“The Little Foxes” November 14, 2008

Vintage Theatre presents
The Little Foxes

Written by Lillian Hellman
Directed by Craig A. Bond

(Denver, CO) - Family and money – a lethal combination. When the Hubbard siblings decide to invest in a cotton mill, the struggle for the biggest slice of the pie begins. Brothers Ben and Oscar connive and scheme, but it is their powerful sister Regina who will seemingly stop at nothing to get what she wants. The treachery of these Southern foxes is a timeless story about the power of greed.

“The Little Foxes” (1939) is among Hellman's best-known works. The title comes from Chapter 2, Verse 15 in the Song of Solomon in the King James version of the Bible, which reads, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." The chronicle of hatred and greed among the members of the Hubbard family was partly based on her memories of the South and many of Hellman's characters were based on members of her own family.

Vintage Theatre opens Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes” on Friday, November 14 and plays Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through December 14. Performances are in their new home at Vintage Theatre, 2119 E 17th Ave in Denver. Tickets are $22 at the door, $17 in advance and available by calling 303-839-1361 or online at www.vintagetheatre.com.

As a playwright, Hellman first gained success with The Children's Hour (1934). Originally the story was based on a law case which Hellman had found in a book by William Roughead. Despite the controversial theme, the play ran on Broadway for nearly 700 performances.

Hellman was blacklisted from the late 1940s to the 1960s. When her income virtually disappeared, she sold her home. In the 1950s Hellman adapted works from other writers for the stage, among them Jean Anouilh's play L'Alouette about Joan of Arc, and Voltaire's satire Candide, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Richard Wilbur, John Latouche and Dorothy Parker. Hellman's play Toys in the Attic (1960), about a Southern man obsessed with grandiose dreams was filmed by George Roy Hill.

Despite writing only 12 plays, she was a leading voice in the American theatre. Hellman died on June 30, 1984.

The cast includes Andy Anderson as Ben, Steve Seaholm as Oscar, Boni McIntyre as Regina, Patrick Collins as Horace, Jason Maxwell as Leo, Laura Stewart as Alexandra, Matt Ellison as William Marshall, Maru Garcia as Addie, Michelle A. Grimes as Birdie and Michael Horn as Cal.

“These fictional turn of the century robber barons bear an all too close resemblance to the many family businesses turned mega-corporations ruled by greed.” - CurtainUp

Vintage Theatre presents
“The Little Foxes”
A classic indictment of capitalism as told through the very personal relationships between three siblings.
Nov 14 – Dec 14
Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m. / Sun at 2:30 p.m. 
Vintage Theatre
2119 E 17th Ave in Denver. 
Tickets are $22 at the door, $17 in advance
303-839-1361 or online at vintagetheatre.com