She is not, however, helped by Constance Hoffman’s costumes, and she may not be ideally cast, lacking the cool, ladylike elegance Irene Worth gave the role in its original Broadway production. In the difficult title role of Miss Alice, apparently a multibillionairess offering a gift of multibillions to the Catholic Church - who may or may not be a stand-in for God - Sharon Scruggs performs with considerable panache and does not let the production’s high acting standards down. And in what is in a sense the play’s comic-relief role (except for the fact that the whole play is shot through with comedy), John Michael Higgins is deliciously sly and wry as the butler named Butler whose casual insolence is so playful. They are glorious sparring partners, Bamman a viciously cruel lawyer, Lacy a plumply pompous prelate. He’s superb.īut so is the rest of the cast, beginning with Gerry Bamman and Tom Lacy as the opening scene’s antagonists. Robed and bespectacled, he performs with tremendous technical skill in the service of a portrayal of potent simplicity and humility. If the play’s third act (to which the playwright has restored some cut material) doesn’t truly deliver on the promises of its two preceding acts, “Tiny Alice” is still one of Albee’s most endlessly fascinating creations, not the least because it is such a tantalizing puzzle.Īs the play’s central character, a lay brother who has survived a major loss of faith, Richard Thomas gives one of his most admirable performances. And since one of the greatest pleasures of theatergoing is hearing and seeing accomplished actors exploring and reveling in splendid dialogue, this production is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the New England theater season, not the least because of its excellent cast, direction and setting.

Tiny alice by edward albee