By Lillian Hellman
The Little Foxes is set in a small town in Alabama in 1900. It tells the story of a family ruined by greed. The Hubbard brothers convince their sister to bring her dying husband home from the hospital to invest in a new business venture. When the husband returns home, he realizes his wife did not bring him because she wanted to be with him at the end of his life, but to ensure her own fortune after his death.
The opening of the show was a bit difficult to get into. All the actors seemed to be speaking in the same tone due to the intensity of the situation. The characters had a certain deadline to meet to invest in the business. It felt like everyone was at a 10 and they stayed there for a good 5 minutes. After the storyline gets moving, however the pacing of the show became steady and the vocal tones felt more realistic, varying in intensity.
Ame Livingston embodied Regina Hubbard Giddens, sister to Leo and Oscar Hubbard. To say this actress was phenomenal wouldn’t do her any justice. Ame for me played a villain I hated to hate. There is a moment toward the middle of the show when her husband Horace came home thatI felt a softness I didn’t want to let go of. The soft moment, however, is short lived as Horace discerns the ploy to gain his trust to use his money to invest in a business. I haven’t been more terrified of a character in my life. The uncertainty of her actions made me feel uneasy whenever she came on stage. I was in awe.
Steven Lane portrayed Horace Giddens. The Hubbard family is full of deceitful, selfish people. Horace is not free of sin, himself, his pasts actions including multiple infidelities were most likely attributed to his wife’s lack of affection. Steven brought so much life to the show. He plays a physically fragile man, on the verge of death, but still able to command a room. The love Steven showed to his character’s daughter Alex as well as his affection for Addie, the house maid, was beautiful, giving the character depth without losing the strength and hatred for his wife and in-laws.
Courtney Bahr broke my heart as the fragile Birdie Hubbard. This character felt genuine, lost in the life she had lived also deceived by a member of the Hubbard family, her husband Oscar. A truly remarkable actress, Courtney’s breakdown as Birdie reached across decades to our modern day. This character proved to me that despite the difference in time, basic human needs do not change. We all want to be loved and appreciated. We can all end up in a position in our life we did not plan. We can all feel like there is no way out of it.
Roberta Emerson, Addie, filled the gap as the unnamed glue of the family. To play a black character just 35 years after slavery is abolished and carry so much pride and dignity was lovely to see. Roberta was fluid in her transition from Addie’s stoic moments with the Hubbards and her tender moments with Horace and Alexandra.
Honorable mention goes to Leroy Fleming for making his Mad Cow Theatre debut as Cal. Bravo to Director Tony Simotes for another incredible production. I’d also like to thank the friendly staff of the Mad Cow Theatre. They are always welcoming and genuine. I can’t wait to see the next show. Bravo Everyone!
Comments