The headlined star of this play is Jessica Chastain whom I know from the movie “The Help.” She played the ditzy and curvy Celia Foote whom everybody hated. In THE HEIRESS on Broadway she’s the lovelorn daughter, Catherine, who is considered too plain and too dull to be loved by a man. (Don’t know what happened to the generous boobs – they were missing). She’s adequate in the role; some of her lines lack sincerity and I often saw her acting the part instead of becoming the character. She’s more wooden than I would have expected Catherine to be and that was periodically distracting.
The real show stopper is Judith Ivey who steals every scene she’s in. She owns the role of Aunt Lavinia and delivers long strung together lines that could easily be stilted without her character’s stylized interpretation. There is a bit of eccentricity in her performance in all the little quirks and pieces of business she adds. She’s a terrific actress and brings her role to life, energizing all the characters in her scenes. She’ll certainly be a Tony contender for her role as a supporting actress.
THE HEIRESS is a compelling story told very well through its various characters. It all takes place in Catherine’s well-appointed living room and parlor. 
Her father, played by David Strathairn, (just seen in the film “Lincoln”) continues to mourn Catherine’s mother who died during childbirth and he worries that the man Catherine has fallen for is really just a gold digger after her inheritance. He’s quite good in the role, reserved yet sufficiently intense and serious.
There’s some mystery involved and the evolution of Catherine’s character as she reckons with newly learned insights. It’s a terrific play and I loved it.
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