SOUTHERN CHARM LACED WITH TREACHERY

21. November 2009 by admin.

SOUTHERN CHARM LACED WITH TREACHERY

F. J. Hartland

Swindling.  Thievery. Back-stabling relations.  Alcoholism.  Domestic violence.  Family secrets.  Adultery.

Just another night on Desperate Housewives?No.  It’s Lillian Hellman’s masterpiece The Little Foxes currently playing at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre.

Think your family is bad?  Meet the Hubbards.  Not only will they swindle everyone in town out of their last nickel, they aren’t above cheating each other!

At the turn of the last century, Hubbard family matriarch Regina conspires with her brothers Oscar and Ben to build a cotton mill that will make them millions.  First, they need another $75,000 to partner with Mr. Marshall from Chicago.  Regina’s estranged and sickly husband Horace just happens to have $75,000 in bonds in his safety deposit box at the bank.  When Horace decides not to invest, chicanery is afoot.

Ross Bickel and John Shepherd are delightful as the conniving brothers.  Lara Hillier plays Regina’s innocent daughter Alexandra without falling into the trap of being sickeningly sugary sweet.  Chris Landis is sufficiently slimy as Alexandra’s cousin Leo.

Deirdre Madigan steals the show as Oscar’s long-suffering wife Birdie.  A daughter of Southern aristocracy, she is a faded belle stuck in a loveless marriage.  Gentle Birdie is no match for the ruthless Hubbards and finds comfort in her music—and the bottle.  It’s a difficult character to play, and Madigan always manages to make Birdie sympathetic—never pathetic.

While Helena Ruoti is good when she plays Regina’s evil side, she does not capture the sexy seductiveness of the character.  This is particularly evident in the opening scene when she is dealing with the visiting Mr. Marshall.

Michael McKenzie also falls short as Regina’s ill husband Horace. Physically, he was not convincing as a man suffering from debilitating heart problems.

Linda Haston, Wali Jamal and Philip Winters all shine in their brief roles.

Director Ted Pappas keeps the story moving.  Despite the fact that The Little Foxes is three acts long, the story never stalls or gets bogged down.

The whole ugly story is carried out on a breath-takingly beautiful set by James Noone.  With its grand staircase, pocket doors with leaded glass, parquet floor and plush Victorian furniture, it’s difficult to imagine such horrible deeds will be committed here—but they will!    Kirk Bookman’s lighting is subtle, yet effective.  Costumes by David R. Zyla are elegant and stylish.  It must be a treat for the cast to perform in such lavish splendor!

In short, The Little Foxes is a stylish and engaging production, well-worth seeing.

The Little Foxes continues through December 13.

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