I saw this show with Linney as Birdie and Nixon as Regina. It was absolutely superb, and I can't recommend it any more. It was moving and poignant and striking.
I would love to see Laura Linney in either part. I enjoyed the movie with Bette Davis. No wonder these talented actors are so drawn to such good writing.
As I read the Tony nominations in the Times this morning from my couch in San Francisco, I click over to this review. And what a glorious, clever, witty review it is. I love this play and I adore this review. Thank you, Alexis. Well done.
1
I saw both versions and of the "four" performances by both actresses, Ms. Nixon's Birdie was the most affecting in a fine ensemble of actors. Her version of Birdie as a fluttering, woman-child was indeed heartbreaking. Nixon's expert portrayal of this plain, damaged southern belle with wealth to exploit perfectly reflected the cruelty of the Hubbards (and all the Hubbards of 20th century capitalism).
1
As much as I despise Lillian Hellman as a person I still admire her as a playwright, and The Little Foxes is her best, by far. However, Hellman's screenplay adaptation of 1941 is superior to the play with notable added character of journalist David Hewitt. Also, I don't understand why Hellman's prequel--Another Part of the Forest is living in a black hole of theater. Another Part of the Forest deals with a still very hot button issue of racism, white supremacy, the undying Confederacy and corporate greed. I hope the next revival creates an expansion of the Hubbard, Giddons, etc. that presents the full story Hellman was trying to tell. It is fascinating to see how the adage about apples and trees plays out dramatically in these 2 wonderful plays. I was thrilled to see TCM run Another Part of the Forest for the first time ever! Watch it and The Little Foxes for 2 superior film adaptations of plays.
1
I saw Elizaberh Taylor in the production years back. Will never forget her entrance
1
Saw it last night with Linney as Regina and Nixon as Birdie - both perfect. As was the entire cast. What a timeless story - this nest of vipers with its bullies and bullied.
And the character who insisted on hunting every day even though he didn't need that much food, neither sharing it with the more needy nor giving them the opportunity to hunt for it themselves - well that certainly brought to mind the recreational hunting enjoyed by the wealthy today.
And the character who insisted on hunting every day even though he didn't need that much food, neither sharing it with the more needy nor giving them the opportunity to hunt for it themselves - well that certainly brought to mind the recreational hunting enjoyed by the wealthy today.
5
Something is very wrong with either the critic or the production when a review of The Little Foxes devotes more ink to the two actors playing the underwritten "faithful retainers" than to the estimable Mr. Thomas in the leading role of Horace.
14
Indeed. The highlight of the production I saw last night with Linney as Regina was the end of the second act with Richard Thomas ascending the stairway going full on spit fuming from the mouth rage against Regina. And then it ending with Regina wailing that she hopes he dies as the curtain falls. I have seen Thomas on stage before, but not in that kind of role. I had the feeling it took a long time from his days on Walton Mountain as the saintly John boy to arrive at that point, but he nailed it.
1
This is a review that made me want to see this play again more than ever. I saw Elizabeth Taylor do it in London in 1982 after her Broadway run with the very fine Sada Thompson as Birdie. One of my favorite plays, sadly not revived often enough! But there is always the movie...
2
Maureen stapleton was Birdie on Broadway with Elizabeth Taylor
From the review: "Regina shows how wicked a woman can become when she steps out of line, Birdie how broken when she doesn’t."
Oh, I think the play has mush more to say about the status of women than that. No question - there is a nascent and critically aware feminism that courses through this play - after all, it's Lillian Hellman - and its central themes have much to do with the distorting effects on a woman's identity when her ambitions, ideals and feelings are continually thwarted and denied. Birdie and Regina may seem like opposites, but as women, they have much in common - more than it would appear on first glance. Frankly, I'm surprised "The Little Foxes" has yet to be taken up as a primary text by the women's studies community.
Oh, I think the play has mush more to say about the status of women than that. No question - there is a nascent and critically aware feminism that courses through this play - after all, it's Lillian Hellman - and its central themes have much to do with the distorting effects on a woman's identity when her ambitions, ideals and feelings are continually thwarted and denied. Birdie and Regina may seem like opposites, but as women, they have much in common - more than it would appear on first glance. Frankly, I'm surprised "The Little Foxes" has yet to be taken up as a primary text by the women's studies community.
7
I hope against hope this production will be filmed, both switched performances. What a learning and artistic opportunity that would be for those of us who can't get there to see it.
15
SPOILER ALERT: this reviewer reveals a moment of current relevance where the audience gasps. shame for spoiling an otherwise excellent review. CAN THIS BE FIXED?
