Supporting the Arts in Western Massachusetts and Beyond

July 9, 2015

The Little Foxes


New Century Theatre, Northampton, MA
through July 11, 2015
by Konrad Rogowski

Lillian Hellman's "The Little Foxes" is a finely crafted tale of greed, deception and the suffocating social conventions of the American south at the turn of the last century. The play's storyline fellows the schemes of two small town families as they plot their way to grasp the golden ring dangled before them by an industrialist from the North. The man's decision to build a cotton mill in town is the key to the families' future.

The complications and plotting arise, because each of the three siblings -- Regina, Oscar and Ben -- must put up one-third of the finances to entice their benefactor to make the deal. And for Regina the whole plan hinges on additional and unforeseen (o the audience) circumstances. The crux of "Little Foxes" is the deal-making and workings among the siblings.

The cast does a credible job in retelling Hellman's all too familiar story of the back room deals and changeable alliances that the temptations of potential windfalls place before folks who think they have it all figured out, and have the upper hand. It is a tale that has been retold in too many newspaper headlines since the 1930's.

Stephanie Carlson, in particular, as Birdie, as the flighty, often times tipsy, and over talkative wife of Oscar, sets the show's tone, being a little too free with the truth about family secrets. While the cast does a credible job in retelling Hellman's all too familiar story of the back room deals and changeable alliances that the temptations of potential windfalls bring, a little harder definition of the plotting and character conflicts/chemistry would have made for a more impactful show.

Greg Trochlil's dramatic and elegant set design and Dawn McKay's costuming set the tone for this period-piece drama of fading fortunes and pots of gold at the rainbow's end.

The little foxes do just what little foxes should, they skulk about in the shadows, they plot, and they work to steal whatever they can, by whatever means are within their power.