The Heiress

        For a play to be produced on Broadway 5 times in 65 years is saying something. It's either saying, this play is very good, or this play is very important, and some times both. In the case of The Heiress it's more the former. Written by Augustus and Ruth Goetz, The Heiress is based on the novel Washington Square by Henry James. It made it's first Broadway appearance in 1947 at The Biltmore Theater (now the home of Manhattan Theater club and renamed The Friedman).

       The play was made into a successful film in 1949 starring Olivia de Haviland and Montgomery Clift. Over the years the play has won 4 Oscars and 6 Tony awards. The most recent revival starred Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain in her Broadway debut as the title character, Catherine Sloper.

      The Heiress concerns plain Jane Catherine Sloper who lives the life of a spinster much to the dismay of her aging father. Catherine, who lives with her father and aunt in a mansion on Washington Square (in 1850 when people still lived in houses in New York City), is courted by dashing, handsome, and charming Morris Townsend. Catherine believes that Morris loves her for who she is, but could he be after her fortune?

    The heart of the The Heiress explores parents expectations of children, and children's desire to make their parents proud of who they are. It is evident from the beginning of the play that Catherine's father places very high expectations on her, and that the crux of her problem is in the meeting of those expectations. Not only does her father seem hard on Catherine, he seems to not care for her at all. It also ponders children's expectations and needs of their parents, and how some times parents can be selfishly oblivious to what their children really need.

      Catherine gets her familial love from her eccentric Aunt Lavinia, played to great effect by the fabulous Judith Ivey. Aunt Lavinia is in mourning for her husband of 30 some odd years who has just recently died. Aunt Lavinia immediately takes to Morris and supports his relationship with Catherine.

      If we look deeper into the context of the play, there is also the exploration of the nature of cruelty. Is it more kind to be honest, even if that honesty is painful to give? Or is it kinder to hide the truth, or to present a more palatable one? It's a very interesting play, and most of the time it is a comedy. Though things do sober up in the second act.

    Jessica Chastain is making her Broadway debut in this revival. Her performance is good, though one can almost sense that she is afraid of the live audience. Film actors tend to lose focus onstage, and Ms, Chastain is no exception, though her moments of presence far out number the moments of lost focus. She imbues Catherine with a vulnerability, hidden charm, and yearning that make the audience root for her happiness right from the start.

       Ms. Chastain and Judith Ivey are joined onstage by Academy Award nominee David Strathairn as Catherine's father Dr. Austin Sloper, and Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens as Morris Townsend. Each man plays his part exceptionally well, and gives the audience exactly what they are supposed to.

The revival was directed by Tony nominee Moises Kaufman.  Set Design was by Derek McLane. Costumes  were designed by Albert Wolsky. Lighting design by David Lander. The set and costumes for this revival were wonderful and evocative of both the mood of the piece and the time period. Expect to see both nominated for Tony's come may. This revival of The Heiress closed on Broadway at The Walter Kerr Theater on February 9, 2013 after 27 previews and 117 regular performances.