Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre in Wheeling continues its season of community theater with a production of “The Heiress”—a nuanced, emotional classic about love, betrayal, and unnerving dynamics of gender and power.
It will be staged for two weekends—November 8, 9, 10 and November 15 and 16.
Based in New York during the 1850s, “The Heiress” explores the life of a shy young woman who falls desperately in love with a charming and penniless man. Her father, a wealthy doctor, sees the young man as a fortune hunter. What follows is a gothic romance filled with mystery and drama.
Speaking to Modern Audiences: Power & Gender Dynamics
Though set in the 19th century, “The Heiress” is surprisingly modern and timeless.
Director Leif Green said, “The way society views women is prominently featured in this play. Thankfully, modern audience can breathe a sigh of relief that women today have more freedom and options than the female characters in this story. With that said, being under society’s critical gaze is still a stifling and precarious place for women today.”
At the center of the play is Catherine—a woman suffering the psychological ramifications of her father’s bitterness and constant criticism. As the story unfolds, Catherine undergoes a significant transformation.
“Catherine starts out as a timid, paralyzingly shy, awkward, and fragile woman. Her role as mistress of the house is as burdensome as the many corset lacings, bonnet ties, and heavy petticoats she must wear to meet society’s demands,” Green explained. “She is without guile and suspicion, and she is ardently honest and sincere. When romance enters her life, she is puzzled, frightened, and exhilarated by her suitor and her budding feeling. As the story of her heart’s journey plays out, Catherine is forced to see her world, and those in it, in an unvarnished and harsh way. Where does she go from there?”
Top-Notch Cast
Green has assembled a top-notch cast of actors who are wearing “their characters like velvet gloves.”
Cast members are Makayla Carney as Catherine Sloper, Hannah Gonot as Marian Almond, Alex Hill as Morris Townsend, Maria McKelvey as Lavinia Penniman, Melody Meadows as Elizabeth Almond, David Scherrick as Arthur Townsend, Tim Thompson as Dr. Austin Sloper, Micah Underwood as Mrs. Montgomery, and Lokelani Weese as Maria.
Unfulfilled Expectations and How They Manifest in Behavior
“Throughout the rehearsal process, we have had countless conversations about each character and their intentions, their motives, their expectations, and their breaking points. We ask ‘why’ constantly. Every play is different, and the director needs to proceed each with careful attention. This play, ‘The Heiress’ is very emotionally raw, but it demands a critical and cerebral approach,” he said.
He added that throughout the creative process one theme that kept resonating with him, the cast and crew is “unfulfilled expectations and how they manifest in our behavior and our treatment of others.”
“The Heiress,” written by playwrights Ruth and Augustus Goetz, is an adaptation of the Henry James novel, “Washington Square,” which was based on an actual story that circulated in New York society in the lates 1840s about a socially awkward and unattractive heiress, who was seduced by a handsome actor, Green explained.
“The successful play was swiftly adapted into a film, starring Olivia DeHavilland, Montgomery Cliff, and Ralph Richardson and directed by William Wyler. Ms. DeHavilland won her second Oscar for her performance. In 1997, another movie adaptation based on the novel and also titled “Washington Square” was released starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ben Chapline, and Albert Finney,” he said.
Dialogue is “intelligent and brimming with wit”
The dialogue in the play is a highlight of the experience. Green described it as “intelligent and brimming with wit – both caustic and frivolous.” Other highlights include watching the “charming and, at the same time, unnerving” dynamics between Dr. Sloper (Catherine’s father) and his two adult sisters along with the captivating romance.
Audience Members—”the most important collaborators”
In theater, audience members are crucial, active participants in the experience, making the production complete. Green encourages community members to come see this play and support the talented cast and crew.
“The process of creating a play is nothing but collaboration – relentless, ebullient, exasperating, treacherous collaboration. The cast. The designers. The crew. They are all collaborators. In the end, however, the most important collaborators, are the audience members,” Green said.
Get Tickets
Curtain for Towngate’s production of “The Heiress” is at 8pm November 8, 9, 15,16, and 3pm Sunday, November 10. This production is presented with support from Towngate’s main season sponsor Unified Bank.
Purchase tickets online or call 304-242-7700. You can also purchase tickets at the door, if available. Box office opens one hour prior to curtain.
2024-25 Towngate Theatre Main Stage Season
“The Heiress”
by Ruth and Augustus Goetz
November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 2024
“Dancing at Lughnasa”
by Brian Friel
March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 2025
“The Marriage of Bette and Boo”
by Christopher Durang
May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 2025
Where Community Meets Creativity
In addition to community theater, Towngate offers children’s theater, ballet, improvisational comedy, and live music. Towngate is also a single screen cinema, offering movies on select evenings and features changing art exhibitions in The Gallery at Towngate. Theater classes are also offered year-round.
Towngate is in Wheeling’s historic Centre Market District. This church-turned-theater is one of several Wheeling venues operated by the non-profit Oglebay Institute. Other OI facilities include: Stifel Fine Arts Center and School of Dance on National Road, the Mansion Museum, Glass Museum and Schrader Environmental Education Center in Oglebay.
Support the Stories We Tell
As a nonprofit community theater, Towngate relies on the generosity of patrons, neighbors, and friends who invest in our community and the stories we tell together. To learn more about donating to Towngate, visit online or call 304-242-4200.
Memberships to Oglebay institute also support the work of the theater and all Oglebay Institute venues. Oglebay Institute memberships are available in a variety of price ranges and include perks such as discounts, special events, priority registration, and more. Learn more and join online or call 304-242-4200.