devastatingly unhappy with her life and her true feelings are exposed heartbreakingly by Montbertrand in the final act.  Also, excellent work from guest actor Erin Partin who portrays Regina's daughter Alexandra.  Similar to Birdie, Alexandra is being forced to kowtow to her family's desires.  In the hands of the young Partin, Alexandra is certainly questioning her expected role in life and has quite an exciting moment in the play's final scene.

[On a side note, it was wonderful to see a play from the REP that places much focus on the women of the troupe.  Last year, I mentioned that I thought the ladies were pushed to the wayside in many of the plays they presented, but that certainly isn't the case in The Little Foxes.]

As is to be expected in REP productions, the audience is treated to a lovely set and beautiful costumes.  And, as is also always the case with this company, the production itself is high quality.  As I've said in the past, the REP is simply the best theater you'll see in Delaware and some of the best theater you'll see on the east coast (and the price simply can't be beat).  Even if I couldn't get into The Little Foxes entirely, I'm certainly appreciative of seeing the different types of plays put on by my alma mater.