Epilogue Players continues its 2025-26 season with a most interesting choice. Set in New York City in the 1850s, The Heiress by Ruth and Augustus Goetz opened on Broadway in 1947.
The play tells the story of a young, shy, and graceless lady who is set to be heiress to a substantial fortune. When sought after by a rare suitor, her father’s distrust of the gentleman, and need to protect his daughter from gold diggers, results in a complex storyline that depicts multiple sides of human nature. Kathleen Clarke Horrigan directs with a sure hand and a fine cast.
The time period of the play is celebrated and brought forth beautifully in the amazing set by Gale Sturm and costuming by Curt Pickard. The set is ornate and highly functional and features pocket doors (!) while the costumes are period finery, especially for the ladies. Hoop skirts of many patterns and colors are a big part of this production’s Wow factor.
(From left) Brett Edwards as Morris Townsend, Emily Reese Castro as Catherine Sloper, and Stan Gilham as Dr. Austin Sloper. (Photo by Rob Slaven / IndyGhostLight.com)
Emily Reese Castro takes the leading role as Catherine Sloper and does a remarkable job portraying the many levels of the young woman. The pattern of her growth during the action is seamlessly unspooled and Ms. Castro makes the most of her opportunities to show her range of emotion and her understanding of the character.
Stan Gilham is outstanding as her disapproving father, Dr. Austin Sloper, having developed a character of many traits and features. Gilham finds a way to punctuate nearly every line with a nuanced expression or attitude and is great fun to watch in his role.
As Morris Townsend, the suitor, Brett Edwards carefully navigates his character’s duplicity with skill, never really allowing us to have a solid fix on his intentions. Is he a scoundrel intent on Catherine’s inheritance, or is he an ardent suitor with loving hope and good intentions? I think most would choose the former, but the role is written for open mindedness and Edwards does a good job of leaving us guessing.
In supporting roles: Cathie Morgan adroitly fills her part as Catherine’s supportive and very goodhearted aunt, Lavinia; Brianna Helms makes the most of her comic moments as the housemaid, Maria; and Sarah Marone-Sowers is impactful as Mr. Towsend’s sister, Mrs. Montgomery.
Bottom line: Ms. Horrigan’s apt direction makes sure the characters are the focus of the show, avoiding a deep melodramatic turn in the action. There is a complexity to the plot here, and this was an especially good show to attend and to discuss afterward. Mrs. K. and I enjoyed it very much, in spite of its nearly three-hour length.
The Heiress continues at Epilogue Players’ Alabama St. playhouse through Nov. 23. For more information about dates, times and reservations go to epilogueplayers.com.
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