The Little Foxes--The Ruthless Hubbard Family Returns

By Joseph Cervelli

Lillian Hellman’s venomously delicious 1939 play “The Little Foxes” is being royally revived at the Friedman Theater with two outstanding performers (Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon) playing alternating roles as the carnivorous Regina Hubbard Giddens. They also change roles playing the sympathetic and maligned sister-in-law Birdie equally well. 

The conniving Regina and her two equally  manipulative brothers Oscar (Darren Goldstein) and Ben (Michael McKean) need to raise money to build a cotton mill in their town despite the fact it will destroy the town in various ways. Things don’t go quite well since Regina’s husband Horace (a tremendously good Richard Thomas) who is recuperating out of state returns and decides not to support this deal much to the anger and ultimate retribution of Regina. Not only is he concerned with the welfare of the townspeople but wants to undermine his deceitful and uncaring wife whom he realized long ago only  married him only for his money. 

Nixon plays the title role a bit more untraditional in that from her first scene you are really not quite sure how devious she is. She is more coquettish with a plastered on smile and appears to be meeker than Regina really is, and it works beautifully. So, when she proves her treacherous self it comes more of a surprise. However, she does play Birdie more traditionally as a fragile, almost doltish woman whose husband married her only for her family’s money and she is wonderfully touching. 

In Linney, you can almost see that double dealing quality from the onset. She plays the role more self assured and equally foxy. Yet, her Birdie is not as crushable as the way Nixon plays it. She appears to be more of an abused wife with a drinking problem. 

Both actresses are quite brilliant and not matter whom you see you will not be disappointed.

Thomas equally gives a superlative performance as the likable and quite ill Horace who is loved only by his devoted daughter Alexandra (Francesca Carpanini). The pivotal scene where he is struggling while walking up the staircase is done to perfection. 

Director Daniel Sullivan is the expert in directing family dramas and by no means has let us down with this one that calls out for his ability. 

There is not one false move or miscalculations in this revival which is one of the highlights of the season.

PHOTO: JOAN MARCUS

Tickets for “The Little Foxes” are available at The Samuel J. Friedman Theater 261 West 47th Street or calling 212.239.6200. The limited engagement ends June 4.