Anne-Marie Duff's venomous performance exposes greed in the Young Vic's production

The production of Lillian Hellman's play, viewed at the Young Vic in London, encountered an unexpected interruption when a cast member fainted merely ten minutes into the performance. This incident led to a substantial delay, during which the director, Lyndsey Turner, addressed the audience, remarking on it as a 'force majeure event' and informing them that the performance would restart from the beginning of scene one. After reassembling the cast, they resumed the show, which had premiering roots back in 1939. The revival has come after two decades since the play was last majorly performed in London, although it is better known for the film adaptation featuring Bette Davis. Unfortunately, the show's impact did not resonate positively, overshadowed by its plot that has been described critically as heavy and melodramatic, rendering both the cast's efforts and engaging audience experiences somewhat diminished. Despite the initial excitement surrounding the revival and the commendable handling of the emergency by the actors, the production struggled to capture the audience's engagement fully. Critics have pointed out that the narrative lacks the charm and depth often expected from classic works, creating a disappointing experience overall. The historical context of the play reflects social themes of its time, yet its execution in this revival failed to breathe fresh life into its storyline. With expectations surrounding major revivals often being high, the sleepless historical weight which comes with a script penned by an influential playwright might have contributed to the pressure. The Little Foxes, while notable as a work of its time, did not succeed in rejuvenating its vibrancy for contemporary audiences. Though the production saw attempts to re-engage with its historical foundation, it appeared as though the sum of its parts did not culminate in the memorable experience that both audiences and critics had hoped for, leaving a gap between the audience's expectations and the reality presented on stage. Overall, the evening fell short of expectations, leading to a conclusion that while the cast rose commendably to the emergency presented during the performance, the narrative and overall handling of the material did not yield a prodigious revival of Hellman's work, compelling industry insiders to reflect on the complexities of producing classic theatre in today’s context.