4
Noted. Attend Mets, opera and museum. No surprises, nothing to see. They design roller coasters, for you who would never read a poem twice, to ride once.
Seems Ms. Soloski fell for the gimmick too for she merely has glancing things to say about anyone else save the two leading ladies. There are, to my thinking, all wonderful roles in this play and, from the looks of it, fine actors to portray them. Guess I'll have to go read somewhere else to get an adaquate and full review of this classic.
3
In those early days of TV when much broadcast air was given to old movies, as a youngster was introduced to the great Bette Davis, first in "Now, Voyager" and then "The Little Foxes." I hadn't seen "All About Eve" yet but had heard of its Oscar successes. I was assigned an autobio with a handmade cover and I titled it "All About Rusty," my childhood nickname. When I first saw the film, of course, I couldn't grasp the nuances of rivalry and betrayal.
Probably the best-written Broadway review I've read in the Times in years. Soloski doesn't interject herself into the review, doesn't try to settle scores with anyone (including the audience), and doesn't parade her encyclopedic knowledge of the theater; instead, she limits herself to reviewing what's up there on the stage. Refreshing!
33
hehe....your list of faults sounds like the writing of much-overrated Ben Brantley.
Thank you, Mr. Isherwood.
We saw this a couple of weeks ago with Nixon as Regina. Blown away by the production- and we left wondering how great it would be when switching the roles. This review answered it and I am making the call for tix. (It also helps being a member of MTC!)
7
A very thoughtful and well written review by Ms. Soloski.
7
Delighted to read such a vividly articulate account of a great production. Thanks, Ms Soloski. How ironic, though, that the Times slapped such a mild headline on a review in which you criticize their mild headline of 1939. How about, "Lillian Hellman Is Still Telling Us the Truth."
20
Inasmuch as they're no longer soliciting comments in the movie review section I'll use this space to recommend Cynthia Nixon's magnificent performance as Emily Dickinson in Terence Davies' film, "A Quiet Passion." The best movie of the decade so far (and certainly the greatest ever made about a literary figure), "Passion" demands to be seen even despite A O Scott's rave review (he raves about virtually everything, which makes this particular film appear to be nothing special). Ms. Nixon is a treasure in every medium in which she works; if she were to dabble in medical research she'd probably come up with a viable cure for cancer.
18
Well, she should stay out of politics! She single handedly gave us "Big Bird" de Blasio as mayor in 2013. I believe she admired his son's hairdo at the time. And I suppose she wanted the carriage horses banned from Manhattan (never happened).
Anyway, she did us no favors here in NYC with that ill conceived endorsement.
Anyway, she did us no favors here in NYC with that ill conceived endorsement.
3
@Will: "Single-handedly"?
5
Tallulah Bankhead did not clamor to play Regina, she created the part in the original Broadway production. Another legendary performance that was sadly lost to another actor in the film.
3
"The Little Foxes" has always been one of my favorite plays, and this production does Lillian Hellman's work justice. Saw it last Saturday and loved every minute of its three acts. Laura Linney played Regina with steely resolve, and Cynthia Nixon was heartbreaking as the wounded Birdie. Can't wait to see it again with the roles reversed. The actors in support were also excellent. As relevant today as it was when it was written in 1939, Hellman's finger on the pulse of greed and family discord prove timeless. A must see of the Broadway season.
11
it might be noted that this sort of role-swapping was done previously when "True West" with Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly was performed in 2000. The problem with it for the audience is that one really needs to buy tickets to 2 performances which is too expensive and time consuming for most people.
1
I hope this revival inspires some company -Encores, City Opera, the MET ?-
to revive Marc Blitzstein's opera based on THE LITTLE FOXES, the wonderful
REGINA -which gets my vote as The Best American Opera. (City Opera had
it in its repertory in the 50s; the recording is ravishing -brilliantly sung and
composed).
to revive Marc Blitzstein's opera based on THE LITTLE FOXES, the wonderful
REGINA -which gets my vote as The Best American Opera. (City Opera had
it in its repertory in the 50s; the recording is ravishing -brilliantly sung and
composed).
3
Reminds me of when Phillip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly switched off in True West.
7
That would have been mind boggling to see.
1
Can it be 36 years since "The Little Foxes" was last revived, at a price real people could afford?
Back then, there were some who had seen Tallulah create the role onstage in 1939, and Davis the filmed version in 1941. (The latter was totally amazing, with mask-like makeup changing her features.) Elizabeth Taylor definitely earned the "Army-Navy E" for guts.
This sounds like a must-see...but can people actually afford a decent ticket?
