Quick Hit Theater Review: The Heiress

The Heiress
By Ruth and Augustus Goetz
Directed by Moises Kaufman
on Broadway

What's it about?
It's a revival of the 1947 Tony Award winning adaptation of Henry James' "Washington Square," about Catherine Sloper (Jessica Chastain), shy daughter of a well-to-do New York doctor Austin Sloper (David Strathairn) who suddenly finds herself the object of affection for debonair, but financially unstable Morris Townsend (Dan Stevens). At first, Catherine can't believe that someone as handsome and interesting as Morris could be interested in her. after all, her father wastes no opportunity to let her know what a disappointment she is, particularly in contrast to his memories of her mother, who died in childbirth. Her Aunt Lavinia (a charming Judith Ivey) helps facilitate a match between the two and they plan an elopement.

Highlights:
Ivey is fun to watch as the bubbly, always smiling aunt, especially when she is bantering with Caitlin O'Connell, who plays her blunt-speaking sister, Liz. Stevens is very beguiling as the cad. We understand why women fall for the charm of this good looking guy. Another highlight is Derek McLane's beautifully appointed 1850 parlor with dark wood paneling and rich wallpaper. If Washington Square homes still look like this, I want to move there. Lighting by David Lander also is exceptional, giving us the smoky gas lighting in an overhead chandelier as well as stained glass highlighted on the wall from sunlight breaking along the wall from a front entrance.

Lowlights:
Chastain seems monotone with the performance going downhill significantly in the second act as Catherine becomes more independent and takes control of the people around her. We don't feel a lot of emotion from her. Many times, Chastain's intonation telegraphs that there is more meaning behind the character's words -- as if the audience wouldn't get that without a hint. Some of the dialogue doesn't seem to spill easily off of Strathairn's lips.

Other Information:
This is a limited engagement through Feb. 10, 2013 at the Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 west 48th St., NYC. Tickets range in price from $50 to $135: http://www.telecharge.com/behindTheCurtain.aspx.

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