This play was absolutely one of the best I have ever seen. The staging was perfect for the play, the actors were all very connected with their characters, and the plot was intense, drawing the viewer in like a moth to a flame. No one could get enough.
The stage, when first viewed was shocking. Purple, everywhere…and I asked myself, why? Unlike most plays where the stage is a dark color, brown or black, it was bright purple, and that caught my attention the entire time. Midway through the play, I began to realize what a large role color had in the play. The purple began to symbolize wealth and the regal state of their home. Their pride and selfishness also became clear. Their were many instances when a character, out of rage, would fling his/herself against the walls or onto the floor, beating the color. At first, it may not seem like it means anything, but after careful thought, one can realize that their selfishness and greed has made them all miserable, and they are subconsciously taking their anger out on it.
Another color that stood out a lot was the color red. Whereas everyone in the play wore dull colors, mainly grays, blacks, browns and dark blues, Birdie was always wearing red. Ben, too, wore red in his tie. In the beginning, I assumed that Birdie and Ben were a married couple, because of their color coordination, but I soon learned that was not the case. And red began to be a symbol of flightiness and freedom. A desire for more than what is given. Although Regina was the more greedy of the two women, she wanted money whereas Birdie wanted happiness. Red is usually a color of energy, strength, determination and desire. Birdie uses red to stand apart from the other characters, showing the audience that she is the odd one out, the only one who doesn’t care about the money. She proves to everyone that she is stronger than they are, by resisting the temptations and corruptions of monetary agreements. Ben’s red tie, although not as noticeable as Birdie’s consistently red attire, was a call out to his power and influence over his siblings, especially Oscar. Although it is unclear which of the brothers is older, when deciding whose percentage will be lessened in order to increase Horace’s share, Ben immediately decides and overrules anything but that it will be out of Oscar’s cut.
The screen above the stage was disturbing and haunting. At the start of the play, it looks like there is a dead body, just laying there, and thoughts of who it could be and what it means swirl about in the mind until we realize that it is Horace. It later shows the horrors of what the “amazing” family company would be doing:slaughtering the lambs, gutting them, and watching the blood pour out. The screen provides an x-ray type feel to the audience, allowing us to see past what we see on stage, into other rooms and into other situations at the same moment we watch the primary scene unravel on stage. It allows us to see into Horace’s hospital room, the kitchen where the coffee pot sits, and finally, into Horace’s bedroom, where we see the fights between him and Regina, and where we also see the bond between him and his daughter.
Of all the characters, Alexandra’s was the most heart-wrenching. As a 17 year old girl, not even yet an adult, she is faced with many hardships that she must face on her own. From the very beginning she was forced to mediate between mother and father, a choice no daughter should ever have to make. She is a strong girl, and very loyal to her father. She knows the cruel intentions of her mother, and even though she is tricked at first into helping her mother, she turns her back on her and finally, at the end of the play, shows Regina that she will always love her father more because he was the one who truly cared about her.
The idea of the play, while very original, was somewhat hard to see. We see that greed is a horrible thing and can overtake any sane thoughts in one’s mind. Monetary selfishness can lead to rifts among family members. The brutality towards each “little fox” in this family came as a shock, and the audience gasped every time a character abused another. Everyone was rolling around, animalistic tendencies in everyone. In some cases, it was men hitting women, which came as a huge surprise, but was not totally unexpected. What was shocking, however was that when Ben hit Leo, Oscar just sat there and ignored it, without a care. The entire family was blinded by the thought of wealth, so blinded that they could not see what was right and what was wrong. Regina was so concerned with the possible acquisition of wealth that she did not blink, much less shed a tear when her husband passed. She once again showed little emotion at the desertion of her daughter, only concerning herself with her upcoming move to Chicago.
Overall, the storyline was interesting and captivating. The constant battle between characters was an enticing way to keep the audience on edge, anticipating what is to come. The actors were all very in tune with their characters, and it adds a sense of realism to the play. Because of the way the characters interact with one another, the play runs smoothly and effectively encapsulates the theme intended by the author.