Back then, there were some who had seen Tallulah create the role onstage in 1939, and Davis the filmed version in 1941. (The latter was totally amazing, with mask-like makeup changing her features.) Elizabeth Taylor definitely earned the "Army-Navy E" for guts.
This sounds like a must-see...but can people actually afford a decent ticket?
2
"Can it be 36 years since 'The Little Foxes' was last revived, at a price real people could afford?"
No, 20 years ago there was a God-awful, horribly misguided (though fairly affordable) Lincoln Center revival, with Stockard Channing SHRIEKING the line, "I hope you DIE!!! I hope you die SOON!!!" demonstrating that the line (as well as the scene) is shorn of all menace when screamed at Horace from the balcony above, rather than delivered softly from the chair next to his, as in the original stage directions.
No, 20 years ago there was a God-awful, horribly misguided (though fairly affordable) Lincoln Center revival, with Stockard Channing SHRIEKING the line, "I hope you DIE!!! I hope you die SOON!!!" demonstrating that the line (as well as the scene) is shorn of all menace when screamed at Horace from the balcony above, rather than delivered softly from the chair next to his, as in the original stage directions.
4
I just watched the clip. Ugh, Cynthia Nixon is about as threatening as a bowl of grits. Jeez, just watch Bette Davis chew up everything around her, including the scenery, but she was one scary greedy girl. I hope Laura Linney puts more malice into her portrayal.
6
Mike Nichols directed a memorable production in 1967 at Lincoln Center with brilliant performances by Anne Bancroft and George C. Scott and Margaret Leighton.
4
What a fine review! I hope to see more from Ms. Soloski in the NYT in the future.
I saw a preview with Ms. Nixon as Regina a couple of weeks ago and will definitely be back to see Ms. Linney (who was excellent as Birdie). A superb production with a wonderful cast.
I saw a preview with Ms. Nixon as Regina a couple of weeks ago and will definitely be back to see Ms. Linney (who was excellent as Birdie). A superb production with a wonderful cast.
9
Would love to see this. May I suggest that next season Nixon and Linney do Hellman's "The Children's Hour," sharing the roles of Karen and Martha?
12
The Children's Hour with these two would be fascinating.
1
What a marvelous and timely suggestion. After learning of Sholem Asch's 1922 play, "Indecent," with its lesbianism and a censored later version, The Children's Hour would be splendid with these two bravura performers.
2
I thought the very same. Saw the play yesterday with Laura Linney as Regina and Cynthia Nixon asBirdie and what a privilege to watch actors at such a level of expertise and talent. Richard Thomas, Michael McKeon-all great. Would love to see "The Children's Hour" with these two actresses.
Thanks for prompting me to write.
Thanks for prompting me to write.
1
So appropriate for the times we find ourselves in:
“Well, there are people who eat the earth and eat all the people on it like in the Bible with the locusts. Then there are people who stand around and watch them eat it. Sometimes I think it ain't right to stand and watch them do it.”
Addie, "The Little Foxes"
“Well, there are people who eat the earth and eat all the people on it like in the Bible with the locusts. Then there are people who stand around and watch them eat it. Sometimes I think it ain't right to stand and watch them do it.”
Addie, "The Little Foxes"
27
This is a production I can't wait to revisit. In 1981, my then wife and I had the extreme pleasure of paying $35, top orchestra price at the time--for musicals, to see Elizabeth Taylor and Maureen Stapleton as Regina and Birdie in director Austin Pendleton's lush revival from row G, center. And yes, Ms. Taylor's eyes really are violet. Taylor was also cancellation prone due to sickness and the producers devised a splendid way to keep patrons in the theatre should that occur--they made Stapleton be Taylor's standby. Now who could casually walk out of that opportunity? When they made an announcement before the performance, you could feel the tensing and clenching all around, it was that palpable, only to breathe a sigh of relief when it was just to ask us to unwrap our candy. Whew!
I'm sure Linney and Nixon must be having the time of their lives judging from Soloski's review (part of me wishes we could have also seen Maureen Stapleton play Regina, but what were we to do, send Taylor a tainted tic-tac?) I wish they thought of this switcheroo when the Quaid brothers were in Sam Shepard's "True West."
I'm sure Linney and Nixon must be having the time of their lives judging from Soloski's review (part of me wishes we could have also seen Maureen Stapleton play Regina, but what were we to do, send Taylor a tainted tic-tac?) I wish they thought of this switcheroo when the Quaid brothers were in Sam Shepard's "True West."
12
Saw it twice in one week... what a treat! Both leads are terrific but so is Richard Thomas and Michael McKeon!
15
the theater can witness American acting at its best.