The Little Foxes

The Little Foxes is playing at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre located at 261 West 47th Street. It runs two hours and thirty minutes with two intermissions. The play closes on July 2, 2017.

Lillian Hellman is the playwright. She was born on June 20, 1905 and died in June 30, 1984. The play was written in 1939. Tallulah Bankhead was in the original Broadway production at the National Theatre when it opened on February 15, 1939. It ran 410 performances. Lillian wrote the screen play in 1941, it starred Greer Garson and Franchot Tone. There were several revivals. Mike Nichols directed one at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on October 26, 1967; it then transferred to the Ethel Barrymore theatre where it ran a total of a 100 performances. The cast included Anne Bancroft, E. G. Marshall and George C. Scott. The show opened on May 7, 1981 at the Martin Beck Theatre for 123 performances and 8 previews. The cast included Elizabeth Taylor, Maureen Stapleton. It was nominated for four Tony Awards, Elizabeth Taylor Best Leading Actress, Best Direction of a Play Tom Aldredge, Best Feature Actress Maureen Stapleton and Best Reproduction. In 1997 it was performed at the Vivian Beaumont theatre. It ran for 27 previews and 57 performances. Stockard Channing was in the cast.

Daniel Sullivan is the director. He won five Tony Awards for Rabbit Hole (2006), Mornings at Seven (2002), The Sisters Rosensweig (1993), Conversations with My father (1992) and The Heidi Chronicles (1989). Daniel won four Drama desk Awards for Stuff Happens (2006), Mornings at Seven (2002), Diner With Friends (2000) and The Heidi Chronicles (1989).

Scott Pask is the scenic designer. He won three Tony Awards for The Book of Mormons (2011), The Coast of Utopia (Parts 1, 2, & 3 2007) and The Pillow Man (20050 and was nominated for two Tony Awards for Pal Joey (2009) and Les Liaisons Dangerous (2008).

Janet Greenwood is the Costume Designer. She won a Tony Award Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre in 2014.

Laura Linney was nominated for three Tony Awards for Time Stands Still (2010), Sight Unseen (2005) and The Crucible (2002). Laura was nominated for three Academy Awards for Savages (2008), Kinsey (2005) and You Can Count On It (2001).

Cynthia Nixon is known for her role in Sex & the City (1998-2004). She won a prime Time Emmy in 2004. Cynthia won a Tony Award for Rabbit Hole (2004) and was nominated for two Tony Awards for Wit (2012) and Indiscretion (1995).

The show was nominated for six 2017 Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Play, Best Lead Actress (Laura Linney), Best Feature Actor (Richard Thomas), Best Feature Actress (Cynthia Nixon), Best Costume Design (Jane Greenwood) and Best Direction of a Play (Daniel Sullivan).

The play takes place in a small town in Alabama in the spring of 1900. Act 2 is a week later and an Act 3 two weeks later.

We are in Regina Giddens (Cynthia Nixon) home. Her brothers Oscar Hubbard (Darren Goldstein) and Ben (Michael McKean) are in the dining room. Other members of the family are there too, Regina’s daughter Alexandra (Francesca Carpanini), Oscars wife Birdie (Laura Linney) and their son Leo (Michael Benz).

Birdie and her husband are the first to come out of the dining room. He is nasty to her. Oscar did not like the fact she was flirting with their guest Mr. Marshall (David Alford). He is in finance. The brother’s would to open a cotton mill. Port is brought out by Addie (Caroline Stefanie Clay). Cal (Charles Turner). Help’s her serve it.

When Mr. Marshal leaves the brother discuss how much each is putting and who would have the biggest share. Ben is putting the most, then Oscar. Regina’s husband Horace Giddens (Richard Thomas) is very ill and is away trying to get well. He has not answered Regina’s letters. The brothers want to shut her out. She asks them for more time. Regina sends her daughter Alexandra to bring her father home.

Oscar proposes Leo and Alexandra marry.

Horace arrives in a wheel chair. He has medication to take. We can see he’s not well.

We find out more about Regina and Birdie.

I am not telling you why the characters are acting the way they are. Go see the show to find out.

This is a splendid revival. The acting is superb. Laura Linney, Cynthia Nixon and Richard Thomas do a breath taking job.

Jane Greenwood costumes were beautiful.

Scott Pask scenic design was impressive.

This production should not be missed it has a great cast, costume and set design. You won’t be disappointed.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for recent photos. Click on a photo, then click on back to album and finally click back to the gallery for this and other shows.