American playwright Lillian Hellman’s THE LITTLE FOXES is set in the early 20th Century in the deep south of America. Rapid industrialisation is sweeping the country.
The little foxes of the title are the members of the Hubbard family. They are offered a business deal of a lifetime, rapid industrialisation is taking place and the family has the opportunity to ‘industrialise’ their large cotton plantation and reap the profits. The family need to fund the deal and do so by both legal and illegal means. Bitter in-fighting takes place as the pressure builds and the family begins to implode.
It is a cold, difficult world that Hellman depicts. Interestingly, Hellman had the idea for the play from observing the tough business practices that took place within her own family!
Hellman’s characters are well drawn, giving the cast plenty to work with. Glenda Kenyon his all the marks as the cold hearted, calculating Regina (Bette Davis played the part in the film version). Roderick Chambers plays her ailing, long suffering husband Horace.
There’s a scene between wife and husband that kind of sums up this play’s world. Horace has been out of town and is called back home by Regina. When he arrives Regina is fussing over him and being very caring. Horace can’t quite believe it. Then, just as he is preparing to turn in for the night, Regina starts questioning about his reluctance to help finance the business deal, and he quickly twigs that this is the real reason why his wife has wanted to see him.
Chad Smith as Oscar and Greg Kenyon as Ben are credible as Regina’s unscrupulous brothers. As is Eloise Tanti playing Regina and Horace’s impressionable teenage daughter Alexandra who is torn apart by her parents fighting.
Beryl Ayers impressed as Oscar’s good natured wife Birdie, who is the least cynical of the characters and is distressed by all the conflict.
David Belcher did a nice turn as Oscar and Birdie’s meek son Leo. Rounding out the cast were Adrian Thompson, Donny Muntz and Sally Whiteley.
The production was sensitively directed by Bill Ayers. Ayers also designed the attractive period set. The period costumes, co-ordinated by Rachel Cliffe, were appropriately revealing of character. Regina’s long flowing purple dress and Leo’s powder blue suit were stand-outs.
Recommended, Lillian Hellman’s THE LITTLE FOXES, directed by Bill Ayers, is playing the Guild Theatre, corner Walz and Railways streets, Rockdale until March 18.
If you haven’t been to the Guild Theatre previously, it is well worth a visit. The theatre is situated very close to Rockdale train station. At interval, light refreshments, tea, coffee and biscuits are provided free of charge and one is free to pop out to the quaint, undercover outside area where you can enjoy a chinwag with friends.
For performance times and ticket prices visit the Company’s website.
www.guildtheatre.com.au