Review: Pienet ketut
The Little Foxes play exudes old-fashioned glamour – but greed for money blinds the Hubbard siblings
“Help us, catch the foxes, the fox cubs, who are ruining the vineyards! Our vines are just budding!” (Song of Solomon 2:15)
American playwright Lillian Hellman has taken the title of her play, The Little Foxes, from an Old Testament verse that describes fox cubs destroying the fruits of love. His play is a study of love and greed.
The name Little Foxes is a metaphor, as Hellman’s play does not see foxes, but fox-like people. The play centers on three adult siblings: Regina, Ben and Oscar.
They plan to get hugely rich by building a cotton spinning mill on their land. After that, money should come through doors and windows.
Terminally ill father keeps his head
The only problem is fundraising for the start of construction. Regina’s husband has already been in the hospital for five months and has not responded to any inquiries about placement in the factory.
The siblings decide to send Regina’s daughter to get Horace’s father home. Even though Horace is terminally ill, he still has a strong will. He does not intend to invest a penny in the spinning mill.
A fierce argument ensues, as a result of which the cunning siblings come up with a plan. Oscar’s son works at a bank, so he can pick up the bonds from Horace’s safe deposit box to pay for the construction of the spinning mill.
The play is full of drama, quarrels and battles. The play is a good illustration of the greed for money, when nothing else seems to matter at all than money.
On the other hand, it also shows what the fate of the greedy is. In the final scene, only a wheelchair moves fatally alone in an empty house.
Old-fashioned glamour
Sari Siikander, Seppo Halttunen and Rauno Ahonen, who play the trio of siblings, insightfully describe what greed for money makes people like. The siblings seek to get rich, but at the same time they plot behind each other’s backs.
Actor Risto Kaskilahti, on the other hand, plays the harrowingly dying Horace. Even in her last moments, she is able to think about the best for her daughter. The most important thing is to get the daughter away from the money-hungry and nasty Hubbards.
Linda Zilliacus shines in her role as the booze-drinking, anxious and beaten Oscar’s wife. It is shocking to note that Oscar has married her only for money.
All in all, Helsinki City Theatre’s Little Foxes offers strong drama, stunning women’s costumes and the glitter of shoes, curls and jewellery. The play literally exudes old-fashioned glamour.